# Without the need "for" or "of" an interpreter? Which is better usage?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-the-need-for-or-of-an-interpreter-which-is-better-usage/674577>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 23, 2013, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-the-need-for-or-of-an-interpreter-which-is-better-usage/674577 "2013-11-23T00:13:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2013, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-the-need-for-or-of-an-interpreter-which-is-better-usage/674577/1 "2013-11-23T00:13:28Z")

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Hi,

Which is better usage?

Without the need “for” or without the need “of” an interpreter?  
eg. Learning native English will allow you to enjoy your foreign travels without the need for?/of? an interpreter.

I look forward to your feedback.  
davidmich

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**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-the-need-for-or-of-an-interpreter-which-is-better-usage/674577/2 "2013-11-23T00:15:10Z")

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I’d go for “need of an interpreter”.

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**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-the-need-for-or-of-an-interpreter-which-is-better-usage/674577/3 "2013-11-23T00:33:26Z")

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The general rules of prepositions would suggest “for”, but “of” seems more idiomatic in this case. If the phrasing were slightly different - “without any need for?/of? an interpreter” - I would favor “for”. “Without the need of ~~~~~ ” seems to be an idiom.