Dealt by vs. Dealt with – Which is Correct?
“Dealt by” and “dealt with” are both correct, but they serve different purposes. Use “dealt by” to identify the person or agency performing an action, especially distributing cards. Use “dealt with” to mean handled, addressed, or treated. The surrounding sentence determines which phrase fits in both conversation and formal writing.
Dealt by or Dealt with – Which is Correct?
“Dealt by” and “dealt with” are both valid English phrases, but they are not interchangeable. “Dealt by” usually appears in the passive voice to identify who performed an action. It is especially common when someone distributes playing cards, delivers a blow, or administers something.
“Dealt with” is a phrasal verb meaning handled, addressed, managed, or treated. It is the usual choice when discussing a problem, complaint, situation, person, or subject.
For example, “The cards were dealt by Maria” identifies Maria as the person who distributed the cards. However, “The complaint was dealt with by Maria” means Maria handled the complaint. In most contexts involving problems or responsibilities, “dealt with” is the correct phrase.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the “who versus what” test. If you are naming who performed an action, use “by”: “The cards were dealt by the dealer.” If you are describing what someone handled, use “with”: “The dealer dealt with the customer’s complaint.”
Another useful reminder is that “by” points to an agent, while “with” points to an issue or object being handled. If the sentence concerns a problem, responsibility, conflict, or subject, “dealt with” will usually be the natural choice.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| dealt by | Passive phrase | Identifies the person or agency that performed an action | The cards were dealt by the tournament director. |
| dealt with | Phrasal verb | Handled, addressed, managed, or treated | The manager dealt with the customer’s complaint. |
How to Use Dealt by
“Dealt by” is generally used in a passive construction. The thing receiving the action comes before “was” or “were,” and the person or organization responsible for the action follows “by.” The phrase is common when discussing cards, blows, punishments, medication, or other actions delivered by someone.
Although “dealt by” is grammatically valid, it does not normally mean “handled.” Saying that “the problem was dealt by the committee” sounds incomplete or unnatural in standard American English. In that situation, use “the problem was dealt with by the committee.”
Example 1: The final five cards were dealt by the professional dealer.
Example 2: The winning blow was dealt by the champion in the last round.
Example 3: The penalty was dealt by the disciplinary board.
What are the different forms of Dealt by?
“Dealt by” contains the irregular verb deal. Its principal forms are deal in the present tense, dealt in both the simple past and past participle, and dealing as the present participle. The phrase “dealt by” normally uses the past participle in a passive construction.
- Present: The dealer deals the cards.
- Past: The dealer dealt the cards.
- Past participle: The cards were dealt by the dealer.
- Present participle: The dealer is dealing the cards.
Etymology of the word Dealt by
Dealt comes from the Old English verb dǣlan, meaning “to divide,” “share,” or “distribute.” Over time, deal developed several related meanings, including distributing cards and delivering an action. The preposition by comes from Old English and commonly identifies an agent or doer in passive constructions.
How to Use Dealt with
“Dealt with” is the past-tense or past-participle form of the phrasal verb deal with. It means to handle, manage, address, respond to, or take action regarding something. It can also mean to interact with a person or to discuss a subject.
The phrase works in both casual and formal English. It is especially common in workplace communication, customer service, academic writing, news reporting, and official statements. Depending on context, “dealt with” may describe a successful response or simply the act of addressing an issue.
Example 1: The technician dealt with the software problem quickly.
Example 2: The report dealt with the effects of climate change on coastal communities.
Example 3: The school dealt with the student’s complaint according to its formal policy.
What are the different forms of Dealt with?
“Dealt with” comes from the irregular verb deal followed by the preposition with. The verb does not take the regular past-tense ending -ed; its past and past participle forms are both dealt.
- Present: The team deals with urgent requests.
- Past: The team dealt with the request yesterday.
- Present perfect: The team has dealt with similar requests before.
- Continuous: The team is dealing with a major delay.
- Passive: The delay was dealt with by the operations department.
Etymology of the word Dealt with
Deal originated from the Old English dǣlan, meaning “to divide,” “distribute,” or “share.” The modern phrase deal with developed from the broader idea of handling or distributing something, eventually taking on meanings such as managing a situation, interacting with a person, or addressing a topic.
Related Concepts
Understanding passive voice and phrasal verbs makes the distinction between “dealt by” and “dealt with” much easier to recognize.
- Passive voice: In a passive sentence, the receiver of an action becomes the subject. The preposition “by” can then introduce the person or organization that performed the action, as in “The cards were dealt by Luis.”
- Phrasal verbs: A phrasal verb combines a verb with a preposition or adverb to create a specific meaning. “Deal with” means handle or address, which is different from the basic verb “deal.”
- Agent phrases: An agent phrase identifies who performed an action. In “The decision was dealt with by the board,” “by the board” identifies the organization that handled the decision.
- Transitive verbs: “Deal with” normally takes an object, such as a problem, customer, topic, or emergency. The object is what gets handled or addressed.
Examples from Media and Literature
These examples show how the two phrases appear in familiar real-world contexts.
- Card games on television: A poker scene may explain that “the first hand was dealt by the house dealer.” Here, “by” identifies the person distributing the cards.
- Crime dramas: A detective may say that the department has “dealt with several similar cases.” Here, “dealt with” means investigated or managed.
- News reports: A report might state that an emergency was “dealt with by local responders.” The full phrase means the responders handled the emergency.
- Historical fiction: A narrator may describe a punishment “dealt by the king.” In this example, “by” identifies the person who imposed or delivered it.
- Academic books: A chapter may have “dealt with the economic causes of the conflict.” In this context, the chapter addressed or discussed the causes.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct phrase, dealt by or dealt with, to complete each sentence.
- The cards were ______ the dealer in the opening round.
- The customer service team ______ the refund request promptly.
- The final decision was ______ the appeals court.
- The article ______ the challenges facing small businesses.
- The injury was caused by a blow ______ the opposing player.
Answer Key
- dealt by — The dealer performed the action of distributing the cards.
- dealt with — The team handled the refund request.
- dealt by — The appeals court made or issued the decision.
- dealt with — The article addressed the challenges.
- dealt by — The opposing player delivered the blow.
Dealt by Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Distributed by | Given out or divided by a person or organization |
| Delivered by | Brought, presented, or administered by someone |
| Administered by | Officially given or applied by an authorized person |
| Issued by | Formally produced, announced, or imposed by an authority |
Dealt with Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Handled | Managed or took care of a situation or task |
| Addressed | Considered, discussed, or responded to an issue |
| Managed | Controlled or organized a situation or responsibility |
| Resolved | Successfully settled or solved a problem |
| Discussed | Considered or examined a subject in speech or writing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “dealt by” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Dealt by” is grammatically correct when “by” identifies the person or organization that performed an action, as in “The cards were dealt by the dealer.” It is not usually the correct replacement for “dealt with” when referring to handling a problem.
Question 2: Should I say “the issue was dealt by” or “the issue was dealt with”?
Say “the issue was dealt with.” The phrasal verb “deal with” means handle or address an issue. “Dealt by” should generally be followed by an agent performing a specific action, not used alone to mean “handled.”
Question 3: What is the difference between “dealt with by” and “dealt by”?
“Dealt with by” means handled by someone: “The complaint was dealt with by the supervisor.” “Dealt by” identifies someone who delivered or performed an action: “The cards were dealt by the supervisor.”
Conclusion
Both “dealt by” and “dealt with” are correct, but they express different ideas. Use “dealt by” to name the agent responsible for an action, especially when cards, blows, penalties, or decisions are delivered. Use “dealt with” to mean handled, addressed, managed, or discussed. Pro Tip: Choosing the correct phrase strengthens your clarity and protects your professional reputation in emails, reports, and formal writing.
