Draft of vs. Draft for – Which is Correct?
Both “draft of” and “draft for” are correct, but they express different relationships. Use “draft of” to identify the document or work being drafted: “a draft of the contract.” Use “draft for” to identify its intended audience, purpose, or project: “a draft for the client.” Choose carefully based on context.
Draft of or Draft for – Which Is Correct?
Both “draft of” and “draft for” are correct American English phrases. The difference is the relationship expressed by the preposition.
Use “draft of” when you are naming the document, work, proposal, or content that exists in preliminary form. For example, “a draft of the report” means a preliminary version of the report.
Use “draft for” when you are identifying the intended recipient, audience, purpose, or project connected with the draft. For example, “a draft for the client” means a preliminary document prepared for the client.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the “what versus whom or why” test:
- Draft of = What is being drafted? “a draft of the article”
- Draft for = Whom or what purpose is it intended? “a draft for the editor”
You can also use both phrases in one sentence: “I prepared a draft of the proposal for the marketing team.” Here, of identifies the document, while for identifies the intended audience.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| draft of | Noun phrase | A preliminary version of something | She reviewed a draft of the manuscript. |
| draft for | Noun phrase | A preliminary version intended for someone or some purpose | He created a draft for the legal team. |
How to Use “Draft of”
Use “draft of” when the noun after of names the work or document represented by the draft. This expression focuses on the content itself rather than on its recipient.
“Draft of” is common in professional, academic, legal, publishing, and casual contexts. It can describe preliminary versions of reports, contracts, essays, emails, speeches, designs, policies, books, and other creative or practical works.
Example 1: The attorney sent us a draft of the agreement.
Example 2: I saved an early draft of my research paper.
Example 3: The director reviewed a draft of the screenplay before filming began.
What Are the Different Forms of “Draft of”?
The phrase “draft of” does not have special grammatical forms because draft is a regular noun and verb. Its number changes normally: one draft of the report and several drafts of the report. The phrase can also appear with an article or possessive: a draft of the policy, the draft of the policy, or my draft of the policy.
Etymology of the Word “Draft”
Draft comes from the Old English word dræft, related to drawing, pulling, or movement. Its meaning developed to include something “drawn” or written, eventually referring to a preliminary version of a document. The spelling and pronunciation also reflect historical connections with the word draught, which remains common in some British English uses.
This historical spelling connection also explains why writers sometimes compare Draft vs. Draught in American and British English.
How to Use “Draft for”
Use “draft for” when the noun after for identifies the person, group, organization, audience, or purpose the draft is intended to serve. The phrase emphasizes the draft’s destination or function.
For example, “a draft for the board” means a preliminary document prepared for the board to read or consider. “A draft for publication” means a version prepared with publication in mind.
Example 1: The communications team prepared a draft for the company president.
Example 2: Please send me a draft for review by Friday.
Example 3: The designer produced a draft for the new product campaign.
In some contexts, “draft for” can also describe selection or conscription connected with an event or organization, as in the draft for the professional league. However, when discussing documents, it usually identifies the intended recipient or purpose.
What Are the Different Forms of “Draft for”?
Like “draft of,” the phrase “draft for” uses the regular noun draft. Its plural form is drafts for: We prepared three drafts for the client. The phrase can refer to a specific recipient, such as a draft for Maria, a group, such as a draft for the committee, or a purpose, such as a draft for publication.
Etymology of the Word “Draft”
The word draft originated from an Old English term associated with drawing or pulling. It later developed a writing-related meaning because a preliminary document was considered something “drawn” or sketched out. The preposition for comes from an ancient word expressing purpose, direction, benefit, or intended recipient.
Related Concepts
Understanding prepositions and noun phrases makes the distinction between “draft of” and “draft for” easier to recognize.
- Prepositions: Prepositions such as of and for show relationships between words. In these phrases, of links the draft to the work it represents, while for links it to an intended recipient or purpose.
- Noun phrases: “Draft of the report” and “draft for the client” are noun phrases centered on the noun draft. The following prepositional phrase adds essential information about the draft.
- Possession and association: The preposition of can express association or connection, as in “a draft of the proposal.” It does not necessarily indicate ownership.
- Purpose and intended recipient: The preposition for commonly identifies a beneficiary, audience, purpose, or destination, as in “a draft for the board.”
Examples from Media and Literature
These examples reflect the kinds of contexts in which the two phrases commonly appear in publishing, journalism, entertainment, and professional communication.
- Publishing: An author may submit a draft of a novel to an editor before the manuscript is finalized.
- News reporting: A newsroom may circulate a draft of an article for fact-checking and editorial review.
- Film and television: A production team may discuss a draft of the script and then prepare a revised draft for the network.
- Government and public policy: Officials may release a draft of a proposed regulation and request comments from the public.
- Business communication: An employee may write a draft of a presentation for the executive team to approve.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct phrase, draft of or draft for, to complete each sentence.
- The editor reviewed a ______ the magazine article.
- Could you prepare a ______ the client before tomorrow’s meeting?
- The committee requested a revised ______ the proposed policy.
- We need a shorter ______ presentation to use at the conference.
- She printed the final ______ her speech and practiced it aloud.
Answer Key
- draft of — The article is the work represented by the draft.
- draft for — The client is the intended recipient.
- draft of — The proposed policy is the document being drafted.
- draft for — The presentation is the intended purpose or setting.
- draft of — The speech is the work represented by the draft.
“Draft of” Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Preliminary version of | An early form of a document or work that may still be revised |
| Rough version of | An unfinished or informal version of something |
| Working copy of | A copy used while editing, developing, or reviewing a work |
| Early version of | A version created before completion or publication |
“Draft for” Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Version intended for | A version prepared for a particular audience or recipient |
| Proposal for | A suggested plan prepared for consideration |
| Copy prepared for | A document created for a specific person, group, or use |
| Submission for | A document prepared to be submitted to a person or organization |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “draft of” or “draft for” correct?
Both are correct. Use “draft of” for the work or document represented by the draft, and “draft for” for the intended recipient, audience, purpose, or project.
Question 2: Should I say “a draft of the email” or “a draft for the email”?
Usually, say “a draft of the email” because the email is the document being drafted. You might say “a draft for the email campaign” when referring to the purpose or broader project.
Question 3: Can “draft of” and “draft for” appear together?
Yes. For example, “I prepared a draft of the contract for the client.” “Of” identifies the document, while “for” identifies the intended recipient.
Question 4: Is “draft for review” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Draft for review” means a preliminary version prepared so that someone can examine, comment on, or approve it.
Question 5: Is “draft for” more formal than “draft of”?
Neither phrase is inherently more formal. Both are appropriate in casual, academic, business, legal, and professional writing when used according to their meanings.
Conclusion
“Draft of” and “draft for” are both correct, but they emphasize different information. Choose “draft of” when naming the work or document in preliminary form, and choose “draft for” when identifying the intended recipient, audience, purpose, or project. Pro tip: Using the precise preposition strengthens your professional writing and helps readers understand your meaning immediately.
