Under Attack By vs. Under Attack From – Which is Correct?
Both “under attack by” and “under attack from” are grammatically correct. Use “by” to emphasize the attacker or the action itself; use “from” to emphasize the source or threat. In many sentences, they are interchangeable, but “under attack from” is more natural when identifying an an hostile force or group.
Under Attack by or Under Attack From – Which is Correct?
Both “under attack by” and “under attack from” are correct English expressions. They describe a person, place, organization, system, or idea experiencing an attack.
The preposition “by” usually highlights the agent that performs the attack. The preposition “from” usually highlights the source or origin of the attack. In many contexts, the two phrases can be exchanged without changing the basic meaning.
In everyday and professional writing, “under attack from” is often the more natural choice when discussing criticism, political opposition, disease, environmental threats, or an ongoing hostile force. “Under attack by” is also standard, especially when the attacker is presented as the direct performer of the action.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the “agent versus source” test. If you want to focus on who or what is doing the attacking, choose by. If you want to focus on where the attack or threat is coming from, choose from.
For example, “The village was under attack by rebels” emphasizes the rebels as the attackers. “The village was under attack from rebels” emphasizes the rebels as the source of the danger. Both sentences are grammatical.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| under attack by | Prepositional phrase | Being attacked by a specified agent | The convoy was under attack by armed groups. |
| under attack from | Prepositional phrase | Experiencing an attack or threat originating from a source | The coastline is under attack from rising seas. |
How to Use “Under Attack By”
“Under attack by” is used when a sentence identifies the person, group, animal, force, or system carrying out the attack. It can describe a physical assault, a military action, a cyberattack, criticism, or an aggressive campaign.
This phrase is neutral in tone and appears in news reports, academic writing, official statements, and ordinary conversation. It is particularly useful when the attacker is the grammatical focus of the sentence.
Example 1: The border town was under attack by enemy forces before dawn.
Example 2: The company’s website came under attack by hackers.
Example 3: The proposal was under attack by members of the opposition party.
Etymology of the Phrase “Under Attack By”
“Under” comes from Old English under, meaning beneath or in a condition controlled by something. “Attack” entered English through French and ultimately traces back to Italian roots associated with assaulting or striking. The preposition “by” developed from Old English forms expressing proximity, agency, or the performer of an action. Together, the phrase expresses a condition in which an identified agent is attacking someone or something.
How to Use “Under Attack From”
“Under attack from” is used when the sentence emphasizes the source, direction, or origin of an attack. It is especially common when the threat is abstract, widespread, environmental, medical, commercial, or political.
Unlike “by,” which often presents a direct agent, “from” can introduce a broad source. That source might be a group, a competing business, harsh weather, a disease, public criticism, or economic pressure.
When discussing military threats, regional spelling conventions also matter, as shown in Defence vs. Defense.
Example 1: The forest is under attack from an invasive insect.
Example 2: Small businesses are under attack from rising operating costs.
Example 3: The minister has been under attack from critics for several weeks.
Etymology of the Phrase “Under Attack From”
The phrase combines “under” and “attack” with the preposition “from.” “From” comes from Old English and has long expressed movement away from a place, person, or source. In this phrase, it identifies the origin of the attack or pressure. The expression became increasingly common as English developed ways to describe both literal assaults and figurative forms of opposition.
Related Concepts
Understanding prepositions and voice in English makes the distinction between these two expressions easier to recognize.
- Prepositions: Prepositions such as by and from connect a phrase to the rest of a sentence and explain relationships such as agency, source, direction, or origin.
- Agent in passive constructions: In a passive sentence such as “The network was attacked by hackers,” by introduces the agent performing the action.
- Source or origin: The preposition from commonly identifies where something begins or comes from, as in “pressure from investors” or “a warning from experts.”
- Literal and figurative language: “Under attack” may describe a physical assault, but it can also refer to criticism, competition, disease, cybercrime, or environmental damage.
Examples from Media and Literature
Both versions occur naturally across journalism, fiction, political commentary, and technical reporting. The following examples show how the choice of preposition affects emphasis:
- News reporting: A report may state that a city was “under attack by militants” when the identity of the attackers is central to the story.
- Environmental journalism: An article may describe a coastline as “under attack from erosion,” emphasizing the source of the damage rather than a deliberate attacker.
- Political commentary: A candidate may be described as “under attack from opponents,” focusing on the opposition and its criticism.
- Science and medicine: A medical explanation may say that the body is “under attack by bacteria,” identifying the organisms carrying out the harmful action.
- Fiction: A novel might describe a castle as “under attack by an invading army,” while “under attack from the north” would emphasize the direction of the threat.
Under Attack By Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Being attacked by | Experiencing an assault carried out by a particular agent |
| Assaulted by | Being subjected to a physical or verbal attack |
| Targeted by | Chosen as the focus of an attack or campaign |
| besieged by | Surrounded, pressured, or persistently attacked by something |
Under Attack From Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Threatened by | Placed in danger by a person, force, or circumstance |
| Facing opposition from | Encountering resistance or disagreement from a source |
| Under pressure from | Experiencing demands or stress originating from someone or something |
| Beset by | Troubled or surrounded by persistent problems or threats |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “under attack by” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Under attack by” is grammatically correct and identifies the agent carrying out the attack, as in “The server was under attack by hackers.”
Question 2: Is “under attack from” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Under attack from” is also correct and identifies the source or origin of the threat, as in “The region is under attack from severe storms.”
Question 3: Which is more natural: “under attack by” or “under attack from”?
Both are natural, but “under attack from” is often preferred when discussing a broad source of danger, criticism, or pressure. “Under attack by” is especially clear when naming the direct attacker.
Question 4: Can “by” and “from” be used interchangeably in these phrases?
Often, yes. The meaning usually remains substantially the same, although “by” emphasizes the performer of the attack and “from” emphasizes its source.
Question 5: Should I use “under attack from” for figurative attacks?
It is frequently a good choice for figurative attacks, such as criticism, competition, inflation, disease, or environmental damage. However, “under attack by” is also possible when the figurative attacker is treated as an active agent.
Conclusion
Both “under attack by” and “under attack from” are correct. Choose “by” when emphasizing the agent performing the attack, and choose “from” when emphasizing the source or origin of the threat. Pro tip: In professional writing, select the preposition that makes your intended focus unmistakable; precise wording strengthens your credibility.
