Married to Someone or Married with Someone: Which One Is Correct?
When referring to a married couple, it is important to use the correct preposition after the adjective married. The correct preposition to use is to, not with:
✅ John is married to Susan.
❌ John is married with Susan.
✅ Anna is going to get married to a rock star.
❌ Anna is going to get married with a rock star.
✅ Tim's grandmother was married to a Japanese man.
❌ Tim's grandmother was married with a Japanese man.
The phrase married with is typically used to describe a situation where someone has both a spouse and other people or things, such as children or pets. Here are some examples:
✅ Samantha is married with two children. (= Samantha is married and has two children.)
✅ John and Susan are married with a child and a dog. (= John and Susan are married and have a child and a dog.)
When using the verb marry (past tense form: married), a preposition is not needed after it:
✅ Anna is going to marry a rock star.
❌ Anna is going to marry to a rock star.
❌ Anna is going to marry with a rock star.
✅ Tim's grandmother married a Japanese man.
❌ Tim's grandmother married to a Japanese man.
❌ Tim's grandmother married with a Japanese man.
Examples from the Media
In Canada, it's against the law to be married to more than one person at a time. —Toronto Star (2023)
Being married to someone you love is a lot better than being married to your own cynicism. —The New York Times (2017)
As a young girl, I felt a societal expectation that I would be married with a couple of kids by my mid-20s. So when I approached my mid-30s as a single woman, I was prepared for life as a spinster. —The Sydney Morning Herald (2022)
It was January 1975 and I was married with six children. —Daily Mail (2023)
Practice
Choose the correct answers to complete the sentences.
1. Saul is happily married to/with a wife who is also his business partner.
2. The couple is married to/with two children and a shared love for hiking.
3. He is proud to be married to/with an accomplished scientist who inspires him every day with her dedication to her work.
4. Judy is married to/with her childhood sweetheart and they celebrate their wedding anniversary every year with a romantic getaway.
5. Before being with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle was married to/with film producer Trevor Engelson.
6. Despite being married to/with five children and two dogs, she still found time to pursue her passion for painting.
7. Christy has been married to/with Paul for over a decade.
Answer Key
1. to 2. with 3. to 4. to 5. to 6. with 7. to
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