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'Overhaul the Process' or 'Overhaul of the Process'? The Verb Preposition Mistake

Foundational Guides · 2 min read · 2026-08-17 · Updated 2026-08-27

A professional directly transforming a process while an unnecessary connector lies unused

Overhaul causes one frequent grammatical problem for many learners. As a verb, it takes its object directly, with no preposition between them.

"Overhaul the process" is correct. As a verb phrase, "overhaul of the process" is not.

Quick check: use overhaul as a transitive verb with no preposition before its object.

Choose the version where the verb touches its object directly.

Where the error comes from

The error comes from moving the noun form's "of" into the verb form. "An overhaul of the process" is correct when "overhaul" is a noun. When "overhaul" is a verb, that "of" does not belong.

Correct: "The leadership team wants to overhaul the vendor-approval process."

Incorrect: "The leadership team wants to overhaul of the vendor-approval process."

Correct: "Next quarter, the operations team plans to overhaul the returns process, replacing every manual step with automated tracking."

The verb goes immediately before its object. Nothing sits between them.

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Why this particular mistake stands out

This is not just a style choice, and many fluent speakers will notice the error at once. It often appears when clear writing matters most. You may be proposing a major change to leaders or clients, so a misplaced "of" can make a strong proposal sound less polished.

Keep the two prepositions mentally separate

The reverse pattern, "an overhaul of the process," belongs to the noun and is correct there. The verb follows a different rule, so keep the two patterns separate in your mind. Do not assume that one pattern also covers the other.

Practice scenarios

Practice the verb pattern without a preposition in these situations.

  • propose a process rebuild to a manager or client
  • catch an extra "of" in a verb phrase before sending it
  • switch between the verb and noun forms in one message

Useful practice phrases to try.

  • "We want to overhaul [the process/system]."
  • "The team plans to overhaul [X], replacing every manual step."
  • Not: "...to overhaul of [X]."

Put Beacon’s object directly after the verb

The verb does not need any help from a preposition.

Put its object directly after it, and the sentence will sound natural.

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