Protect from/ against

[arzgol]

People attend university to get a degree and protect themselves from/ against unemployment.

Thank you for your reply.

[BobK]

You can use either, though I have the impression that 'against' implies that unemployment is certain, whereas 'against' suggests that it might happen.

When I think of it either sounds a bit odd. In the present economic climate, any job requires an education and any level of education doesn't guarantee a job - so you don't protect yourself either from or against unemployment just by getting an education. What you're saying may be that people go to university because the alternative is unemployment.

b

[arzgol]

But during economic crisis, simple workers lose their job faster compared with registered nurses.
I agree with you, that having a degree is not enough to be successful, because nepotism and favoritism are more important than your knowledge. As matter of fact, nowadays uneducated people earn more than educated people.But theoretically, when we write an essay, using the preposition ''from" is regarded a wrong word.

[5jj]

.But theoretically, when we write an essay, using the preposition ''from" is regarded a wrong word.

It shouldn't be. You can protect somebody or something from or against somebody or something.

[nielskokholm]

Both are good dependent prepositions, although they cannot always be used interchangeably.

Example:

The mother protected the child from harm NOT against harm (unless harm is the name of a person :)

[Hedwig]

You can use either, though I have the impression that 'against' implies that unemployment is certain, whereas 'against' suggests that it might happen.

This looks like a typo and I don't mean to expose you (sez Hedwig AKA Typo Queen) but I'm curious as to which is which.

[arzgol]

I think Rover meant ''against''. to protect themselves against unemployment.

[BobK]

This looks like a typo and I don't mean to expose you (sez Hedwig AKA Typo Queen) but I'm curious as to which is which.

- perhaps I was sub-consciously 'hedging my bets' [=backing all possibilities] because I wasn't sure! Also, as I wasn't happy with the 'education/unemployment' context, neither sounded right to me. But here are contexts that show the difference:

He was inoculated against malaria : if he was exposed* to malaria he'd be OK

Harry wore the cloak to prevent him from being seen : he was sure to be visible without it.

I'll leave the other post, so that people can follow the exchange.

b

*to the thing, that is, not to the risk