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EDIT: The main point of my question is about whether it's better to avoid ending a sentence with a preposition in this case.

As text explaining to some software's user that they need to enter a code that was supplied to them, what would be the correct text? [I know the difference between providing a car to someone and providing someone with a car, and I'm referring to the latter. I'm asking if it's more correct to leave out the "with".]

  1. Enter code you were provided
  2. Enter code you were provided with

or maybe something else altogether?

(I didn't include a "the" after "Enter" because it seems like software text is usually succinct like that, but perhaps that should be added as well?)

EDIT

This is unrelated to "provide" vs. "provide with" . I know the difference between providing a car to someone and providing someone with a car, and I'm referring to the latter. My question is just whether it's better to leave out the "with" at the end of the sentence.

ispiro
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    This is sort of problem the passive voice introduces. Both are okay, but I'd rather see Enter the code we sent or Enter the code from our last email. – Yosef Baskin May 26 '20 at 18:41
  • @CloseVoters Why? – ispiro May 26 '20 at 18:49
  • @YosefBaskin The problem with that is that this text is supposed to appear in an application without prior knowledge of how it will be used in the future. Though the code is most likely going to be sent by email, we don't know that for sure. – ispiro May 26 '20 at 18:51
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    Does this answer your question? "provide" vs. "provide with" – Edwin Ashworth May 26 '20 at 18:51
  • @EdwinAshworth Not exactly. Since I know the difference between the two "provide"s, and am asking about the provide that does go with the "with". My question is whether the "with" is required or if it's better to leave it out, especially because that means the sentence will end with a "with". – ispiro May 26 '20 at 18:55
  • Colin Fine's answer shows the two different subcategorisation frames:

    provide something [ to somebody] provide somebody with something //// So, a code was provided to you ... and you were provided with a code. The licensed variants of your sentence are correspondingly Enter the code that was provided to you and Enter the code that you were provided with. //// 'Provide' hasn't yet made it into ditransitive territory *provide somebody something.

     – Edwin Ashworth May 26 '20 at 19:02
  • @EdwinAshworth Just to make sure, Enter the code that you were provided with. is completely fine despite ending with "with"? – ispiro May 26 '20 at 19:07
  • Definitely should be "the code". – Hot Licks May 26 '20 at 23:59
  • Yes, totally grammatical. Look up 'ending sentences with a preposition' if you're a bit wary of doing so. But even better (and what most proficient Anglophones would expect: ie idiomatic English) is 'Enter the code provided.' – Edwin Ashworth May 27 '20 at 14:42
  • You could just go with "Code". – jimm101 May 27 '20 at 18:19

1 Answers1

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You can provide something to someone.* And you can provide someone with something.† You can even provide someone something.‡

And you can do all that in the passive voice as well, as you have demonstrated with your examples.

 

First let's look at the possible active voice versions of your message:

We provided a code to you. Enter the code that we provided to you.

We provided you with a code. Enter the code that we provided you with.

We provided you a code. Enter the code that we provided you.

Now let's make those passive:

A code was provided to you [by us]. Enter the code that was provided to you [by us].

You were provided with a code [by us]. Enter the code that you were provided with [by us].

You were provided a code [by us]. Enter the code that you were provided [by us].

Finally let's shorten those back up:

Enter code provided. (or Enter provided code.)

Enter code you were provided with. (It's really completely legal to end a sentence with a preposition, but if you meet resistance . . . Enter the code with which you were provided.)

Enter code you were provided.

 

Take your pick. (I'd go with Enter provided code.)

 

provide, v.

* ‡ 6. transitive. To supply (something) for use; to make available; to yield, afford. Frequently with for, to, indicating the beneficiary. Also occasionally with indirect object without to.

1899 W. BESANT Orange Girl ii. xxvi. 431: The contractors..do honestly provide the convicts the rations prescribed by the Government.

1942 LD. ALANBROOKE Diary 26 May in War Diaries (2001) 260: He is trying to stop deliveries of aircraft to us in order to provide sufficient aircraft to USA pilots!

† 10. transitive. To supply (a person, animal, place, etc.) with something. Frequently in passive. b. With with.

1913 C. GRAHAME-WHITE Aviation 214: The pilot and his passenger are provided with a completely covered body, which they enter through a small door.

1990 S. FRASER in M. Kurc That reminds Me xi. 45: Since we were all so famous, no one had provided us with namecards.

Source: Oxford English Dictionary (login required)

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