I suggest: membership with ....

tarma, I somehow think "with" is the least likely option, but thank you! Are you a native speaker?

Hecuba, I read a similar response in another language forum. Apparently the UK only knew "membership of" until recently, and that other options, like "to" or "in" have migrated from the US in recent years.

I'd love a response from a US native :)

EDIT didn't see your response there wupper. Thanks!

It would typically be "in" for AE.

edit: others were faster.

Thanks hbberlin. And does "membership of" make you cringe, or is it acceptable for AE ears?

I wouldn't have imagined that it was proper BE. Definitely cringe-worthy to my AE ears.

#7: It's definitely proper BE!

Avoid #1's "membership with".

#8: I didn't challenge that--I was simply surprised to learn it.

What if we go this way??

Re #10: No - sounds a bit clumsy.

# 10 klingt aber nicht richtig für meine Ohren..

Danke für euer Feedback, I'm going to go with "in" as our company is more geared toward AE translations and we'd rather have Brits go "Urghhh that is U-G-L-Y" than Americans go "say whuuuut?"

I would go as far as to say that in AE, "membership in" is the only correct option. However, you are a member 'of' something, not a member 'in' something.

Ah, thanks for addressing "member": that was going to be my next question! It's also "member of" in BE.

Unfortunately, I think many (most?) Brits would flinch at "membership in", so I wouldn't completely dismiss the suggestion in #10 (though preferably leaving out "a").

... well, now that I've said that, I can imagine situations where I'd say (get ready) "membership at."

For example, I'd say I have a membership at the gym, not a membership in the gym.

[edit:] and I'd be a member at the gym, not a member in or possibly even of the gym. ugh.

[edit 2:] but, not to be confusing, membership in a group / member of a group is definitely correct.

prepositions, how do they work

Wie wäre es, wenn man den Satz umdreht, um die Präposition zu vermeiden:

Group xy granted them membership.

Oder : They were invited to become members of the group.

Oder aber: "They were granted membership by group xy" im Sinne von "die Gruppe hat sie eingeladen"

RE #16: Which goes to show, the preposition used (and even the structure used) depends on the nature of the membership organization. A gym is more of an object than it is a group. Thus, membership at the gym. German's prepositions, among other things, are no easier to work out.

#17 unfortunately not really an option due to the nature of the message within the program I'm translating... Users request membership with/of/to/in a group and then receive a message when they've been accepted, ie "you have been granted membership to/of/with/in group XYZ". The group itself doesn't really grant memberships, it's a person who has to grant access to the group.

Anyway, you guys really are the best :D I love all this nerdiness over prepositions. The problem's been solved for my purpose, but please do keep discussing. :)

Hat noch niemand vorgeschlagen "You are now a member of this group"?