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Prepositions after adjectives

Australian + preposition

Australian is usually followed by in when referring to location or involvement. Australian of is uncommon and appears mainly in fixed expressions about origin or descent.

Quick answer

How do you use Australian with prepositions?

Australian in is common when talking about activity, location, or participation. Australian of is rare and usually appears in formal expressions about origin, such as Australian of Italian descent.

She is an expert Australian in environmental law.
He became well known Australian in political circles.
She is an Australian of Greek descent.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
Australian in + field/place

Describing activity or involvement

In often introduces a field, area, or context connected with Australian people or identity.

He is influential as an Australian in international finance.
She was the first Australian in the competition finals.
2
Australian of + origin/descent

Describing ancestry or background

Australian of appears mainly in formal descriptions of heritage.

He is an Australian of Lebanese descent.
She is an Australian of Chinese heritage.
3
Australian citizen in + place

Giving location information

In may simply introduce the place where the person is located.

An Australian in London contacted the embassy.
The article followed an Australian in Tokyo.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
Australian in
She is an Australian in Berlin.
In introduces location or context.
Australian of
He is an Australian of Irish descent.
Formal expression about ancestry or origin.
Australian of the year
She became Australian of the Year.
Part of a fixed title, not a general adjective pattern.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using of for ordinary location meaning

Use in for place or context.

✕ He is an Australian of Paris. ✓ He is an Australian in Paris.

Assuming of is a general complement

Australian of is limited to ancestry or fixed expressions.

✕ She is Australian of music. ✓ She is Australian in the music industry.

Capitalisation error

Australian is capitalised because it comes from a country name.

✕ an australian in Rome ✓ an Australian in Rome

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. He is an Australian ___ Singapore working in banking.
2. She is an Australian ___ Vietnamese descent.
3. Which sentence is natural? ___

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Frequently asked questions

Is Australian of common in everyday English?

No. It is mostly limited to ancestry expressions and official titles.

Can I say an Australian in London?

Yes. This is a natural way to describe location.

Why is Australian capitalised?

Nationality words derived from country names are capitalised in English.

abhorrent-to-in-for-of, about "ablaze with" or "ablaze in"? "able for" or "able in"? "abreast of" or "abreast with"? "absent from" or "absent in"? absolute in, for, of, to or as? "absurd to", "absurd in" or "absurd for"? abundant in, with, of, on or for? "abusive to", "abusive in" or "abusive towards"? "academic in" or "academic at"? "acceptable to" or "acceptable for"? accessible to, by, for, from or in?

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