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Prepositions after adjectives

Average in or average for?

Average in is used for skill areas or subjects. Average for compares someone or something with a group or category.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows average?

Use average in for ability in a subject or activity. Use average for when comparing with a group, age, period, or category. English also commonly uses average at before a number or level.

She is average in maths.
The salary is average for the industry.
Temperatures are average at 18°C this month.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
average in + subject/activity

Ability in a field

Use average in to describe ordinary skill or performance in a subject or activity.

He is average in science.
Most students are average in spelling.
2
average for + group/category

Comparison with a standard

Use average for when comparing something with a typical level in a group or category.

Her height is average for her age.
Prices are average for the region.
3
average at + number/level

Measured level

Average at is common before a figure or rate.

Rainfall was average at 60 millimetres.
The team is average at defending set pieces.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
average in
She is average in chemistry.
having ordinary ability in a subject
average for
The income is average for the city.
typical compared with a group or category
average at
The class averaged at 75 percent.
used with figures or measured levels
average on
The product scored average on quality tests.
possible in some contexts but less common than average in or average at

Common mistakes

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

Using average for with subjects

Use average in for school subjects or skills.

✕ He is average for maths. ✓ He is average in maths.

Using average in for comparisons

Use average for when comparing with a category or population.

✕ The cost is average in Europe. ✓ The cost is average for Europe.

Avoiding clearer alternatives

Sometimes typical or around average sounds more natural than average plus a preposition.

✓ Her results are around average for the class.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She is average ___ foreign languages.
2. The rent is average ___ this neighbourhood.
3. The temperature was average ___ 22°C.

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Frequently asked questions

Can average in describe skills?

Yes. Average in is used for subjects, sports, and abilities.

Is average for used with age groups?

Yes. For example: average for a ten-year-old.

Can I say average on a test?

You can say average on a test score in some contexts, but average in or average at are usually more natural patterns.

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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