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Preposition after adjective

Awful for, awful at or awful in?

Awful at is common for lack of skill. Awful for describes bad effects. Awful in can work when referring to a situation or environment.

Quick answer

Which preposition fits awful?

Use awful at for poor ability, awful for for harmful effects or suitability, and awful in when describing behaviour or conditions in a particular context.

I am awful at remembering names.
Smoking is awful for your health.
He was awful in meetings.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
awful at + activity

Talking about poor skill

Awful at means very bad at doing something.

She is awful at maths.
2
awful for + person or thing

Describing harmful effects

Awful for means damaging or unsuitable.

Too much stress is awful for sleep.
3
awful in + situation

Describing behaviour in context

Awful in can describe conduct or quality within a setting.

They were awful in the interview.
4
awful with + people or objects

Describing poor handling

Awful with often refers to dealing badly with people or things.

He is awful with money.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
awful at
I'm awful at drawing.
not skilled at something
awful for
Fast food is awful for your teeth.
harmful or bad for someone or something
awful in
She was awful in the presentation.
bad within a particular event or setting

Common mistakes

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

Using awful for for abilities

At is normally used for skills and performance.

✕ He is awful for tennis. ✓ He is awful at tennis.

Using awful at for harmful effects

For is used when something has a bad effect.

✕ This diet is awful at children. ✓ This diet is awful for children.

Leaving out the context after awful in

Awful in usually needs a clear setting or activity.

✕ She is awful in. ✓ She is awful in group discussions.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. I am awful ___ directions.
2. Too much sugar is awful ___ your teeth.
3. He was awful ___ the job interview.

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Frequently asked questions

Can awful at describe talents?

Yes. It is commonly used for skills, games, subjects, and activities.

What does awful for mean?

It means harmful, unsuitable, or damaging.

Is awful in common?

It is less common than awful at, but it is natural when talking about a specific situation or environment.

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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