Sign In Get Started
Prepositions after adjectives

Bizarre to, for, or in?

Bizarre is commonly used with to before a person or with in before a context. Bizarre for is possible when describing unusual behaviour or qualities.

Quick answer

How do you use bizarre with prepositions?

Use bizarre to someone to show perspective, bizarre for someone or something to describe unusual behaviour, and bizarre in to describe the area or context where something is strange.

The custom seemed bizarre to outsiders.
It was bizarre for him to leave so early.
The film is bizarre in several ways.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
bizarre to + person

Showing who finds something strange

Use bizarre to identify the person who considers something strange or unusual.

The rule sounded bizarre to new employees.
2
bizarre for + person/thing

Describing unusual behaviour or qualities

Use bizarre for when something is unusual for a particular person, group, or thing.

It is bizarre for the company to stay silent.
3
bizarre in + area/respect

Describing the aspect that is strange

Use bizarre in to specify the area or feature where something appears strange.

The design is bizarre in its colour choices.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
bizarre to
The idea seemed bizarre to me.
shows whose perspective is involved
bizarre for
It was bizarre for her to refuse help.
describes behaviour that is unusual for someone
bizarre in
The story is bizarre in many respects.
identifies the aspect or context of strangeness
bizarre about
There is something bizarre about his explanation.
a useful alternative pattern with about

Common mistakes

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

Using bizarre to before an action

Use for before a person when an action follows.

✕ It was bizarre to him to resign suddenly. ✓ It was bizarre for him to resign suddenly.

Confusing perspective and behaviour

To marks the observer, while for marks what is unusual for someone.

✕ The policy was bizarre for me. ✓ The policy was bizarre to me.

Using in for the observer

In introduces an aspect or context, not the person judging.

✕ The idea seemed bizarre in me. ✓ The idea seemed bizarre to me.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The tradition seemed bizarre ___ tourists.
2. It was bizarre ___ him to cancel the meeting.
3. The report is bizarre ___ its conclusions.

Check your sentence in context

Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

Free to try · No signup required

Frequently asked questions

Can bizarre be followed directly by a person?

Usually use to before the person, as in bizarre to me.

Is bizarre for always correct?

It is correct when describing behaviour or qualities that are unusual for someone or something.

Can I say bizarre in a good way?

Yes. Bizarre often means very unusual, and the tone depends on context.

bad, for, bad, of baffling to, for, in, as or of? bankrupt in, by, for, as or with? "barefoot in" or "barefoot on"? "bare of", "bare with" or "bare in"? "basic of" or "basic to"? beautiful in, with, on, for or to? beholden to, for or on? "beloved by", "beloved to" or "beloved of"? "bemused by" or "bemused at"? "beneficial to" or "beneficial for"? bereft of, at, by, in or without?

Write with confidence in Linguix

Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.

Create a free account