clear to + person
Easy to understand for someone
Use to when talking about who understands something.
The message was clear to the audience.
clear to, from, in, of, or about
Clear combines with different prepositions depending on whether you mean understandable, free from something, obvious, or certain.
Quick answer
How do you use clear with prepositions?
Use clear to for a person who understands, clear about for certainty, clear of for freedom from obstacles, and clear from for what can be concluded.
The instructions were clear to everyone.
She is clear about her priorities.
The road is clear of traffic.
It became clear from his tone that he was upset.
She is clear about her priorities.
The road is clear of traffic.
It became clear from his tone that he was upset.
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
clear about + topic
Certain or specific about something
About is common when someone expresses certainty or precision.
We need to be clear about the deadlines.
clear of + obstacle
Free from something
Use of for physical or figurative absence.
The runway was clear of debris.
clear from + evidence
Obvious because of evidence
From introduces the source of a conclusion.
It is clear from the data that sales increased.
clear in + area
Clear within a field or respect
In refers to a specific area or aspect.
The writing is clear in its structure.
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
clear to
The procedure is clear to new staff.
understandable for someone
clear from
It was clear from her reply that she disagreed.
obvious because of evidence
clear in
The speaker was clear in his explanation.
clear within a particular aspect
clear of
Keep clear of the machinery.
away from or free from something
clear about
I'm clear about the next steps.
certain or well informed
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Using clear of for understanding
Clear of means away from or free from something, not understandable.
✕ The lesson was clear of the students. ✓ The lesson was clear to the students.Confusing clear from and clear about
From introduces evidence; about introduces the topic of certainty.
✕ It is clear about the report that profits fell. ✓ It is clear from the report that profits fell.Quick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. The instructions were clear ___ the interns.
2. Please stay clear ___ the closing doors.
3. It became clear ___ her comments that she was worried.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I say clear about something?
Yes. It means certain, precise, or well informed about a topic.
What does clear of mean?
It usually means free from something or away from danger or obstacles.
Is clear for also possible?
Yes, in expressions such as clear for take-off, but that is a different pattern from the ones discussed here.
Related preposition guides
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