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Preposition after adjective

Consistent with, in, across, at or for?

Consistent with and consistent in are the main standard patterns. Other prepositions usually belong to separate time or place phrases.

Quick answer

Common patterns with consistent

Use consistent with for agreement or compatibility. Use consistent in for steady behaviour or quality. Across, at, and for are usually separate adjuncts, not fixed combinations.

His story is consistent with the evidence.
She is consistent in her training routine.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
consistent with + idea/evidence

Showing agreement or compatibility

Use consistent with when two things match or do not conflict.

The results are consistent with earlier studies.
2
consistent in + activity/quality

Showing steady behaviour

Use consistent in for regularity in actions or performance.

They are consistent in their customer service.
3
consistent across + group/area

Describing similarity in many places

Across often introduces a separate phrase showing range or scope.

The policy remained consistent across all departments.
4
consistent at + time/place

Adding a place or time phrase

At usually functions as a normal place or time adjunct, not as a selected preposition.

Her performance was consistent at home and away.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
consistent with
Your explanation is consistent with the facts.
in agreement with
consistent in
He is consistent in his work habits.
steady or regular in behaviour
consistent across
Standards are consistent across the company.
similar throughout a range
consistent at
The team stayed consistent at crucial moments.
at introduces a time or situation, not a fixed pattern
consistent for
Sales were consistent for several months.
for introduces duration, not a fixed adjective pattern

Common mistakes

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

Using in instead of with for agreement

Use consistent with when things match.

✕ The data is consistent in the report. ✓ The data is consistent with the report.

Treating across as the main complement

Across usually introduces a range or area.

✕ Her answer is consistent across the facts. ✓ Her answer is consistent with the facts.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The findings are consistent ___ previous research.
2. She is consistent ___ her daily practice.
3. Quality remained consistent ___ all stores.

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Frequently asked questions

Is consistent with the most common pattern?

Yes. It is the standard choice for agreement or compatibility.

Can I say consistent across teams?

Yes. Across introduces the range where something stays similar.

Is consistent to correct?

Consistent to is uncommon and usually avoided in modern standard English.

calm, in, calm, for, calm, about "candid about" or "candid in"? capable of or in? careful about, with, of, in or on? careless about, with, in, of or on? caribbean in, for, with, to or on? "catastrophic for" or "catastrophic to"? "cautious about" or "cautious in"? celtic in, for, on, at or to? central to, in, for, at or of? "certain of" or "certain about"? "challenging for" or "challenging of"?

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