Sign In Get Started
Preposition after adjective

Consonant with, to or of?

Consonant with is the standard formal pattern meaning 'in agreement with'. Consonant to is rare and dated, and consonant of is not standard in this meaning.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows consonant?

Use consonant with to mean compatible, harmonious, or in agreement with something.

The decision is consonant with company policy.
Her actions were consonant with her principles.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
consonant with + principle/idea

Showing agreement or harmony

This formal pattern means compatible with or matching something.

The proposal is consonant with international law.
2
consonant with + behaviour

Comparing actions with values

Use the pattern to compare conduct and standards.

His conduct was consonant with the organisation's aims.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
consonant with
The reforms are consonant with democratic values.
in agreement or harmony with
consonant to
The wording sounds consonant to older legal style.
rare and dated variant of consonant with
consonant of
Consonant of is not standard in this meaning.
generally incorrect after the adjective

Common mistakes

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

Using of after consonant

Of is not the normal preposition after consonant meaning 'compatible'.

✕ The rule is consonant of tradition. ✓ The rule is consonant with tradition.

Using the dated form to in neutral writing

Consonant to appears in older or highly formal texts.

✕ The policy is consonant to our goals. ✓ The policy is consonant with our goals.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The plan is consonant ___ current regulations.
2. Which form is considered dated?
3. His actions were consonant ___ his beliefs.

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

Is consonant a common adjective?

It is mainly used in formal, legal, or academic English.

Can I replace consonant with compatible?

Yes. Compatible with often sounds more natural in everyday English.

Does consonant of ever work?

Not in this meaning. Use consonant with instead.

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"?

Write with confidence in Linguix

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

Create a free account