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Prepositions after adjectives

Convinced of, by, about, after or at?

Convinced of and convinced by are the most common patterns. Other prepositions have different or limited uses.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows convinced?

Use convinced of for beliefs or certainty, and convinced by for evidence or arguments. Convinced about is possible for general topics, but less direct than convinced of. After and at are not standard complements after convinced, though they may appear in other sentence roles.

I'm convinced of his honesty.
She was convinced by the data.
They are convinced about the need for change.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
convinced of + fact or belief

Expressing certainty

Use of when someone strongly believes something is true.

We are convinced of their innocence.
He seemed convinced of his success.
2
convinced by + evidence or person

Showing what persuaded someone

Use by for the thing or person that caused the belief.

I was convinced by her explanation.
The committee was convinced by the results.
3
convinced about + topic

Talking about a general issue

About can be used for broad subjects or questions, although of is often more direct.

She is convinced about the benefits of exercise.
They became convinced about the plan.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
convinced of
He is convinced of her talent.
Shows certainty or belief.
convinced by
I was convinced by the evidence.
Shows what persuaded someone.
convinced about
She is convinced about the risks.
Used for a general topic or issue.
convinced after
They were convinced after the meeting.
After introduces time, not the complement of convinced.
convinced at
He felt convinced at that moment.
At introduces time or place, not the main adjective pattern.

Common mistakes

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

Using by for beliefs

Use of to express the belief itself.

✕ She is convinced by his innocence. ✓ She is convinced of his innocence.

Using after as the main complement

After usually gives timing information, not the object of convinced.

✕ I am convinced after your idea. ✓ I am convinced by your idea.

Confusing by and of

By shows the source of persuasion; of shows the belief.

✕ They were convinced of the evidence. ✓ They were convinced by the evidence.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. We are convinced ___ the company's potential.
2. She was convinced ___ the witness testimony.
3. He became convinced ___ the issue after weeks of research.

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Frequently asked questions

Is convinced about correct?

Yes, especially for broad topics, although convinced of is often more natural for firm beliefs.

Can convinced be followed by by?

Yes. Use convinced by for evidence, arguments, or people that persuade someone.

Why are after and at uncommon after convinced?

They usually add time or place information rather than complete the adjective pattern.

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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