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Prepositions after adjectives

Detailed in, about, for, on, or with?

The adjective 'detailed' is most commonly used with 'in' or followed directly by a noun. Other prepositions may appear in specific contexts or as separate adjuncts.

Quick answer

Which prepositions go with 'detailed'?

Use 'detailed in' for someone's knowledge or skill in a subject. Use 'detailed about' or 'detailed on' when describing the content of information. 'Detailed for' is uncommon after the adjective itself, and 'detailed with' usually introduces extra features or decorations rather than a topic.

She is highly detailed in financial reporting.
The guide was detailed about safety procedures.
The report is detailed on recent changes.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
detailed in + subject

Showing expertise or thoroughness in an area

Use 'detailed in' to describe someone or something with extensive detail in a field or activity.

The consultant is detailed in tax law.
Her notes were detailed in every section.
2
detailed about + topic

Giving extensive information about something

Use 'detailed about' when discussing how much information is provided on a topic.

The article was detailed about the investigation.
He became detailed about the timeline.
3
detailed on + topic

Focusing detail on a specific subject

Use 'detailed on' especially for reports, explanations, and presentations.

The briefing was detailed on security risks.
Her lecture was detailed on climate policy.
4
detailed with + feature

Describing added features or decoration

Here 'with' introduces accompanying features, not the topic of detail.

The ceiling was detailed with gold patterns.
The costume was detailed with silver stitching.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
detailed in
She is detailed in technical analysis.
Shows expertise or thorough treatment in an area.
detailed about
The documentary was detailed about the event.
Describes extensive information about a topic.
detailed on
The report is detailed on budget cuts.
Focuses detailed discussion on a subject.
detailed for
The instructions were detailed for new employees.
Here 'for new employees' shows the intended audience, not a preposition selected by 'detailed'.
detailed with
The walls were detailed with painted designs.
Introduces added features or decoration rather than the subject matter.

Common mistakes

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

Using 'detailed for' as the main adjective pattern

'For' usually introduces the audience or purpose, not the topic after 'detailed'.

✕ The manual is detailed for safety rules. ✓ The manual is detailed about safety rules.

Confusing 'detailed with' and topic descriptions

'With' is normally used for physical features or additions.

✕ The lecture was detailed with economics. ✓ The lecture was detailed on economics.

Omitting the topic after 'detailed in'

'Detailed in' normally needs a field, subject, or area.

✕ She is detailed in. ✓ She is detailed in contract law.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The presentation was detailed ___ cybersecurity threats.
2. The artist created a jacket detailed ___ beads.
3. She is highly detailed ___ market analysis.

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

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say 'detailed about'?

Yes. It is used when something provides a lot of information about a topic.

Is 'detailed for' correct?

It can be correct when 'for' introduces the audience or purpose, such as 'a guide detailed for beginners'.

What is the most common structure with 'detailed'?

Many speakers simply use 'detailed' directly before a noun, such as 'a detailed report' or 'a detailed explanation'.

daily, for, daily, with, daily, in damaging to, for, of, in or as? damn about, near, for, to or as? "dangerous for" or "dangerous to"? "dark in", "dark for" or "dark of"? "daunting for" or "daunting to"? dead in, on, by, at or of? deadly to, in, for, of or with? "deaf to" or "deaf in"? dear to, in, for, of or as? deceased in, to, for, at or on? "decent in" or "decent for"?

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