Sign In Get Started
Prepositions after adjectives

dubious about vs dubious of

Both dubious about and dubious of are used, but they differ slightly in tone and structure.

Quick answer

Should you use dubious about or dubious of?

Use dubious about to express uncertainty about a plan, idea, or claim. Dubious of is also correct and often means suspicious or unconvinced about someone or something. About is generally more common in everyday English.

I'm dubious about the proposal.
She was dubious of his explanation.
They remain dubious about the results.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
dubious about + idea or situation

Feeling uncertain about something

Use dubious about for doubts concerning plans, claims, or situations.

We are dubious about the figures.
He sounded dubious about the new policy.
2
dubious of + person or claim

Feeling suspicious or unconvinced

Dubious of often suggests distrust or scepticism toward someone or something.

She was dubious of their motives.
Many voters remain dubious of the promise.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
dubious about
I'm dubious about the schedule.
Expresses uncertainty or doubt about a matter.
dubious of
She is dubious of his story.
Expresses suspicion or scepticism.
doubtful about
He is doubtful about the outcome.
A close alternative focused on uncertainty.
sceptical of
They are sceptical of the claim.
A stronger expression of disbelief or suspicion.

Common mistakes

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

Using dubious with a direct object

Dubious normally needs a preposition.

✕ She is dubious the plan. ✓ She is dubious about the plan.

Confusing dubious of with possession

Of expresses scepticism here, not ownership.

✕ He is dubious of success. ✓ He is dubious about success.

Using dubious about for strong distrust

About suggests uncertainty more than suspicion.

✕ She was dubious about his honesty. ✓ She was dubious of his honesty.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. I'm dubious ___ the accuracy of the report.
2. They were dubious ___ his intentions.
3. She is sceptical ___ the advertisement.

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 dubious about more common than dubious of?

Yes. Dubious about is generally more common in everyday English.

Can dubious of sound formal?

Yes. It can sound slightly more formal or literary than dubious about.

What is the difference between dubious and doubtful?

Dubious often suggests suspicion or scepticism, while doubtful usually focuses on uncertainty.

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"?

Write with confidence in Linguix

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

Create a free account