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Prepositions after adjectives

Extraordinary in or extraordinary about?

Extraordinary can be followed by different prepositions with different meanings. Extraordinary in usually refers to a field or quality, while extraordinary about refers to a specific feature or aspect that seems unusual or impressive.

Quick answer

Which preposition goes with extraordinary?

Use extraordinary in to describe ability, quality, or behaviour within a field or area. Use extraordinary about when referring to a particular thing, feature, or situation that seems unusual or notable.

She is extraordinary in mathematics.
There is something extraordinary about his voice.
The team was extraordinary in difficult conditions.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
extraordinary in + field or activity

Showing unusual ability in an area

Use extraordinary in to describe excellence or unusual qualities within a subject, activity, or situation.

He was extraordinary in negotiations.
The child is extraordinary in science.
2
extraordinary about + thing

Pointing to a remarkable feature

Use extraordinary about to identify the aspect that seems unusual, surprising, or impressive.

There is something extraordinary about this painting.
What is extraordinary about her story?
3
extraordinary for + noun

Comparing with what is normal

Use extraordinary for to show that something is unusual compared with a typical standard.

The weather was extraordinary for April.
His patience is extraordinary for a teenager.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
extraordinary in
She is extraordinary in crisis situations.
excellent or unusual within a particular area or context
extraordinary about
There is something extraordinary about the old house.
a specific feature or aspect seems remarkable
extraordinary to
The ending seemed extraordinary to me.
to introduces the person reacting; it is not the adjective's main preposition
extraordinary at
He is extraordinary at chess.
possible in informal English when talking about skill, though extraordinary in is often broader

Common mistakes

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

Using about for a field of ability

Use in when referring to a subject, activity, or environment.

✕ She is extraordinary about mathematics. ✓ She is extraordinary in mathematics.

Using in for a remarkable feature

Use about when identifying the thing that seems unusual or impressive.

✕ There is something extraordinary in his smile. ✓ There is something extraordinary about his smile.

Confusing the adjective with a reaction phrase

Extraordinary to often describes someone's reaction, not the quality itself.

✕ She is extraordinary to music. ✓ She is extraordinary in music.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. He was extraordinary ___ dealing with difficult clients.
2. There is something extraordinary ___ this discovery.
3. The result was extraordinary ___ such a small team.

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Frequently asked questions

Can extraordinary in describe skills?

Yes. Extraordinary in is common when talking about talent, behaviour, or performance in a field or situation.

Can extraordinary about be used with people?

Yes. You can say there is something extraordinary about someone to describe a remarkable quality.

Is extraordinary at wrong?

No. Extraordinary at is possible, especially with games or practical skills, but extraordinary in is often more general and formal.

eager-for-to-in-about, on "early in", "early on" or "early for"? earnest in, with, on, for or at? easy for, on, in, to or with? "economical with" or "economical in"? "ecstatic about" or "ecstatic with"? "effective in", "effective at" or "effective for"? "efficient in" or "efficient at"? elderly in, with, at, of or as? elegant in, with, of, as or to? eligible for, to, in or under? "embarrassed by" or "embarrassed about"?

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