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Preposition after adjective

Mandatory for or mandatory in?

Mandatory is usually followed by for when you name the people, activities, or situations that require something. Mandatory in is less common and usually introduces a place, field, or context rather than the requirement itself.

Quick answer

Which preposition is correct with mandatory?

Use mandatory for to say who must do something or what situation requires it: Helmets are mandatory for cyclists. Mandatory in usually refers to a location, system, or context: Uniforms are mandatory in this school.

mandatory for all employees
mandatory in most public schools
Training is mandatory for new drivers

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
mandatory for + person/group

Who must follow the rule?

Use mandatory for to identify the people affected by a rule or requirement.

mandatory for visitors
Safety training is mandatory for all staff
2
mandatory for + activity/purpose

What situation requires it?

Use mandatory for with activities, procedures, or conditions that require something.

A permit is mandatory for commercial fishing
Registration is mandatory for entry
3
mandatory in + place/system

Where does the rule apply?

Use mandatory in to describe the environment, institution, or system where a requirement exists.

Uniforms are mandatory in this academy
Seat belts are mandatory in all taxis

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
mandatory for
Protective glasses are mandatory for laboratory workers.
Standard pattern for the people or situations that require something.
mandatory in
English is mandatory in this training programme.
Used for the context, institution, or system where the requirement exists.
mandatory to
The form is mandatory to complete before travel.
Less natural in this structure; mandatory for completing is usually clearer.
mandatory on
The policy is mandatory on all users.
Generally nonstandard; mandatory for all users is preferred.

Common mistakes

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

Using in instead of for for affected people

Use for when naming the people who must obey the rule.

✕ Attendance is mandatory in employees. ✓ Attendance is mandatory for employees.

Using on after mandatory

Mandatory normally does not take on to identify people.

✕ Helmets are mandatory on cyclists. ✓ Helmets are mandatory for cyclists.

Confusing place with requirement

Use in for the setting and for for the affected group.

✕ Uniforms are mandatory in students. ✓ Uniforms are mandatory for students.

Using to with a noun phrase

To is uncommon after mandatory before a noun.

✕ Training is mandatory to new hires. ✓ Training is mandatory for new hires.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Safety shoes are mandatory ___ factory workers.
2. Uniforms are mandatory ___ this school.
3. Registration is mandatory ___ entry.

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Frequently asked questions

Is mandatory for the most common pattern?

Yes. It is the standard choice when you name the people or situations that require something.

Can I use mandatory in?

Yes, when you mean within a place, organisation, system, or context, such as mandatory in schools.

Is mandatory on correct?

It is generally avoided in standard English. Use mandatory for instead.

mad-at-about-with-for, in magical about, in, for, to or with? magic in, for, to, on or with? magnificent in, with, of, for or at? "mainstream in", "mainstream with" or "mainstream for"? major in, for, with, at or to? "manageable for", "manageable in" or "manageable by"? manifest in, to, by, from or on? "married to" or "married for"? "massive in" or "massive for"? "mature in" or "mature for"? maturing of, in, as, from or into?

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