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Prepositions after adjectives

Novel by, in, about, to or for?

Novel can be a noun meaning a book or an adjective meaning new and unusual. Different prepositions are used depending on the meaning.

Quick answer

Which preposition goes with novel?

As a noun, novel by names the author and novel about names the topic. Novel for can describe the intended audience or purpose. Novel in is used in phrases like novel in structure when discussing style or features. Novel to is an adjective pattern meaning unfamiliar to someone.

I read a novel by Kazuo Ishiguro.
She is writing a novel about climate change.
The interface was novel to most users.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
novel by + author

Naming the writer of a book

Use by to identify who wrote the novel.

We studied a novel by Toni Morrison.
2
novel about + subject

Giving the topic or theme

Use about for the subject matter of the story.

He published a novel about life at sea.
3
novel for + audience/purpose

Showing intended readers or use

Use for when the novel is aimed at a particular group.

It is a novel for young adults.
4
novel to + person

Describing something unfamiliar

As an adjective, novel to means new or unfamiliar to someone.

The procedure was novel to the research team.
5
novel in + feature

Describing originality in one aspect

Use novel in to specify the area where something is innovative.

The approach is novel in its simplicity.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
novel by
She bought a novel by Margaret Atwood.
Identifies the author of the book.
novel about
They discussed a novel about migration.
Introduces the story topic.
novel for
This is a novel for teenage readers.
Shows the intended audience or purpose.
novel to
The software was novel to me.
As an adjective, means unfamiliar or new.
novel in
The design is novel in its use of colour.
As an adjective, shows the aspect that is innovative.

Common mistakes

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

Using by for the topic

By introduces the author, not the subject of the story.

✕ a novel by war ✓ a novel about war

Confusing novel to with novel for

Novel to means unfamiliar. Novel for refers to audience or purpose.

✕ The method is novel for me. ✓ The method is novel to me.

Using in after the noun novel

Novel in is mainly an adjective pattern, not a book-topic pattern.

✕ a novel in politics ✓ a novel about politics

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. We read a novel ___ George Orwell.
2. The concept was novel ___ the students.
3. She is working on a novel ___ artificial intelligence.

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Frequently asked questions

Can novel be an adjective?

Yes. As an adjective, novel means new, original, or unfamiliar.

What is the difference between novel by and novel about?

Novel by identifies the author, while novel about introduces the topic or theme.

Is novel in correct?

Yes. As an adjective, novel in describes the aspect that is original, such as novel in design.

naive-in-about-to-of, for naked in, on, with, for or at? "narrow down" or "narrow in"? "nasty to", "nasty in" or "nasty about"? "national of" or "national in"? "native of" or "native to"? "natural for" or "natural to"? necessary for, in, to, at or by? needy in, of, for, from or by? "negative about", "negative in" or "negative for"? negligent in, of, for, to or about? nervous about, of, at, in or before?

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