Ordinary can be followed by in or for, but the meanings are different. In usually refers to a context, while for introduces comparison or expectation.
Use ordinary in to describe what is normal within a place, group, or situation. Use ordinary for to compare something with what is typical for a person, time, or category.
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
Use in for environments, societies, fields, or communities.
For introduces the standard expected for someone or something.
Among can describe what is usual within a group.
At can refer to skill or performance.
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Use for when comparing with a standard or expectation.
✕ The noise is ordinary in city traffic. ✓ The noise is ordinary for city traffic.Use in for locations or environments.
✕ This style is ordinary for coastal towns. ✓ This style is ordinary in coastal towns.Ordinary means normal, not necessarily dull.
✕ The restaurant is ordinary, so nobody goes there. ✓ The restaurant is ordinary but reliable.Adding a comparison or setting often makes the meaning clearer.
✕ His reaction was ordinary. ✓ His reaction was ordinary for a new employee.Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.
Ordinary in refers to a setting or context, while ordinary for compares something with what is expected.
Yes. You can say something is ordinary for a child, athlete, or employee.
Not necessarily. It usually means normal, average, or common.
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