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Preposition after adjective

Overdue for, by, on, in, or with?

Overdue is most commonly used with for or by. Other prepositions may appear in separate time or place expressions rather than directly after overdue.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are correct with overdue?

Use overdue for when something should already have happened, and overdue by to show how late something is. Expressions with in, on, or with are usually separate time or context phrases, not fixed combinations with overdue.

The report is overdue for review.
The train is overdue by ten minutes.
She is overdue for a vacation.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
overdue for + event/action

Saying something should already happen

Use overdue for before actions, appointments, payments, or changes.

The car is overdue for service.
He is overdue for a promotion.
2
overdue by + amount of time

Showing how late something is

Use overdue by with a period of time.

The flight is overdue by an hour.
The payment is overdue by two weeks.
3
overdue on + date

Giving a due date

On can introduce a separate date expression connected to the due date.

The invoice was overdue on Monday.
The assignment became overdue on 12 June.
4
overdue with + payments/work

Describing delayed obligations

With can describe the area in which someone is behind or delayed.

They are overdue with the rent.
He is overdue with several reports.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
overdue for
The patient is overdue for a check-up.
Standard for something that should already happen.
overdue by
The train is overdue by thirty minutes.
Standard for showing the amount of delay.
overdue in
The package is overdue in London.
In usually introduces a place adjunct, not a fixed combination with overdue.
overdue on
The bill was overdue on Friday.
On introduces the relevant date.
overdue with
She is overdue with her payments.
Used for delayed responsibilities or obligations.

Common mistakes

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

Using by instead of for

Use overdue for when referring to an expected event or action.

✕ She is overdue by a medical check-up. ✓ She is overdue for a medical check-up.

Using in as the main complement

In usually gives place or time information, not the overdue relationship itself.

✕ The report is overdue in approval. ✓ The report is overdue for approval.

Confusing overdue by with a due date

By introduces the amount of delay, not the deadline.

✕ The bill is overdue by Monday. ✓ The bill is overdue on Monday.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The car is overdue ___ maintenance.
2. The train is overdue ___ twenty minutes.
3. She is overdue ___ her rent payments.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say overdue for a vacation?

Yes. It means a vacation should have happened already.

What is the difference between overdue for and overdue by?

Overdue for describes what is delayed, while overdue by describes how late it is.

Is overdue in correct?

It can appear with place or time information, but it is not the main fixed preposition used with overdue.

obedient-to-unto-in-by, of "objective in" or "objective about"? "obligatory for" or "obligatory on"? "oblivious to" or "oblivious of"? observable in, by, from, to or on? obsessed with, by, about, in or over? obsessive about, in, over, with or to? "obsolete in" or "obsolete by"? "obtainable in" or "obtainable from"? "obvious to", "obvious from" or "obvious in"? odd to, for, about, in or on? offensive to, in, against, on or about?

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