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Preposition after adjective

prejudicial + preposition

Prejudicial is most commonly followed by to when describing harm or disadvantage. Other prepositions may appear in different sentence structures but are not the standard complement of the adjective.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows prejudicial?

The standard pattern is prejudicial to someone or something. Prejudicial against is usually nonstandard when directly following the adjective, though against can introduce a separate phrase. Prejudicial for, prejudicial in, and prejudicial towards are uncommon or context-dependent rather than standard adjective patterns.

The ruling was prejudicial to small businesses.
Comments prejudicial to the jury process were removed.
The policy worked against rural applicants.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
prejudicial to + person/thing

Showing harm or disadvantage

Use prejudicial to for something that negatively affects a person, group, process, or outcome.

The delay was prejudicial to the investigation.
The remarks were prejudicial to her reputation.
2
prejudicial to + legal process

Legal and formal use

In legal English, prejudicial to often describes influence that harms fairness or objectivity.

The evidence was considered prejudicial to a fair trial.
The article could be prejudicial to the case.
3
against + group/person

Separate phrase expressing opposition

Against is usually not selected by prejudicial itself. It can appear separately in the sentence to express opposition or bias.

The decision was prejudicial against foreign workers.
The campaign operated against independent candidates.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
prejudicial to
The rule is prejudicial to small exporters.
Standard pattern meaning harmful or damaging to someone or something.
prejudicial against
The wording sounded prejudicial against older applicants.
Sometimes used informally to express bias, but less standard than biased against or prejudicial to.
prejudicial in
The error was prejudicial in several respects.
In introduces an area or respect, not the usual complement after prejudicial.
prejudicial for
The delay was prejudicial for the company.
Sometimes understood, but prejudicial to is more idiomatic.
prejudicial towards
Her comments were prejudicial towards immigrants.
Occasionally used to describe attitude, but biased against is more natural.

Common mistakes

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

Using for instead of to

After prejudicial, to is the normal preposition for harmful effects.

✕ The policy was prejudicial for consumers. ✓ The policy was prejudicial to consumers.

Confusing prejudicial with prejudiced

Prejudicial means harmful. Prejudiced describes biased attitudes.

✕ She is prejudicial against newcomers. ✓ She is prejudiced against newcomers.

Overusing prejudicial against

In many contexts, prejudicial to or biased against sounds more natural.

✕ The remarks were prejudicial against women. ✓ The remarks were biased against women.

Using towards for harmful effect

Towards usually describes attitude or direction, not direct harm.

✕ The rule is prejudicial towards investors. ✓ The rule is prejudicial to investors.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The proposal could be prejudicial ___ local farmers.
2. Her remarks sounded biased ___ younger staff.
3. The evidence was considered prejudicial ___ a fair hearing.

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Frequently asked questions

Is prejudicial to formal English?

Yes. It is especially common in legal, academic, and official contexts.

Can I say prejudicial against?

Some speakers use it, especially for social bias, but prejudicial to or biased against is usually more natural.

What is the difference between prejudicial and prejudiced?

Prejudicial means harmful or damaging. Prejudiced means having unfair opinions about people or groups.

packed-with-to-in-on, into "paid for" or "paid up"? painful for, to, in, at or of? "palatable to" or "palatable for"? "pale in" or "pale of"? "pandemic of" or "pandemic in"? "paramount to" or "paramount in"? paranoid about, of, in, with or over? partial to, of, in, towards or for? participating in, of, on, at or for? "particular about" or "particular to"? part-time at, in, for, as or with?

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