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Preposition after adjective

prevalent + preposition

Prevalent is most commonly followed by in or among. Other prepositions usually express time or place rather than fixed combinations.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are used with prevalent?

Use prevalent in for places, systems, or fields: prevalent in urban areas. Use prevalent among for groups of people: prevalent among teenagers. At, on, and during usually add separate time or location information.

The disease is prevalent in tropical regions.
These beliefs are prevalent among young adults.
Stress became prevalent during the crisis.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
prevalent in + place/field

Describing something common in a place or area

Use prevalent in for conditions, habits, or ideas common within a location or field.

The practice is prevalent in private schools.
This error is prevalent in older software.
2
prevalent among + group

Describing something common within a group

Use prevalent among for trends or conditions shared by people or categories.

The habit is prevalent among office workers.
These views remain prevalent among voters.
3
prevalent during + period

Adding a time context

During introduces a time period rather than a fixed adjective pattern.

Remote work became prevalent during the pandemic.
Shortages were prevalent during the winter months.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
prevalent in
The custom is prevalent in rural areas.
Standard for places, systems, or fields.
prevalent among
The condition is prevalent among older adults.
Standard for groups of people.
prevalent during
The style was prevalent during the 1990s.
Adds a time period.
prevalent at
The problem was prevalent at the event.
Possible when at refers to a specific place or event, not a fixed pattern.
prevalent on
The trend is prevalent on social media.
On can introduce a platform or surface rather than forming a fixed adjective pattern.

Common mistakes

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

Using among for places

Among is mainly for groups, not locations.

✕ The disease is prevalent among cities. ✓ The disease is prevalent in cities.

Using in for people

Use among with groups of people.

✕ The habit is prevalent in teenagers. ✓ The habit is prevalent among teenagers.

Treating on as a fixed adjective pattern

On usually refers to platforms or surfaces.

✕ The idea is prevalent on society. ✓ The idea is prevalent in society.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The condition is prevalent ___ children under five.
2. Cash payments are still prevalent ___ some regions.
3. Which sentence is most natural?

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Frequently asked questions

Can prevalent be used without a preposition?

Yes. For example: Violence was prevalent.

What is the difference between prevalent in and among?

In refers to places or systems, while among refers to groups of people.

Is prevalent during correct?

Yes. During introduces a time period in which something was common.

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