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Prepositions with problematic

Problematic for or problematic in?

Problematic for refers to people or groups affected. Problematic in refers to a context or area where problems occur.

Quick answer

How is problematic used?

Use problematic for before the affected person or group. Use problematic in before a field, situation, or process.

The policy is problematic for small businesses.
Bias is problematic in hiring decisions.
The schedule became problematic for parents.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
problematic for + person/group

Showing who is affected

For introduces the affected party.

The rule is problematic for international students.
2
problematic in + context

Showing where the issue appears

In introduces a field or situation.

This assumption is problematic in scientific research.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
problematic for
The delay is problematic for commuters.
Affects someone negatively.
problematic in
The wording is problematic in legal contexts.
Causes issues within a context.
problematic to
The change is problematic to users.
Less natural than problematic for users.

Common mistakes

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

Using in for people

Use for with affected groups.

✕ The tax is problematic in retirees. ✓ The tax is problematic for retirees.

Using for with abstract contexts

In is better for fields or systems.

✕ The term is problematic for academic writing. ✓ The term is problematic in academic writing.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The app is problematic ___ older devices.
2. This practice is problematic ___ healthcare.
3. Choose the natural sentence.

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Frequently asked questions

Can problematic be used without a preposition?

Yes. You can simply say The situation is problematic.

Is problematic for more common than problematic in?

Both are common in different contexts.

Can I say problematic to someone?

Problematic for someone is usually more natural.

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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