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Prepositions after adjectives

How to use rare with in and for

Rare in and rare for are both standard, but they express different ideas. Rare in refers to a place, group, or category, while rare for compares with what is typical.

Quick answer

Meaning difference

Use rare in for something uncommon within a place, group, or category. Use rare for when something is unusual for a person, thing, or situation.

The species is rare in Europe.
It is rare for him to be late.
Snow is rare in this region.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
rare in + place/category

Uncommon within a location or group

Rare in identifies the environment where something is unusual.

This condition is rare in children.
Heavy rain is rare in the desert.
2
rare for + person/thing

Unusual behaviour or characteristic

Rare for compares with what is normal for someone or something.

It is rare for the team to lose at home.
Such honesty is rare for a politician.
3
rare for + noun + to-infinitive

Describing unusual actions

This structure highlights actions that do not happen often.

It is rare for birds to nest here in winter.
It was rare for her to complain.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
rare in
That plant is rare in northern climates.
uncommon within a place or category
rare for
It is rare for him to miss work.
unusual compared with normal behaviour
rare among
Patience is rare among young children.
uncommon within a group
rare with
Severe reactions are rare with this medicine.
uncommon when using or dealing with something

Common mistakes

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

Using rare in for personal behaviour

Use rare for when comparing with a person's normal behaviour.

✕ It is rare in her to argue. ✓ It is rare for her to argue.

Using rare for with places

Rare in is normally used with locations and categories.

✕ Snow is rare for this area. ✓ Snow is rare in this area.

Omitting the infinitive after rare for

Rare for often needs a to-infinitive clause.

✓ It is rare for the machine to fail.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. This bird is rare ___ the region.
2. It is rare ___ her to forget birthdays.
3. Patience is rare ___ inexperienced drivers.

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Frequently asked questions

Can rare for describe behaviour?

Yes. Rare for is common when something is unusual for a person or thing.

Is rare in used with places?

Yes. Rare in often refers to locations, groups, or categories.

Can I use rare among instead of rare in?

Yes, when referring to groups of people or things rather than places.

racist-in-against-for-to, towards "radical in" or "radical for"? rampant in, among, with, on or throughout? "rational for" or "rational in"? "raw in", "raw for" or "raw with"? reachable by, from, on, in or through? "reactive to", "reactive rather" or "reactive in"? ready for, to, in, at or by? "realistic about" or "realistic in"? "real to", "real for" or "real in"? rearing of, as or on? "reasonable for" or "reasonable in"?

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