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Prepositions after adjectives

reminiscent of or to

Reminiscent is normally followed by of. Reminiscent to is not standard in modern English.

Quick answer

Correct preposition after reminiscent

Use reminiscent of when something reminds you of another thing, person, or period. Reminiscent to is generally considered incorrect in modern standard English.

The song is reminiscent of the 1980s.
Her voice sounded reminiscent of her mother's.
The design is reminiscent of traditional Japanese art.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
reminiscent of + thing

Showing similarity or memory

Reminiscent of means reminding someone of something similar or familiar.

The building is reminiscent of old European castles.
His writing style is reminiscent of early science fiction.
2
reminiscent of + time period

Referring to an earlier period

This pattern is often used for styles, moods, or experiences connected to the past.

The music feels reminiscent of the jazz era.
The decor is reminiscent of the 1970s.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
reminiscent of
The flavour is reminiscent of cinnamon.
reminding someone of something
reminiscent to
'Reminiscent to' is not standard modern English.
generally avoided
similar to
The pattern is similar to the original.
expressing likeness without the idea of memory
evocative of
The scene is evocative of childhood summers.
suggesting memories or emotions

Common mistakes

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

Using reminiscent to

Modern English uses reminiscent of, not reminiscent to.

✕ The painting is reminiscent to Monet. ✓ The painting is reminiscent of Monet.

Using reminiscent with a direct object

Reminiscent normally needs of before the noun.

✕ The song is reminiscent my childhood. ✓ The song is reminiscent of my childhood.

Confusing reminiscent of with similar to

Reminiscent of often suggests memory or association, not just similarity.

✓ The atmosphere is reminiscent of old cinemas.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The restaurant's decor is reminiscent ___ Paris cafés.
2. Which phrase is standard modern English?
3. The melody is reminiscent ___ the band's early work.

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Frequently asked questions

Is reminiscent to ever correct?

It is generally considered nonstandard in modern English.

What does reminiscent of mean?

It means reminding someone of another thing, person, style, or experience.

Can reminiscent of describe emotions or atmosphere?

Yes. It is often used for moods, designs, sounds, and experiences that recall the past.

racist-in-against-for-to, towards "radical in" or "radical for"? rampant in, among, with, on or throughout? "rare in" or "rare for"? "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?

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