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Preposition after adjective

secular: in, as, to, with, or of?

Secular often appears without a following preposition, but several prepositions can appear in different sentence structures.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are used with secular?

Secular is commonly used alone, as in secular education or a secular state. Secular in can refer to an area, and secular to appears in phrases such as secular to modern society. As, with, and of usually belong to wider sentence patterns rather than fixed combinations.

The country has a secular government.
The movement became more secular in outlook.
Some values are secular to contemporary politics.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
secular in + area

Describing a non-religious aspect

In can introduce the area where something is non-religious.

The school is secular in character.
The organisation became secular in policy.
2
secular to + context

Relating to a non-religious domain

To may appear in formal contexts to show relation.

These customs are secular to civic life.
3
secular as + role

Describing function or identity

As introduces a role or classification, not a fixed adjective pattern.

The institution operates secular as a public body.
4
secular with + noun

Adding accompanying details

With usually introduces an additional feature rather than a complement selected by secular.

The constitution is secular with strong protections for religion.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
secular in
The curriculum is secular in tone.
non-religious within a specific area
secular as
The state defines itself as secular.
as belongs to the verb structure, not directly to secular
secular to
The principle is secular to public law.
formal expression of relation
secular of
a secular view of history
of normally follows a noun, not the adjective secular itself

Common mistakes

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

Forcing a preposition after secular

Secular often works naturally without any following preposition.

✕ The country is secular of law. ✓ The country has a secular legal system.

Confusing adjective and noun structures

Of commonly follows a noun phrase such as secular view.

✕ The school is secular of education. ✓ The school is secular in character.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The organisation is secular ___ outlook.
2. Choose the most natural sentence.
3. The phrase secular ___ public life is formal but possible.

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Frequently asked questions

Does secular usually need a preposition?

No. It is often used directly before a noun, such as secular society or secular law.

Can I use secular in?

Yes. It can describe the area where something is non-religious.

Is secular of correct?

Usually no. Of more often follows a related noun phrase, not the adjective secular.

sacred-to-in-by-of, for "sad for" or "sad about"? "safe for", "safe from" or "safe in"? sanguine about, in, of, on or for? "satisfactory to" or "satisfactory for"? satisfied with, of, by, in or on? "satisfying for" or "satisfying to"? scarce in, for, at, on or of? scared of, to, about, for or by? "scary for" or "scary to"? "scathing about", "scathing in" or "scathing of"? "sceptical about" or "sceptical of"?

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