self-conscious about + feature
Feeling embarrassed or uneasy about something
About is the most common everyday pattern.
Teenagers are often self-conscious about their appearance.
self-conscious about, of, in, on or with?
Self-conscious is most commonly followed by about. Self-conscious of also exists, especially in formal English.
Quick answer
Which prepositions follow self-conscious?
Use self-conscious about for appearance, behaviour, or personal qualities. Self-conscious of is more formal and often means strongly aware of something. In, on, and with are usually separate adjuncts rather than fixed patterns after the adjective.
She feels self-conscious about her accent.
He became self-conscious of the silence in the room.
I felt self-conscious in such a formal setting.
He became self-conscious of the silence in the room.
I felt self-conscious in such a formal setting.
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
self-conscious of + situation
Being aware of something in a formal style
Of often appears in more formal or literary English.
She grew self-conscious of her strong accent.
self-conscious in + setting
Describing a situation where someone feels awkward
In usually introduces the setting rather than forming a fixed adjective pattern.
He felt self-conscious in front of the camera.
self-conscious with + person
Describing discomfort around someone
With introduces the people someone feels awkward around.
She is self-conscious with strangers.
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
self-conscious about
He is self-conscious about his height.
embarrassed or uneasy regarding something
self-conscious of
She became self-conscious of her mistakes.
aware of something, often formally
self-conscious in
I felt self-conscious in the crowded room.
in introduces the situation or setting
self-conscious with
He is self-conscious with new colleagues.
with introduces the people involved
self-conscious on
Self-conscious on its own is not a standard pattern.
on may appear only as a separate time or place adjunct
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Using on as a fixed complement
Self-conscious is not normally followed directly by on.
✕ She is self-conscious on her voice. ✓ She is self-conscious about her voice.Confusing about and of
About is more common in everyday English.
✕ He is self-conscious of his haircut in casual conversation. ✓ He is self-conscious about his haircut.Using in for the object of embarrassment
In usually refers to the setting.
✕ She is self-conscious in her teeth. ✓ She is self-conscious about her teeth.Quick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. He feels self-conscious ___ his laugh.
2. She became self-conscious ___ her pronunciation.
3. I felt self-conscious ___ the interview.
Check your sentence in context
Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.
Free to try · No signup required
Frequently asked questions
Is self-conscious about more common than self-conscious of?
Yes. About is more common in everyday English, while of sounds more formal.
Can I say self-conscious with people?
Yes. With can introduce the people someone feels uncomfortable around.
Is self-conscious on correct?
Not as a standard complement. On may appear only as a separate phrase about time, place, or topic.
Related preposition guides
Write with confidence in Linguix
Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.
