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Prepositions after adjectives

Sought-after: of or for?

Sought-after is normally used without another preposition after it. A following for-phrase often belongs to the noun, not to sought-after itself.

Quick answer

How to use sought-after

The adjective sought-after means popular or desired. It usually stands alone: a sought-after job, a sought-after expert. You may see for after the noun that follows, such as demand for tickets, but not as a fixed pattern with sought-after.

She is a sought-after consultant in the industry.
The apartment became highly sought-after after the renovation.
There is strong demand for tickets to the festival.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
sought-after + noun

Describing something desirable

Use sought-after directly before a noun.

a sought-after candidate
the city's most sought-after neighbourhood
2
be sought-after

Using sought-after after a verb

Sought-after can follow be and similar linking verbs.

These skills are highly sought-after today.
Vintage watches remain sought-after among collectors.
3
demand for + noun

When for belongs to another noun

For often belongs to a related noun such as demand, need, or market.

There is growing demand for electric cars worldwide.
The market for luxury homes is expanding.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
sought-after
She is a sought-after designer.
Correct standard adjective meaning highly desired.
sought after
The rare books were sought after by collectors.
Verb phrase in the passive, not a compound adjective.
sought-after for
The software is sought-after for its speed.
Possible when for introduces the reason or quality, not a fixed adjective pattern.
sought-after of
They discussed the most sought-after features of the product.
Of belongs to features, not to sought-after.

Common mistakes

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

Adding an unnecessary preposition

Sought-after usually does not take a preposition directly after it.

✕ a sought-after for candidate ✓ a sought-after candidate

Confusing adjective and verb phrase

Use a hyphen before a noun when sought-after is an adjective.

✕ a sought after expert ✓ a sought-after expert

Using of after sought-after

Of is not a normal complement of sought-after.

✕ This is sought-after of investors. ✓ This is sought-after by investors.

Using by with the adjective form

By commonly follows the passive verb phrase sought after, not the compound adjective.

✕ a sought-after by collectors painting ✓ a painting sought after by collectors

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She became a highly ___ speaker at conferences.
2. The antique coins were sought after ___ collectors.
3. There is strong demand ___ skilled nurses.

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Frequently asked questions

Is sought-after always hyphenated?

It is usually hyphenated before a noun: a sought-after role. After a verb, the hyphen is often omitted: the role is sought after.

Can I say sought-after for?

Only when for introduces a reason or feature, as in sought-after for its location.

What does sought-after mean?

It means popular, desirable, or wanted by many people.

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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