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Preposition after adjective

Strict with, about, in, on or of?

Strict with and strict about are the most common patterns. Strict in is used for areas of behaviour. Strict on appears in some contexts, while strict of is not standard.

Quick answer

Common patterns

Use strict with for people and strict about for rules or behaviour. Use strict in for areas or methods. Strict on is used in some expressions such as strict on safety. Strict of is not idiomatic in modern English.

The teacher is strict with students.
My parents were strict about homework.
The company is strict on security checks.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
strict with + person

Controlling or demanding behaviour toward people

Use with before the person receiving strict treatment.

She is strict with her children.
The coach was strict with the team.
2
strict about + topic

Enforcing rules on a subject

About introduces rules, habits, or standards.

They are strict about deadlines.
He is strict about grammar.
3
strict in + area

Describing strictness within a process or method

In is used for conduct, procedures, or ways of acting.

The school is strict in discipline.
She was strict in applying the policy.
4
strict on + issue

Emphasising control in a policy area

On often appears with laws, safety, or regulations.

The airline is strict on luggage limits.
They are strict on safety standards.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
strict with
The manager is strict with new staff.
Describes treatment of people.
strict about
She is strict about punctuality.
Describes rules or expectations.
strict in
The academy is strict in training.
Describes strictness within an area or process.
strict on
The city is strict on parking rules.
Focuses on enforcement of policies.
strict of
Not standard in modern English.
Avoid this combination.

Common mistakes

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

Using strict of

Modern English does not normally use strict of.

✕ The teacher is strict of students. ✓ The teacher is strict with students.

Using strict with for rules

Use about or on for subjects and regulations.

✕ They are strict with deadlines. ✓ They are strict about deadlines.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Our supervisor is strict ___ attendance.
2. She was always strict ___ her younger brother.
3. The government is strict ___ food safety.

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Frequently asked questions

Is strict on correct?

Yes. It is common with laws, safety, discipline, and regulations.

What is the difference between strict with and strict about?

Strict with refers to people. Strict about refers to rules, habits, or standards.

Can I use strict of?

No. Strict of is not a standard modern English combination.

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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