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Preposition after adjective

suspected of, as, for or in?

The usual pattern is suspected of + crime, action, or wrongdoing. Other prepositions may appear in different sentence structures but are not standard complements after suspected.

Quick answer

Which preposition is correct with suspected?

Use suspected of when someone may have committed a crime or wrong action. Suspected as is uncommon and usually replaced by regarded as or identified as. Suspected for is nonstandard after the adjective. Suspected in can appear when in introduces the situation or event, not as the complement of suspected.

He was suspected of fraud by investigators.
The driver is suspected of causing the accident.
She was suspected in connection with the theft.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
suspected of + crime/action

Talking about possible wrongdoing

Use suspected of to say that someone may have done something illegal or wrong.

Two officials were suspected of corruption.
The company is suspected of hiding profits.
2
suspected in + event/case

Connecting someone to an investigation

In may introduce the case or event connected to suspicion. The core adjective pattern is still often suspected of.

He was suspected in the robbery case.
Several people are suspected in connection with the fire.
3
regarded as + role/identity

Replacing nonstandard suspected as

Use regarded as, identified as, or described as for roles or identities.

She was identified as the caller.
He is regarded as a reliable witness.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
suspected of
The accountant was suspected of tax fraud.
Standard pattern for possible wrongdoing.
suspected as
She was identified as the missing tourist.
Suspected as is generally nonstandard; use identified as or regarded as.
suspected for
The man was suspected of burglary.
Suspected for is not idiomatic after the adjective suspected.
suspected in
Three people were suspected in connection with the attack.
In introduces the related case or event, not the direct complement.

Common mistakes

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

Using suspected for

Use of, not for, after suspected when referring to wrongdoing.

✕ He was suspected for theft. ✓ He was suspected of theft.

Using suspected as for identity

Use identified as or believed to be instead.

✕ She was suspected as the manager. ✓ She was identified as the manager.

Confusing in with of

In usually introduces the case or situation, while of introduces the action or crime.

✕ They were suspected in fraud. ✓ They were suspected of fraud.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The official was suspected ___ taking bribes.
2. Three men were suspected ___ connection with the cyberattack.
3. She was identified ___ the missing passenger.

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Frequently asked questions

Is suspected of always about crime?

Usually, yes. It commonly refers to wrongdoing, illegal acts, or harmful behaviour.

Can I say suspected in?

Yes, when in introduces a case, investigation, or event, such as suspected in connection with the fire.

Is suspected as correct English?

It is generally not idiomatic in modern English. Use identified as, regarded as, or believed to be instead.

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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