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Prepositions after adjectives

truthful + preposition

Truthful is most commonly followed by about for a topic and with for the person receiving honest information. Other prepositions usually have different grammatical roles in the sentence.

Quick answer

Which prepositions go with truthful?

Use truthful about for the subject of honesty and truthful with for the person someone is honest with. Truthful to appears in expressions such as truthful to yourself. Truthful in can describe an area or activity. Truthful on is uncommon as a direct complement and usually introduces a separate topic phrase.

She was truthful about the mistake.
Please be truthful with your doctor.
He tries to stay truthful to himself.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
truthful about + topic

Talking about what someone is honest about

Use about before the subject, event, or information being described honestly.

The witness was truthful about what she saw.
You should be truthful about your experience.
2
truthful with + person

Naming the person who receives honest information

Use with before the person someone speaks honestly to.

He has always been truthful with his clients.
Try to be truthful with your family.
3
truthful to + person/self

Showing loyalty to truth or honesty toward yourself

Truthful to is less common but natural in expressions such as truthful to yourself or truthful to the facts.

She remained truthful to her principles.
Be truthful to yourself.
4
truthful in + activity

Describing honesty within an action or process

Use in when referring to honesty in speech, reporting, or behaviour.

The article was truthful in its reporting.
He was truthful in every interview.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
truthful about
She was truthful about the costs.
honest concerning a topic or fact
truthful with
Be truthful with your teacher.
honest toward a person
truthful to
Stay truthful to yourself.
faithful to truth, values, or oneself
truthful in
The report was truthful in its details.
honest within a specific activity or area
truthful on
She spoke truthfully on the issue.
On usually introduces a separate topic phrase rather than directly following truthful

Common mistakes

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

Using truthful on as the main complement

On is not usually the direct preposition after truthful. Use about for the topic.

✕ He was truthful on the accident. ✓ He was truthful about the accident.

Confusing with and about

With introduces a person; about introduces a subject.

✕ She was truthful with the problem. ✓ She was truthful about the problem.

Using truthful to for ordinary topics

Truthful to is mainly used with yourself, principles, or facts.

✕ He was truthful to the meeting. ✓ He was truthful about the meeting.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She was truthful ___ her manager about the delay.
2. Please be truthful ___ your qualifications.
3. He tries to remain truthful ___ himself.

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Frequently asked questions

Is truthful about the most common pattern?

Yes. Truthful about is the standard way to mention the subject someone is honest about.

Can I say truthful with someone?

Yes. Truthful with is natural when naming the person you are honest with.

Is truthful on correct?

Usually no as a direct complement. Use truthful about for topics. On may appear separately in phrases like truthful comments on the issue.

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