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Prepositions after adjectives

Unfair to or unfair for?

Use unfair to for the person or thing affected. Unfair for is used in structures about suitability or consequences.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows unfair?

Use unfair to someone or something: unfair to employees. Use unfair for before an action or situation: unfair for one team to wait longer.

The decision was unfair to staff.
It is unfair for children to work such long hours.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
unfair to + person/group

Showing who is treated badly

To introduces the person or thing receiving unfair treatment.

The policy is unfair to small businesses.
It seemed unfair to blame her alone.
2
unfair for + person + infinitive

Judging a situation or action

For often appears before someone plus an infinitive clause.

It is unfair for drivers to pay extra fees.
Was it unfair for him to leave early?

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
unfair to
The rule is unfair to new employees.
causing unfair treatment to someone
unfair for
It is unfair for students to lose marks for late buses.
describing an unfair situation affecting someone
unfair on
The schedule is unfair on parents.
common in British English with a similar meaning to unfair to

Common mistakes

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

Using for directly before the affected person

Use to when naming the person treated unfairly.

✕ The decision was unfair for me. ✓ The decision was unfair to me.

Missing the infinitive after for

For usually introduces a person plus an action.

✕ It was unfair for the workers. ✓ It was unfair for the workers to wait outside.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The criticism was unfair ___ her.
2. It is unfair ___ children to carry heavy loads.
3. The new tax feels unfair ___ small companies.

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Frequently asked questions

Can unfair be followed by to?

Yes. Unfair to someone is the standard pattern.

When do we use unfair for?

Use it in structures such as unfair for someone to do something.

Is unfair on correct?

Yes. It is common in British English and similar in meaning to unfair to.

ubiquitous in, on, across, throughout or for? "ugly in", "ugly for" or "ugly of"? ultimate in, of, for, on or as? "unacceptable to", "unacceptable in" or "unacceptable for"? unaccounted for unaccustomed to or in? unacquainted with unaffected by, in, for or with? "unaffordable for" or "unaffordable to"? unanimous in, on, about, regarding or for? "unattractive to" or "unattractive for"? "unavailable for" or "unavailable to"?

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