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Prepositions after adjectives

Unfamiliar with or unfamiliar to?

Use unfamiliar with for lack of knowledge. Use unfamiliar to for something that is unknown or not recognised by someone.

Quick answer

How do unfamiliar with and unfamiliar to differ?

Someone is unfamiliar with a subject, tool, or place. Something is unfamiliar to a person or group.

I am unfamiliar with this software.
The customs were unfamiliar to the visitors.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
unfamiliar with + thing

Talking about lack of knowledge

With introduces the thing a person does not know well.

She is unfamiliar with local laws.
Many students are unfamiliar with the term.
2
unfamiliar to + person

Describing something unknown

To introduces the person who does not recognise or know something.

The accent sounded unfamiliar to me.
This style is unfamiliar to younger readers.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
unfamiliar with
He is unfamiliar with the process.
he does not know the process
unfamiliar to
The process is unfamiliar to him.
the process is not known to him
unfamiliar in
She felt unfamiliar in the city.
not a standard complement pattern; unfamiliar is usually followed by with or to

Common mistakes

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

Mixing the subject roles

People are unfamiliar with things; things are unfamiliar to people.

✕ The software is unfamiliar with me. ✓ The software is unfamiliar to me.

Using to after a person subject

Use with when the subject is the person lacking knowledge.

✕ I am unfamiliar to the system. ✓ I am unfamiliar with the system.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. I am unfamiliar ___ this procedure.
2. The procedure is unfamiliar ___ new staff.
3. She is unfamiliar ___ local customs.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between unfamiliar with and unfamiliar to?

The subject changes. A person is unfamiliar with something, while something is unfamiliar to a person.

Can both forms describe the same situation?

Yes. I am unfamiliar with the system and The system is unfamiliar to me express similar ideas.

Is unfamiliar in correct?

Not usually as a complement of the adjective.

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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