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Prepositions after adjectives

Unheard of, by, or in?

The fixed expression is unheard of. Other prepositions such as by or in usually belong to the surrounding sentence, not to the adjective itself.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows unheard?

Use unheard of to describe something extremely unusual, unknown, or unacceptable. By and in are not standard alternatives after unheard in this meaning.

Such prices were unheard of a decade ago.
That level of access is almost unheard of in the industry.
The composer remained unheard by modern audiences.
The issue went largely unheard in public debate.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
unheard of + noun or situation

Describing something extremely unusual

Use unheard of for things considered surprising or unprecedented.

A salary like that was unheard of at the time.
Such behaviour is unheard of here.
2
unheard by + audience

Meaning not heard by someone

Unheard by has a different meaning from unheard of. It refers literally to not being heard.

Her warnings went unheard by the committee.
The song remained unheard by the public.
3
unheard in + place or field

Meaning not heard within a context

Unheard in refers to something absent or unnoticed in a place, group, or field.

Regional accents were once unheard in national broadcasts.
Open criticism was almost unheard in the company.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
unheard of
Online banking was once unheard of.
extremely unusual or unknown
unheard by
His concerns went unheard by management.
not heard by a person or group
unheard in
Such language is unheard in formal meetings.
not heard within a context or place
unheard of in
That level of transparency was unheard of in politics.
unusual within a particular field or setting

Common mistakes

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

Replacing unheard of with unheard by

These expressions have different meanings.

✕ Such prices are unheard by. ✓ Such prices are unheard of.

Using unheard in for unusuality

Use unheard of when you mean unprecedented or extremely rare.

✕ That kind of deal is unheard in. ✓ That kind of deal is unheard of.

Leaving out of

The adjective expression normally includes of.

✕ Such behaviour is unheard. ✓ Such behaviour is unheard of.

Confusing literal and figurative meanings

Unheard by refers to actual listening, not rarity.

✓ Her complaints went unheard by the board.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. A decision like that was ___ twenty years ago.
2. His advice went ___ the students.
3. Open disagreement was once ___ the organisation.

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Frequently asked questions

Is unheard of one fixed expression?

Yes. It is a standard adjective phrase meaning extremely unusual or unknown.

Can unheard by be correct?

Yes, but it means not heard by someone, not unusual.

Can I say unheard of in something?

Yes. Unheard of in is common for describing something unusual within a field or place.

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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