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Prepositions after adjectives

Unsuccessful in, at, with, on, or for?

Unsuccessful is commonly followed by in or at. The choice depends on whether you mean a specific attempt, a skill, or an activity.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are used with unsuccessful?

Use unsuccessful in for attempts, activities, or obtaining something. Use unsuccessful at for skills or performance. With, on, and for appear in more limited contexts.

She was unsuccessful in finding a buyer.
He is unsuccessful at managing large teams.
They were unsuccessful in their appeal.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
unsuccessful in + activity or attempt

Talking about failed efforts

Use in for actions, applications, negotiations, and searches.

We were unsuccessful in securing funding.
The company was unsuccessful in court.
2
unsuccessful at + skill or task

Describing weak performance

At focuses on ability or performance in an activity.

He is unsuccessful at public speaking.
She remained unsuccessful at sales.
3
unsuccessful with + object

Referring to a method or item

With can refer to something used in an attempt.

Doctors were unsuccessful with the new treatment.
The team was unsuccessful with that strategy.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
unsuccessful in
They were unsuccessful in negotiations.
Failure in an activity or attempt.
unsuccessful at
He is unsuccessful at chess.
Lack of success in a skill or activity.
unsuccessful with
The company was unsuccessful with the product launch.
Failure involving a tool, method, or project.
unsuccessful on
The candidate was unsuccessful on the exam.
Possible in some contexts, especially with tests or platforms, but less common than in or at.
unsuccessful for
Unsuccessful for is not a standard complement after unsuccessful.
Use in, at, or with instead.

Common mistakes

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

Using for after unsuccessful

For is not normally used directly after unsuccessful.

✕ She was unsuccessful for getting the job. ✓ She was unsuccessful in getting the job.

Choosing at for a process

Use in for attempts or processes rather than skills.

✕ They were unsuccessful at the negotiations. ✓ They were unsuccessful in the negotiations.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The team was ___ reaching an agreement.
2. He is often ___ interviews.
3. Researchers were ___ the experimental drug.

Check your sentence in context

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between unsuccessful in and unsuccessful at?

In refers to a failed attempt or process. At refers to ability or performance.

Can I use unsuccessful with?

Yes, especially when talking about a method, treatment, or project.

Is unsuccessful for correct?

No. Standard English normally uses in, at, or with.

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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