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Prepositions after adjectives

Void of, in, for, on or as?

The adjective 'void' is most commonly followed by 'of' to mean lacking something. Other prepositions usually have different meanings or are uncommon with this adjective.

Quick answer

Which preposition is correct after 'void'?

'Void of' is the standard expression meaning 'lacking' or 'without'. Combinations such as 'void in', 'void for', 'void on', and 'void as' are generally not used with this meaning.

The report was void of evidence.
His comments were void of empathy.
The contract was declared void for fraud.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
void of + noun

Expressing absence or lack

Use 'void of' to say that something lacks a quality, feature, or substance.

The room was void of furniture.
Her answer seemed void of detail.
2
void for + reason

Giving the legal reason something is invalid

In legal or formal English, 'void for' introduces the reason a document or action is invalid.

The agreement was void for uncertainty.
The sale became void for non-payment.
3
void as + role or status

Using 'void' before a description

'Void as' is uncommon after the adjective meaning 'lacking'. It may appear in legal wording meaning 'invalid as'.

The permit was declared void as a public licence.
The clause is void as contrary to public policy.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
void of
The statement was void of factual support.
Standard expression meaning lacking something.
void in
The sentence 'The statement was void in factual support' is not idiomatic.
Not a standard combination after 'void' meaning lacking.
void for
The contract was void for fraud.
Formal or legal use meaning invalid because of something.
void on
'Void on arrival' uses 'on' as a time condition, not as a preposition selected by 'void'.
'On' is usually a separate adjunct, not part of a fixed adjective pattern.
void as
The clause was void as against public policy.
Rare legal wording meaning invalid in a particular respect.

Common mistakes

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

Using 'void in' for lack

Use 'void of' when you mean lacking something.

✕ The article was void in useful data. ✓ The article was void of useful data.

Confusing legal 'void for' with 'void of'

'Void for' explains why something is invalid, not what it lacks.

✕ The speech was void for emotion. ✓ The speech was void of emotion.

Treating 'on' as the normal partner of 'void'

'Void on' is not a standard adjective pattern for lack.

✕ The form is void on signatures. ✓ The form is void of signatures.

Using 'void as' for ordinary description

For everyday meaning, use 'void of' instead of 'void as'.

✕ The review was void as detail. ✓ The review was void of detail.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The essay was ___ original ideas.
2. The licence was declared ___ fraud.
3. Which sentence is idiomatic for expressing lack?

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Frequently asked questions

Is 'void of' formal English?

Yes. It is common in formal and literary styles to mean lacking something.

Can I use 'void for' outside legal English?

It is mainly used in legal or highly formal contexts to explain why something is invalid.

Is 'void in' ever correct?

Not as a normal adjective pattern meaning lacking. 'In' may appear separately in other sentence structures, but not as the standard complement after 'void'.

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