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Prepositions after wary

Wary of, about, or in

Wary is most commonly followed by of to express caution. About is also possible in some contexts. In usually introduces the situation, not the object of caution.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows wary?

Use wary of for the thing or person that causes caution. Wary about is also used, especially before actions or decisions. Wary in usually describes the situation where someone acts carefully, not the object they fear.

Investors are wary of sudden price changes.
She is wary about sharing personal data.
Drivers should be wary in heavy fog.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
wary of + risk or person

Showing caution toward something

Of is the standard preposition after wary.

Consumers are wary of misleading ads.
2
wary about + action

Being cautious about doing something

About often introduces an action, plan, or topic that causes concern.

He is wary about investing too quickly.
3
wary in + situation

Acting carefully in a context

In can introduce the situation where caution is needed. It is not directly selected by wary.

Tourists should be wary in crowded areas.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
wary of
She is wary of strangers.
cautious toward someone or something
wary about
They are wary about signing the contract.
careful or uncertain about an action or topic
wary in
Be wary in unfamiliar situations.
careful within a situation or environment
wary on
Wary on is not a standard combination after wary.
nonstandard in this use

Common mistakes

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

Using wary in before an object

Use of for the thing causing caution.

✕ She is wary in online scams. ✓ She is wary of online scams.

Confusing wary and weary

Wary means cautious, while weary means tired.

✕ He is weary of hidden fees. ✓ He is wary of hidden fees.

Using wary on

On is not normally used after wary.

✕ They are wary on new investments. ✓ They are wary about new investments.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. People are wary ___ fake websites.
2. She is wary ___ making promises too early.
3. Cyclists should be wary ___ icy roads.

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Frequently asked questions

Is wary of the most common pattern?

Yes. It is the standard and most widely used construction.

Can I use wary about?

Yes. It is natural when discussing actions, plans, or topics.

Is wary in grammatical?

Yes, when in introduces a situation or environment rather than the object of caution.

warm-in-up-for-to, with weak in, on, at, for or from? wealthy in, of, by, from or with? weary of, from, in, with or about? wedded to, by, for, in or into? weekly for, in, on, with or to? weird for, to, about, in or with? "welcome to" or "welcome in"? "welcoming of" or "welcoming to"? "well-known for" or "well-known in"? well-received by, in, at, among or with? "well-suited to" or "well-suited for"?

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