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Prepositions after adjectives

Wise for, wise to, and wise in

Wise to is the most common pattern and means making a sensible decision. Wise in refers to skill or knowledge in an area. Wise for is less common and usually appears in set expressions.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows wise?

Use wise to + verb for sensible actions or decisions. Use wise in for areas of knowledge or behaviour. Wise for is limited and usually means suitable or beneficial for someone.

wise to wait
wise to check the details
wise in financial matters
too wise for that trick

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
wise to + verb

Giving advice or describing sensible action

This is the standard and most common pattern.

wise to save money
wise to ask questions
2
wise in + area

Showing knowledge or judgement in a field

In introduces the subject area where someone is wise.

wise in business
wise in legal matters
3
too wise for + noun

Describing awareness or caution

For appears in expressions such as too wise for something.

too wise for scams
too wise for excuses

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
wise to
You would be wise to apologise.
Sensible or advisable action.
wise in
She is wise in financial planning.
Knowledgeable or experienced in a field.
wise for
He is too wise for that scheme.
Clever or cautious enough to avoid something.
wise about
Parents should be wise about online safety.
Careful and informed regarding a topic.

Common mistakes

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

Using in before a verb

Use to before verbs after wise.

✕ You are wise in leave early. ✓ You are wise to leave early.

Using for as the main advice pattern

Wise to is the standard form for recommendations.

✕ It is wise for check the contract. ✓ It is wise to check the contract.

Confusing wise in and wise about

Wise in focuses on expertise, while wise about focuses on careful judgement.

✕ She is wise in internet privacy rules. ✓ She is wise about internet privacy rules.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. You would be wise ___ back up your files.
2. He is wise ___ investment matters.
3. The child was too wise ___ that excuse.

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Frequently asked questions

Is wise to the most common pattern?

Yes. It is widely used for advice and sensible decisions.

What does wise in mean?

It means knowledgeable, experienced, or thoughtful in a particular field.

Can wise for be correct?

Yes, especially in expressions like too wise for that trick, but it is less common than wise to.

warm-in-up-for-to, with wary of, about or in? 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?

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