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Prepositions after adjectives

Worthy of, for or in?

Worthy is most commonly followed by of to show something deserves attention, praise, or respect. For and in may appear in separate phrases, but they are not the usual complements after worthy.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows worthy?

The standard pattern is worthy of + noun or -ing form. Worthy for is uncommon and usually avoided in modern English. Worthy in normally introduces a separate context rather than completing the adjective.

Her work is worthy of recognition.
The issue is worthy of further discussion.
The plan was considered worthy in principle.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
worthy of + noun

Deserving something

Use worthy of to say that someone or something deserves praise, attention, support, or another response.

The discovery is worthy of attention.
He received an award worthy of his contribution.
2
worthy of + -ing

Actions deserving attention

Use worthy of followed by an -ing form to describe an action worth doing or noticing.

The proposal is worthy of considering carefully.
Her comments are worthy of noting.
3
worthy in + context

Context introduced by in

In can introduce an area or respect in which something is worthy, but it is not the main complement selected by worthy.

The policy was worthy in theory but difficult in practice.
The idea remains worthy in principle.
4
worthy + noun

Describing a deserving person or thing

Worthy can directly modify a noun in formal style.

She supported several worthy causes.
They honoured a worthy candidate for the prize.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
worthy of
The book is worthy of wider recognition.
Standard and common pattern meaning deserving of something.
worthy for
The proposal is worthy for discussion.
Generally nonstandard in modern English; worthy of discussion is preferred.
worthy in
The idea is worthy in principle.
In introduces a separate context or respect.

Common mistakes

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

Using for instead of of

Worthy normally takes of, not for.

✕ The article is worthy for publication. ✓ The article is worthy of publication.

Using a bare noun after worthy

Use of before the noun complement.

✕ She is worthy respect. ✓ She is worthy of respect.

Confusing worthy in with worthy of

In usually adds context, not the main complement.

✕ The proposal is worthy in attention. ✓ The proposal is worthy of attention.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The film is worthy ___ an international audience.
2. Her remarks are worthy of ___ down.
3. The plan sounds worthy ___ theory.

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Frequently asked questions

Is worthy of the standard expression?

Yes. Worthy of is the normal and widely accepted pattern.

Can I use worthy for?

It is usually avoided in modern standard English. Use worthy of instead.

What does worthy in mean?

In often introduces a separate context, such as in principle or in theory, rather than acting as the adjective's complement.

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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