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Prepositions after adjectives

Wrong with, in, about, for or on?

Wrong combines with several prepositions, but each has a different meaning. Wrong with is used for problems or faults, wrong about for mistaken opinions, and wrong in for errors within an action or statement.

Quick answer

How do you use wrong with prepositions?

Use wrong with for problems or faults, wrong about for mistaken beliefs, wrong in for errors in actions or statements, and wrong for when something is unsuitable or unfair. Wrong on is less common and usually refers to being mistaken on a topic.

What is wrong with the printer?
I was wrong about the meeting time.
She was wrong in blaming the staff.
That diet may be wrong for young children.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
wrong with + noun

Problems or faults

Use wrong with to ask or say what problem affects someone or something.

There is something wrong with my phone.
What is wrong with the engine?
2
wrong about + topic

Mistaken opinions or beliefs

Use wrong about when someone has an incorrect idea or judgement.

I was wrong about the deadline.
They were wrong about the cause of the problem.
3
wrong in + action or statement

Incorrect in behaviour or reasoning

Use wrong in to describe the area in which someone acted or reasoned incorrectly.

He was wrong in accusing her.
The report was wrong in several details.
4
wrong for + person or purpose

Unsuitable or unfair

Use wrong for to show that something is inappropriate or harmful for someone or something.

That medicine is wrong for children under five.
It would be wrong for the company to ignore the complaint.
5
wrong on + subject

Mistaken on a specific topic

Wrong on is used mainly in discussions and debates to mean mistaken about a subject.

She was wrong on several economic issues.
The article is wrong on the historical facts.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
wrong with
Something is wrong with the computer.
Describes a fault or problem affecting something.
wrong in
You were wrong in making that assumption.
Shows the action or area where the mistake occurred.
wrong about
I was wrong about his intentions.
Shows an incorrect belief or opinion.
wrong for
That approach is wrong for this situation.
Shows unsuitability or unfairness.
wrong on
The speaker was wrong on several points.
Means mistaken about a subject or issue.

Common mistakes

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

Using wrong with for opinions

Use wrong about for mistaken beliefs or ideas.

✕ I was wrong with the date. ✓ I was wrong about the date.

Using wrong in for physical problems

Use wrong with for faults or health problems.

✕ Something is wrong in my back. ✓ Something is wrong with my back.

Confusing wrong for and wrong to

Wrong for shows unsuitability. Wrong to is followed by a verb.

✕ It is wrong for ignore the warning. ✓ It is wrong to ignore the warning.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. What is wrong ___ your laptop?
2. I was wrong ___ the train schedule.
3. She was wrong ___ criticising him in public.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between wrong with and wrong about?

Wrong with describes a problem or fault, while wrong about describes an incorrect belief or opinion.

Can I say wrong on?

Yes. Wrong on is used mainly for being mistaken on a topic or issue.

When do we use wrong for?

Use wrong for when something is unsuitable, harmful, or unfair for a person, group, or situation.

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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