candidate for + position
Showing the role someone wants
Use for with candidate to name a job, office, award, or opportunity.
He is a candidate for mayor.
Candidate with prepositions
Candidate most often combines with for to show the position or role someone seeks. Of candidate usually appears only inside larger noun phrases.
Quick answer
Which expression is standard?
Use candidate for to describe the role, office, or opportunity someone seeks. Of candidate is not usually a complete pattern by itself, but it can appear in phrases such as the qualifications of the candidate.
She is a strong candidate for president.
The experience of the candidate impressed voters.
He became the leading candidate for the job.
The experience of the candidate impressed voters.
He became the leading candidate for the job.
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
candidate in + election
Showing participation in an election
Use in to describe the election or contest.
She was the youngest candidate in the election.
of the candidate
Describing something related to a candidate
Of candidate is normally part of a larger phrase with a determiner.
The speech of the candidate attracted attention.
candidate with + quality
Describing characteristics
Use with to mention qualities or experience.
They wanted a candidate with leadership experience.
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
candidate for
She is a candidate for the board.
Correct for the position or opportunity sought.
of the candidate
The background of the candidate was verified.
Correct inside a larger phrase showing relation.
of candidate
The selection of candidate names took weeks.
Possible only when candidate modifies another noun; not a standalone pattern.
candidate in
He was a candidate in the national election.
Correct for participation in a contest or election.
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Using of candidate as a complete phrase
This pattern usually needs another noun or article.
✕ They spoke of candidate yesterday. ✓ They spoke about the candidate yesterday.Using candidate to instead of candidate for
English uses for after candidate.
✕ She is a candidate to manager. ✓ She is a candidate for manager.Missing an article before candidate
Candidate is usually countable in singular form.
✕ He became candidate for mayor. ✓ He became a candidate for mayor.Quick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. She is a candidate ___ the scholarship.
2. The promises ___ the candidate were unrealistic.
3. He was a candidate ___ the local election.
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Frequently asked questions
Is candidate for correct?
Yes. It is the standard way to show the role or position someone seeks.
Can I use of candidate alone?
Usually no. It normally appears inside a larger phrase such as the qualifications of the candidate.
What preposition follows candidate in election contexts?
For is common for the role sought, and in is used for the election or contest itself.
Related preposition guides
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