acceptable to vs acceptable for

Both 'acceptable to' and 'acceptable for' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Acceptable to' is used when you are referring to a person or group who finds something acceptable. However, 'acceptable for' is used when you are discussing the suitability or appropriateness of something for a particular purpose.

Explained by Jennifer
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: March 25, 2025 • 5474 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"acceptable to "

Use 'acceptable to' when referring to a person or group who finds something acceptable. For example, 'The proposal was acceptable to the board of directors.'

Examples:

Her behavior was not acceptable to her parents.
The new policy was acceptable to most employees.
Is this color acceptable to you?

Show examples from the web [+]

This simply wasn't acceptable to me.
An operator shall ensure that, the detailed structure of the operations manual is acceptable to the Authority.
I make your foolish little dance steps acceptable to an audience.
They would therefore not have been acceptable to a market economy investor.
Line checks must be conducted by commanders nominated by the operator and acceptable to the Authority.
The first part of amendment 44 is acceptable to the Council.
This plan is acceptable to all.
Politicians have been trying for years to negotiate a compromise acceptable to everyone.
Anyone wishing to combat nationalism must first remove its breeding ground by offering people a solution acceptable to them.
The proposition ought to be acceptable to me.
In fairness, the report is acceptable to all the political groups.
Implementing sound, sustainable charging policies is therefore absolutely necessary, and they must be acceptable to the population.
The agreement must be acceptable to all, not only a majority.
The law is one of the few trades acceptable to a gentleman.
Over and above that, we want enlargement to come about under conditions acceptable to all sides.
I hope that is now acceptable to Parliament.
Certain consequences of the proposed DCECI are especially serious and would not be acceptable to Parliament.
This date is acceptable to the Community.
Introduction of a Council proposal that can be acceptable to the Parliament.
This was said to make ECJ judgments more acceptable to specialised national judges.

Alternatives:

agreeable to
satisfactory to
pleasing to
suitable for
appropriate for

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"acceptable for"

Use 'acceptable for' when discussing the suitability or appropriateness of something for a particular purpose. For example, 'This tool is acceptable for cutting metal.'

Examples:

Is this dress acceptable for the wedding?
The software is acceptable for basic tasks.
This medication is acceptable for children.

Show examples from the web [+]

It would not be acceptable for administrative difficulties to diminish patients' rights.
It is not acceptable for this man to freely trample the dignity of this House underfoot.
Socially acceptable for you to roll around on a scooter.
We need to come to an arrangement that is acceptable for small and medium-sized pharmaceutical companies.
There are some proposals in the report which are not acceptable for other reasons.
I just don't understand why they're not acceptable for men anymore.
You know attachment is not acceptable for a Jedi.
However, this indication was not considered acceptable for the IV ciprofloxacin formulation.
The combination of minimum and full harmonisation can become an option that is acceptable for everyone.
The common position we are preparing to adopt is acceptable for the public service.
This situation is not acceptable for the sector in question.
maximum 30 % acceptable for test type VIII
The 44/56 ratio is also acceptable for the whole of the period examined as the commercial sector activities were then on an upward trend [30].
My amendments were not adopted in committee and I therefore felt it was not acceptable for us to continue on these bases.
It is not acceptable for competitors to be kept out of the market by relying on alleged infringement of copyright.
I do not think it is acceptable for the cost of inspections to be harmonised by means of a European fee.
The proposed provisions rendering the ratification of IMO conventions mandatory were not acceptable for Member States, particularly for constitutional reasons.
Therefore the minimum premium acceptable for a sound economic operator can be expressed as follows:
It is, however, not acceptable for the number of MEPs from Luxembourg to be cut by one-third.
The recast procedure is acceptable for the EP if it leads to a modification of the Directive in line with recent jurisprudence.

Alternatives:

suitable for
appropriate for
fit for
adequate for
proper for

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acceptable to vs acceptable for

"acceptable to "

"acceptable for"

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