The word “good” can have many meanings, but when it comes to describing competency or skill, it’s often used in combination with different prepositions. You may have heard phrases like “good at,” “good in,” and “good with,” and sometimes they can be confusing. While they are often used interchangeably, there are subtle differences that make each one suitable for certain contexts. Let’s break them down and see when to use each one.

Good At: Used for Activities or Actions

“Good at” is typically used to describe someone’s ability or competence in an activity, skill, or task. It’s about being proficient or skilled in a particular activity.

Examples:

• He’s good at football.

• She’s good at product design.

• Her mother is good at Trivial Pursuit.

• Fatima was good at drawing when she was only six.

As you can see, “good at” is used when referring to an activity or pursuit where skill or talent is involved. This is the most common usage, and you’ll see it used frequently in contexts involving hobbies, sports, or specific tasks.

Good In: Used for School Subjects and Certain Contexts

“Good in” is more commonly used when referring to school subjects or situations that require competency. It’s a bit more specific than “good at.”

Examples:

• Jere is good at math: he always finishes first.

• Jere is good in math: he makes all A’s.

Both “good at” and “good in” can be used for subjects such as math and science. However, “good in” is especially common in academic contexts to emphasize achievement or proficiency within a specific area.

Interestingly, “good in” can also be used for situations or roles. For example:

• An actor can be good in a role.

• A level-headed friend is good in an emergency.

It’s not as widely used as “good at,” but it does appear in specialized contexts like these.

Good With: Describing Personal Skills and Interactions

“Good with” is used when referring to someone’s ability to interact or work with a person, group, or object. It focuses more on relationships or aptitude in handling specific people or things.

Examples:

• Daiki is good with numbers; he plans to study accounting.

• Maribel is good with children; she wants to be an elementary teacher.

• Amos is good with his hands; he remodeled the entire house.

• Lilah is good with money; she saves at least 40% of her allowance every week.

“Good with” shows how someone interacts with or handles something, whether it’s numbers, people, or objects. It conveys a practical ability to manage or deal with specific tasks, environments, or people.

Real-Life Examples

Here are some common uses of these expressions in real-world contexts:

• Michael Phelps: Good at swimming, better at golf.

• Why are humans and dogs so good at living together?

• School shootings: We’re good at finding fault, not so good at finding a solution.

• Is it true that people who are good at music can learn a language sooner?

• Are you good in a crisis?

• Are pit bulls good with kids?

• Are you good or awful with money?

Conclusion: When to Memorize Prepositions

While there are general guidelines for when to use “good at,” “good in,” and “good with,” idiomatic expressions often require memorization. The choice of preposition depends on the context—whether you’re talking about an activity, a subject, a situation, or how you interact with people or objects.

So, when in doubt, pay attention to how these phrases are used in real-world examples and practice to develop a better intuition for when to use each one!