suitable for or suitable to (2025)

Hello, everybody:

If I have a device that I use to collect information, should I write:

1 - This device is suitable to collect information

or

2 - This device is suitable for collecting information
?

Thanks in advance,
Dany.

Hello danyluis,

In AE (American English), the second is idiomatic. The first sounds unnatural.

Thank you very much.

-Dany

Agreed. The only time (I can think of) where "to" and "for" may be interchangeable is when it deals with a person:

This computer is suitable to you.
This computer is suitable for you.

I think I'd still prefer for here, but bear in mind that:

1) to sounds much better here than the to in your sentence above, and
2) for (and to here) has a very different meaning from the for (and to) used in your sentence above.

I hope that wasn't confusing. I think maybe it was. :-/

Isn't it simply 'suited to' and 'suitable for'?

"This device is suited to the collection of information"

"This device is suitable for collecting information" (as originally posted - it doesn't sound unnatural to me).

It's like reviving a very old topic (app. 3 years old ) but I had to say that I've seen these sample sentences in Oxford Dictionary of Collocations, which, to me, sounds like a reliable source :

suitable:

The walk is suitable for all family. (As you guys already agreed)
...conditions suitable

their development . (??)

and also taking the last reply into consideration:

He wasn't really suited

army life. (??)
...an approach easily suited to adult learners. (as it is already been pointed out)

I hope I can get a reply otherwise I will feel forced to open a new topic for this

Thank you, ouzhantekin. Certainly, this is an old topic, but useful answers are always welcomed.

-Dany

"it's" Suitable for "person"
"it's" Suitable to "it"
"Person" is/are Suitable for "it" or "person"

can we consider that as acorrect roles??

'Suited' expresses a specific judgement and the more direct pronoun 'to' is therefore appropriate.
'He was not well suited to such a life.'

'Suitable' is a more general judgement and the less definite pronoun 'for' is appropriate in this case.
'That heavy pot is not suitable for stir-fry cooking.'

A point to remember is that 'suited' is often used to express a judgement about a person, while 'suitable' often refers to something we use.

danyluis said:

Hello, everybody:

If I have a device that I use to collect information, should I write:

1 - This device is suitable to collect information

or

2 - This device is suitable for collecting information
?

Thanks in advance,
Dany.

Click to expand...

May I know what is the difference in meaning between the both sentences?

"I would love to have a meeting with you to discuss this project in greater detail or a different project you think would be suitable to a person of my background."

Would "for a person of my background" be more idiomatic?

danyluis said:

Hello, everybody:

If I have a device that I use to collect information, should I write:

1 - This device is suitable to collect information

or

2 - This device is suitable for collecting information
?

Thanks in advance,
Dany.

Click to expand...

I think both are correct here.