Respected For: Standard Pattern
Respected For: Standard Pattern records a directly documented English construction and keeps guidance bounded to the evidenced pattern rather than turning one attested complement into a universal prohibition.
Use “respected for” to identify the quality, action, knowledge, or other reason that earns respect.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| name the quality, action, knowledge, or achievement that earns respect | be respected for + noun/-ing | Use “for” to introduce the reason for the respect. |
| name the people who hold the respect | be respected by + person/group | Use “by” to identify the respecters, not the reason. |
| speak of respect as a noun | respect for + person/thing/quality | Keep the noun construction separate from “be respected for.” |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Are you identifying why the person or thing is respected?
If yes: Use “respected for.”
If no: If you are identifying who respects them, use “respected by”; if “respect” is a noun, use the noun construction that fits the sentence.
Examples
She is respected for her careful judgment.
“For” introduces the quality that earns respect.
The editor is respected for checking difficult claims thoroughly.
An -ing clause can name the action that earns respect.
He is respected by colleagues for his patience.
“By” names the people; “for” names the reason.
Further guidance
Construction
Use “respected for” to identify the quality, action, knowledge, or other reason that earns respect.
Style Boundary
“Respected” also appears with other complements, including “respected by” and “respected as.” This page does not treat “for” as its only possible complement.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Respect — Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries (opens in a new tab)Oxford University Press · Direct dictionary evidence for “respected for” introducing the reason for respect