About vs. With – Which is Correct?
About and with are both correct, but they express different relationships. Use about for a subject, approximate amount, or movement around something; use with for accompaniment, connection, instrument, possession, or manner. The right choice depends on the intended meaning and the verb or phrase that follows it in each context with care.
About or With – Which is Correct?
About and with are both valid American English prepositions. However, they cannot usually be substituted for each other because they communicate different meanings.
Use about when referring to a topic, an approximate number, or movement around an area. Use with when referring to being together, using something, having a feature, or interacting with someone or something.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the topic-or-together test. If you could replace the preposition with “concerning,” choose about: “a book about history” means “a book concerning history.” If you could replace it with “alongside,” “using,” or “having,” choose with: “She went with her friend,” “He cut it with a knife,” or “a house with a red door.”
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| about | Preposition, adverb | Concerning, approximately, or around | We talked about the new plan. |
| with | Preposition | Together with, by using, or having | She traveled with her family. |
How to Use About
About commonly introduces the subject of conversation, writing, thought, concern, or research. In this use, it is similar to concerning or regarding. It can also mean approximately when placed before a number or amount, and it may describe movement in various directions or around a place.
In everyday speech, about is natural and relatively informal. In formal writing, regarding or concerning may sometimes sound more official, but about remains grammatically correct.
Example 1: The documentary is about the history of ocean exploration.
Example 2: About thirty people attended the meeting.
Example 3: The children ran about the garden while their parents talked.
Etymology of the Word About
About comes from Old English abūtan, meaning “around” or “on the outside.” It developed from words related to “by” and “out,” which helps explain its modern meanings involving surrounding areas, general topics, and approximate quantities.
How to Use With
With is a versatile preposition with several important uses. It can show companionship or association, as in “I went with my sister.” It can identify the instrument used to perform an action, as in “She wrote with a pencil.” It can also describe possession, characteristics, agreement, opposition, or manner.
In expressions such as “pleased with,” “angry with,” and “familiar with,” the preposition follows a particular adjective. These combinations are called adjective-preposition collocations, and they are best learned as set phrases.
Example 1: Marcus arrived with his colleagues.
Example 2: The artist painted the portrait with a fine brush.
Example 3: We were impressed with the quality of the performance.
Etymology of the Word With
With comes from Old English wiþ, which originally conveyed the idea of being “against” or “opposite.” Over time, its meaning expanded to include association, accompaniment, possession, and the means by which an action occurs.
Related Concepts
Understanding the roles of prepositions makes the difference between about and with easier to recognize. The surrounding verb, adjective, or noun often determines which preposition sounds correct.
- Prepositions: Prepositions connect nouns or pronouns to other words and express relationships such as topic, location, time, possession, or association.
- Prepositional phrases: A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with its object, as in “about the project” or “with my friend.”
- Collocations: Some words naturally combine with particular prepositions. For example, English uses “talk about” and “agree with,” not usually “talk with” or “agree about” when expressing those specific meanings.
- Approximation: About can introduce an estimated quantity, while with does not normally have this meaning.
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples show how each preposition commonly appears in real-world language:
- Books: A novel may be described as a story about friendship, identity, or a difficult journey.
- Movies: A film review might say that a character travels with an unlikely companion.
- News: A report may provide information about an election, investigation, or public decision.
- Cooking programs: A presenter may explain how to prepare a dish with fresh herbs or a particular tool.
- Everyday conversation: Someone might say, “I have a question about the schedule,” or “I brought the documents with me.”
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
- The lecture was ___ the effects of climate change.
- She arrived ___ her younger brother.
- There were ___ fifty guests at the reception.
- He opened the package ___ a pair of scissors.
- Are you familiar ___ this software?
Answer Key
- about
- with
- about
- with
- with
About Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| concerning | Relating to or regarding a subject |
| regarding | With respect to a particular topic |
| approximately | Nearly or roughly a stated amount |
| around | In the area surrounding something or roughly |
With Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| alongside | Together with or next to someone or something |
| accompanied by | Having someone or something present |
| using | By means of a tool, method, or instrument |
| including | Containing or having as a part |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is it “talk about” or “talk with”?
Both expressions are correct, but they have different meanings. “Talk about a problem” means discuss the problem, while “talk with a colleague” means speak to or converse with that person.
Question 2: Should I use “about” or “with” after “familiar”?
Use with: “She is familiar with the procedure.” The phrase “familiar about” is not standard in this context.
Question 3: Is “about” more formal than “with”?
Neither word is inherently more formal. Both are common in casual, academic, professional, and literary English. Formality depends mainly on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure.
Conclusion
About and with are both correct words, but they serve different grammatical purposes. Choose about for topics, approximate quantities, and movement around something. Choose with for companionship, instruments, possession, characteristics, and certain adjective or verb combinations. Pro Tip: Using the precise preposition strengthens your clarity and helps maintain a polished professional reputation.
