Forget of vs. Forget about – Which is Correct?

Use “forget about” in modern everyday English: “I forgot about the meeting.” “Forget of” is grammatically possible but rare, literary, or archaic, and usually means fail to remember or lose awareness of something. In ordinary speech and writing, choose “forget about”; reserve “forget of” for deliberately old-fashioned or formal contexts.

“Forget of” or “Forget about” — Which Is Correct?

Both forget about and forget of can be grammatically valid, but they are not equally common. Forget about is the natural choice in contemporary American English when you mean “fail to remember,” “fail to consider,” or “stop thinking about” something.

Forget of is much less common. It generally means to lose awareness of something or fail to retain it in one’s memory. In modern writing, it can sound literary, old-fashioned, or awkward. In most situations, forget about or simply forget is clearer and more natural.

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

Use the “everyday conversation” test: if you could say the sentence naturally to a friend, choose forget about. For example, “I forgot about your appointment” sounds normal. If forget of sounds unusually formal or old-fashioned when you read it aloud, replace it with forget about or forget.

How to Use “Forget About”

Forget about is the standard modern phrase for discussing something that has slipped from your memory. It can refer to a task, event, person, fact, responsibility, or idea. It is appropriate in casual, professional, and academic contexts.

The phrase can also mean “stop worrying about something” or “dismiss an idea.” For example, “Forget about the cost” may mean that the cost is not important, while “Forget about taking the train” may mean that taking the train is no longer an option.

Example 1: I forgot about the appointment and arrived an hour late.

Example 2: Please do not forget about the documents on your desk.

Example 3: Forget about buying a new laptop until you have compared the prices.

What Are the Different Forms of “Forget”?

Forget is an irregular verb. Its principal forms are forget, forgot, and forgotten. The present participle is forgetting.

• Present: I often forget about small details.
• Past: She forgot about the appointment.
• Past participle: They have forgotten about the original plan.
• Present participle: He is forgetting about the importance of rest.

In the phrase forget about, the preposition remains unchanged while the verb changes: forgot about, has forgotten about, and will forget about.

Etymology of the Word “Forget”

Forget comes from Old English forgietan, meaning “to lose from the mind” or “fail to remember.” It combines an old prefix related to “away” with a verb meaning “to get” or “grasp.” The word has retained this basic idea for centuries.

How to Use “Forget Of”

Forget of is a valid but uncommon verb phrase. It is most likely to appear in literary, historical, poetic, or deliberately formal writing. It usually describes losing awareness of something or failing to keep something in one’s memory.

In contemporary American English, speakers generally prefer forget about, forget, or forget that. For example, instead of “She forgot of the warning,” modern English would normally say “She forgot about the warning” or “She forgot the warning.”

Example 1: In the old tale, the traveler forgot of the vow he had made.

Example 2: Over the years, the village seemed to forget of its earliest traditions.

Example 3: The poem describes a king who forgot of his duty to the people.

What Are the Different Forms of “Forget Of”?

The verb in forget of follows the same irregular pattern as the verb in forget about. The forms are forget of, forgot of, and forgotten of. The phrase is uncommon in every tense, so modern alternatives are usually preferable.

• Present: Few people forget of the event entirely.
• Past: The writer forgot of the promise.
• Past participle: The custom had been forgotten of by later generations.

The final example is especially formal and unnatural to many modern readers. A clearer version would be, “Later generations had forgotten the custom.”

Etymology of the Phrase “Forget Of”

The phrase combines the Old English verb forgietan with of, a preposition historically used to indicate connection, separation, or reference. Earlier forms of English used several prepositions after memory-related verbs. Over time, forget about and the bare verb forget became much more common in standard modern usage.

Related Concepts

Understanding verb patterns and preposition choice makes it easier to decide between forget about and forget of.

• Irregular verbs: An irregular verb does not form its past tense simply by adding -ed. The past forms of forget are forgot and forgotten.
• Prepositional phrases: A prepositional phrase combines a verb with a preposition, such as forget about. The preposition can affect the phrase’s meaning and naturalness.
• Verb complementation: Some verbs can be followed by different structures, including a noun, an infinitive, a clause, or a prepositional phrase. We can say “forget the address,” “forget to call,” or “forget about the address.”
• Register: Register refers to the level of formality or style in language. Forget about is neutral and common, while forget of often has a literary or archaic register.

Examples from Media and Literature

The phrase forget about is common in dialogue, journalism, fiction, and advice writing. The less common phrase forget of is more likely to appear in historical or poetic language.

• Everyday dialogue: “I forgot about the concert because I was busy studying.” This is the natural modern form.
• Film and television dialogue: A character may say, “Forget about it,” as an idiom meaning “do not worry about it,” “drop the subject,” or sometimes “that is impossible.”
• News writing: A report might state that officials must not forget about the needs of local residents.
• Historical fiction: A narrator may use “forgot of” to create an old-fashioned tone when describing a forgotten oath or tradition.
• Poetry: A poet may choose “forget of” for rhythm, atmosphere, or an intentionally archaic voice, even though ordinary prose would usually use “forget about.”

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct phrase, forget about or forget of, to complete each sentence.

1. I completely ______ the parent-teacher conference.
2. In the ancient ballad, the knight had ______ the oath he swore.
3. Please do not ______ the deadline on Friday.
4. The novel uses “______” to give the narration a historical tone.
5. She was so busy that she ______ the message in her inbox.

Answer Key

1. forgot about — This is the normal modern phrase for a missed memory.
2. forgotten of — The literary context makes the less common phrase possible.
3. forget about — This is the standard phrase in everyday and professional English.
4. forget of — The phrase can create a historical or archaic tone.
5. forgot about — Modern English normally uses forget about in this context.

“Forget About” Synonyms

“Forget Of” Synonyms

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Is “forget of” grammatically correct?
Yes, forget of can be grammatically correct, but it is uncommon in modern American English. It often sounds literary, archaic, or overly formal. In most cases, use forget about or simply forget.

Question 2: Should I say “I forgot of it” or “I forgot about it”?
Say “I forgot about it.” This is the natural and standard expression in contemporary English. “I forgot of it” may be understood, but it sounds unusual.

Question 3: What is the difference between “forget” and “forget about”?
Both can mean fail to remember. Forget about can also mean stop thinking about something, stop worrying about it, or dismiss it as an option. For example, “Forget the address” and “Forget about the address” are similar, but the second may emphasize abandoning the subject.

Question 4: Is “forget about it” an idiom?
Yes. Depending on context and tone, forget about it can mean “do not worry,” “do not mention it,” “drop the subject,” or “that is not going to happen.”

Question 5: Is “forget of” more formal than “forget about”?
It is better described as rare or archaic rather than simply formal. It may be suitable in literary writing, but forget about is the safer choice for business, academic, and everyday communication.

Conclusion

Forget about is the correct and natural choice for nearly all modern English situations. Forget of is not necessarily ungrammatical, but it is rare and may sound old-fashioned or literary. Use forget about for clarity and fluency. Pro Tip: Choosing the familiar modern form helps your professional writing sound polished, natural, and credible.