Remind of vs. Remind about – Which is Correct?
Both “remind of” and “remind about” are correct, but they serve different purposes. Use “remind someone of” for a memory, resemblance, or association: “This song reminds me of summer.” Use “remind someone about” for an obligation, appointment, or subject: “Please remind me about the meeting.” Both sound natural.
Remind of or Remind about – Which is Correct?
Remind of and remind about are both correct English expressions. The difference is usually one of meaning and emphasis.
This distinction also helps separate Recall vs. Remember, since the verbs can overlap without being identical.
Use remind someone of when something causes a person to remember another person, place, experience, quality, or idea. It can also describe a resemblance. For example, “That painting reminds me of my childhood” means the painting brings childhood memories to mind.
Use remind someone about when you help someone remember an event, task, deadline, appointment, or subject that requires attention. For example, “Please remind me about the dentist’s appointment” refers to a practical reminder.
In everyday American English, remind me about and remind me of can sometimes overlap, especially when the object is an event or topic. However, of generally emphasizes association or memory, while about generally emphasizes information or an obligation.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use this simple mental test: “of” points to a memory or resemblance, while “about” points to information or an action.
If you could replace the phrase with “bring back memories of,” choose remind of. If you could replace it with “notify someone about” or “help someone remember to deal with,” choose remind about.
Compare these examples:
- “You remind me of your sister.” This describes resemblance.
- “Remind me about the report.” This refers to a task or topic.
- “The smell reminds me of home.” This describes an emotional association.
- “The email reminded us about the deadline.” This highlights useful information.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| remind of | Verb phrase | Cause someone to recall, associate, or notice a resemblance | “This melody reminds me of my hometown.” |
| remind about | Verb phrase | Help someone remember an event, subject, task, or deadline | “Remind me about the meeting tomorrow.” |
How to Use Remind of
The construction remind someone of something means to cause someone to remember something or to make one person or thing seem similar to another. The object after remind is usually a person, such as me, you, her, or them.
This construction is common in casual conversation, personal writing, reviews, and descriptive language. It often communicates an emotional connection, a sensory memory, or a resemblance.
Example 1: The scent of fresh bread reminds me of my grandmother’s kitchen.
Example 2: You remind me of someone I knew in college.
Example 3: The quiet streets reminded the travelers of their hometown.
Etymology of the word Remind
Remind developed from the combination of re-, meaning “again,” and mind, referring to memory or thought. The verb originally conveyed the idea of bringing something back into a person’s mind. It has been used in English for several centuries.
How to Use Remind About
The construction remind someone about something is used when a person needs to remember information, an upcoming event, a responsibility, or a subject that requires attention. It is particularly natural in workplace, school, administrative, and everyday planning contexts.
Remind about often suggests a practical notification. It may concern an appointment, payment, deadline, meeting, instruction, or unfinished task. The related pattern remind someone to do something is also common when the reminder focuses on an action.
Example 1: Please remind me about the parent-teacher conference next week.
Example 2: The manager reminded the staff about the updated safety policy.
Example 3: Could you remind Jordan to submit the application before Friday?
Etymology of the word About
About comes from Old English expressions meaning “around,” “on all sides,” or “concerning.” Over time, it developed several uses, including indicating a subject or topic. In remind someone about something, it introduces the information or matter that someone needs to remember.
Related Concepts
Understanding the difference between association and practical notification makes it easier to choose the right preposition after remind.
- Prepositional phrases: A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition such as of or about and adds information to a verb. The choice of preposition can change the emphasis of the sentence.
- Memory and association: Expressions such as remind me of connect one person, object, sound, or experience with another memory or resemblance.
- Notifications and obligations: Expressions such as remind me about commonly refer to appointments, deadlines, instructions, and responsibilities.
- Verb patterns: English uses several patterns with remind, including remind someone of something, remind someone about something, and remind someone to do something.
Examples from Media and Literature
The distinction appears naturally in descriptions of memories, characters, events, and public information.
- Literature: In discussions of Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time, the taste of a madeleine is described as reminding the narrator of experiences from childhood.
- Film reviews: A reviewer might write that a new coming-of-age film reminds viewers of classic stories about friendship and adolescence.
- Music journalism: A critic may explain that a singer’s voice reminds listeners of an earlier performer, emphasizing resemblance.
- News reports: A public agency may remind residents about a filing deadline, emergency procedure, or scheduled service interruption.
- Workplace communication: A supervisor might remind employees about a meeting while also reminding them to bring the required documents.
Remind of Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| evoke | Bring a memory, feeling, image, or response into someone’s mind. |
| call to mind | Cause someone to remember or think of something. |
| bring back memories of | Cause someone to recall past experiences. |
| recall | Bring a past event, fact, or person back into one’s memory. |
Remind about Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| notify | Give someone official or useful information. |
| alert | Make someone aware of an important matter or possible problem. |
| prompt | Encourage someone to remember or complete an action. |
| give notice about | Provide advance information about an event, change, or requirement. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is it correct to say “remind me of the meeting”?
Yes. “Remind me of the meeting” is grammatically correct. It can mean that someone wants help recalling the meeting or that the meeting brings another memory to mind. For a straightforward appointment notification, “remind me about the meeting” is often clearer.
Question 2: Should I say “remind me of” or “remind me about” a deadline?
Both can be correct, but remind me about the deadline is usually the more natural choice when requesting a practical notification. Use remind me of the deadline when focusing on recalling the deadline itself.
Question 3: What is the difference between “remind someone about” and “remind someone to”?
Use remind someone about something for a topic, event, or obligation: “Remind me about the appointment.” Use remind someone to do something for an action: “Remind me to call the dentist.”
Conclusion
Remind of and remind about are both correct. Choose remind of for memories, associations, and resemblances, and choose remind about for appointments, deadlines, information, and responsibilities. Use remind someone to do something when the reminder concerns a specific action. Pro Tip: In professional writing, selecting the preposition that clearly communicates your intended meaning makes your messages sound more precise and polished.
