I discovered about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I discovered about" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct usage would be "I discovered" or "I found out about." Example: "I discovered that the event was canceled last minute."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Most shocking was what I discovered about the Korean War.

The New York Times

I was surprised mostly by what I discovered about my dad.

The New Yorker

I originally had no intention of writing about this episode, but the more I discovered about it, the more revealing it became.

The Guardian - Opinion

I discovered about two years ago that one delightful side effect of giving birth is that you might accidentally poo yourself, a detail that has haunted my nightmares ever since.

Independent

Below are some of the considerations I took into account, and some of the awesome things I discovered about the Cambridge/Boston area since moving here, that have helped affirm for me that I made the right decision.

Harvard University

"One thing I discovered about myself in the early days of my life is that I can't stick with just one idea for too long," Mr. Simjian wrote in a autobiography that was privately published earlier this year.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

As during my trip to Asia, I'll report back here on what I discover about tech and entrepreneurship in the nation's capital and abroad.

TechCrunch

What did I discover about the stories that people have in other countries?

Huffington Post

She's always shocked about the things that I discover about her recovery from leukemia, the lessons we all are learning from each other and how her siblings are dealing with the roller coaster ride we experienced for the past four years.

Huffington Post

Here are a few things I've discovered about the iPad in my travels thus far and I hope will help you make your iPad buying decision.

TechCrunch

Unfortunately, I'm somebody who needs external accountability - this is something that I've discovered about myself.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use alternatives like "found out about", "learned about", or "became aware of" if you want to include "about".

Common error

Avoid adding "about" after "discovered". This creates a redundant phrase that is considered grammatically incorrect. Instead of saying "I discovered about the project", say "I discovered the project" or "I found out about the project".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I discovered about" functions as a declarative statement where the speaker intends to convey the action of finding something. However, according to Ludwig AI, the presence of "about" after the transitive verb 'discovered' makes the phrase grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "I discovered about" is frequently used, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The verb "discovered" is transitive and doesn't require the preposition "about". To correct this, simply say "I discovered [something]" or use alternatives like "I found out "about"" or "I learned "about"". Though common in informal settings and various online sources, avoiding "about" will enhance the clarity and grammatical correctness of your writing, especially in formal or academic contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I discovered

Omits the preposition "about", resulting in a grammatically correct and more concise statement.

I found out about

Replaces "discovered" with "found out", offering a more casual alternative with similar meaning.

I learned about

Substitutes "discovered" with "learned", implying a process of gaining knowledge.

I came to know about

Replaces "discovered" with a more formal phrase "came to know", suggesting a gradual realization.

I realized

Focuses on the moment of understanding, omitting "about" for a direct statement.

I became aware of

Suggests gaining consciousness of something, implying a shift in perception.

I ascertained

Uses a more formal verb "ascertained", implying a careful and deliberate discovery.

I unearthed

Emphasizes the effort involved in finding something hidden or obscure.

I determined

Highlights the process of establishing or concluding something after investigation.

I gathered

Implies collecting information from various sources to form an understanding.

FAQs

Why is "I discovered about" considered grammatically incorrect?

The verb "discover" is transitive, meaning it directly takes an object. Adding "about" creates a prepositional phrase where it's not needed. It's more accurate to say "I discovered [something]" or, if you prefer a preposition, use alternatives like "I found out "about"".

What can I say instead of "I discovered about"?

You can use alternatives like "I discovered", "I found out "about"", or "I learned "about"" depending on the context.

Is there a subtle difference in meaning between "I discovered" and "I found out about"?

"I discovered" often implies a more active or intentional search, while "I found out "about"" can suggest a more passive acquisition of information. For example, "I discovered the cure" versus "I found out "about" the meeting from a colleague".

Which is more formal, "I discovered" or "I learned about"?

"I discovered" generally sounds more formal than "I learned "about"". "I discovered" suggests a more significant finding or realization, suitable for academic or professional contexts.