I fear about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I fear about" is not grammatically correct.
You could use it in spoken English, but not in written English. To make it correct, you would need to change the phrase to "I fear." For example: I fear that my best friend won't make it to the party.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"One of the things I fear about Ebola is that it could spread more widely in Africa.

The Guardian

Picking up on a story in the Observer yesterday, Brown said: "I care about the future of nursery education and I fear about what is being proposed.

The Guardian

I still have a slight accent and since Brexit I have been asked aggressively, "When are you leaving this country and going home?" I fear about my future, even in London.

The Guardian

I'm going to be brave here and tell you exactly what I fear about my dating life now that I'm over 50.

Huffington Post

But as I have grown older, I have come to learn that 99percentt of the things I fear about myself, or about the future, are not real, and do not happen.

Huffington Post

"What I fear about that statement... is that when Trump talks about 3 to 5 million people voting illegally, he is sending a message to every Republican governor in this country to go forward with voter suppression," Sanders said. .

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Your reviews reflected exactly what I feared about each of this year's three main theater pieces".

The New York Times

"You know what I really fear about what's happening here?

Huffington Post

What I Fear Most About the Divide in America: It's not so much what I fear most about the divide in America, but my question is how did we become such a "fearful" society in the first place?

Huffington Post

What I fear most about the division in America is the parochial view that keeps drawing us back to considering race first in most social issue discussions.

Huffington Post

Looking down into the foreboding narrows, I remembered the thing I love and fear about running rivers: you have no choice.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "I fear about" in formal writing. Instead, use grammatically correct alternatives such as "I am afraid of" or "I worry about".

Common error

The phrase "I fear about" incorrectly pairs the verb "fear" with the preposition "about". To correct this, either remove "about" and use "I fear..." or use a different phrase like "I am afraid of...".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I fear about" functions as an expression of concern or apprehension. While grammatically incorrect, some examples in Ludwig suggest its use in informal contexts. However, standard English prefers "I fear" or "I am afraid of".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "I fear about" appears in some sources, Ludwig AI points out that it is grammatically incorrect. Standard English prefers "I fear" or alternatives like "I am afraid of" or "I worry about". As such, it's best to avoid "I fear about" in formal writing and professional communication. The phrase functions to express worry or apprehension, but its non-standard usage makes it less suitable for contexts requiring grammatical precision. Most frequently, the phrase appears in news and media sources, but it should still be used cautiously.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I am afraid of

Changes the verb and preposition to express the same sentiment with correct grammar.

I worry about

Replaces "fear" with "worry", maintaining the concern but with slightly different connotation.

My fear is that

Restructures the sentence to focus on the fear itself.

I dread

Uses a different verb to express a strong feeling of apprehension.

I have concerns about

Replaces "fear" with the more formal "concerns", altering the tone slightly.

I am apprehensive about

Substitutes "fear" with the more formal "apprehensive", increasing the formality of the expression.

I am scared of

Replaces "fear" with "scared", making the statement more direct and emotive.

I have a fear of

Emphasizes the fear as a distinct entity.

I am uneasy about

Uses "uneasy" to convey a sense of discomfort or anxiety about something.

I foresee problems with

Focuses on predicting negative outcomes, rather than expressing an emotion.

FAQs

What is the correct way to express concern using the word "fear"?

The grammatically correct ways to express concern using "fear" include "I fear [something]" or "I am afraid of [something]". For example, "I fear the consequences" or "I am afraid of heights".

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

You can use alternatives like "I am afraid of", "I worry about", or "I have concerns about" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "I fear about" or "I fear"?

"I fear" is the grammatically correct option. "I fear about" is not standard English and should be avoided in formal writing.

Is "I fear about" ever acceptable to use?

While you might encounter "I fear about" in informal speech, it's best to avoid it in writing. Opt for more precise and grammatically sound phrases such as "I am afraid of" or simply "I fear".