about a murder

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about a murder" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a topic or subject matter related to a murder, such as in news articles, stories, or conversations. Example: "The documentary was about a murder that took place in the small town decades ago."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Naturally, about a murder.

The New Yorker

I'm talking about a murder.

The New Yorker

"This isn't about a murder," he said.

The New Yorker

And he knew the answer was: "about a murder".

The Guardian - Books

But this novel is not directly about a murder.

The Guardian

"We're not talking about a murder conviction," the judge said.

The New York Times

This week in the magazine, Dexter Filkins writes about a murder in Pakistan.

The New Yorker

Read a transcript… This week in the magazine, Dexter Filkins writes about a murder in Pakistan.

The New Yorker

In truth, he told Mullenix, he never heard Hood say anything about a murder.

The New Yorker

"He placed phone calls, but not about a murder," Mr. Mayer said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The only thing I know about is a murder plot.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing creatively, use alternatives like "concerning a homicide" or "regarding a slaying" to diversify your language.

Common error

Avoid using "about a murder" casually or without sensitivity, especially when discussing real-life events or victims. Ensure your tone is appropriate and respectful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about a murder" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or verb, indicating the topic or subject matter. It introduces the theme or focus, as seen in Ludwig's examples like "This week in the magazine, Dexter Filkins writes about a murder in Pakistan."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

94%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "about a murder" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to introduce topics related to killings. Ludwig AI indicates its widespread use, especially in News & Media contexts. While versatile, remember to be sensitive to the specific context and choose alternative phrases like "regarding a killing" or "concerning a homicide" where appropriate. Always consider the potential impact of your language and ensure respectful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regarding a killing

Replaces "murder" with "killing" and "about" with "regarding", maintaining a formal tone.

concerning a homicide

Substitutes "murder" with the more formal "homicide" and "about" with "concerning".

on the subject of a homicide

Replaces "about" with "on the subject of" while retaining "homicide".

related to a slaying

Replaces "murder" with "slaying" and "about" with "related to", altering the tone slightly.

regarding the matter of a murder

Adds "the matter of" to create a slightly more formal and emphatic tone.

pertaining to a death

Uses more general terms "death" instead of murder and "pertaining to" instead of "about".

in connection with a fatal incident

Rephrases the concept using more formal and distanced language.

concerning the death of someone

Expands the phrase to explicitly mention the death of an individual.

dealing with an unlawful killing

Uses the longer phrase 'unlawful killing' for murder to be more explicit.

in relation to a criminal act

Broadens the scope to any criminal act, of which murder is one example.

FAQs

How can I use "about a murder" in a sentence?

You can use "about a murder" to introduce a topic or subject related to a specific killing. For example, "The article is about a murder that occurred in the city center last night."

What's a more formal way to say "about a murder"?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases such as "concerning a homicide" or "regarding a slaying" as alternatives to "about a murder".

Which is correct: "a story about a murder" or "a story of murder"?

Both "a story about a murder" and "a story of murder" are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different connotations. The former focuses on the narrative surrounding a specific incident, while the latter suggests a broader theme or exploration of murder in general.

What words are similar to "about a murder"?

Similar words and phrases include "regarding a killing", "concerning a homicide", and "related to a slaying", each offering subtle differences in formality and tone.