abreast of

USAGE SUMMARY

"abreast of" is correct and usable in written English.
It means to be up to date with or informed about a topic. For example, "I try to stay abreast of the latest news in my field."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Everett faithfully kept abreast of these developments.

The New Yorker

Was Theresa May involved, or kept abreast of it?

Independent

Wright himself kept well abreast of new developments in science.

The New York Times - Arts

Had she been abreast of the Winnie Mandela story anyway?

The Guardian - Film

The advice is to keep abreast of local information.

Independent

Keeping them abreast of the day's schedule is also useful.

The New York Times

Shen she got abreast of him, he said.

The New Yorker

We try to keep abreast of everything, including space.

The New Yorker

Keeping co-workers abreast of what you are doing.

The New York Times

You'll be kept abreast of all right here.

The Guardian - Sport

They're always keeping abreast of our work and championing it".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "abreast of" when you want to emphasize continuous monitoring and awareness of developments in a particular area.

Common error

While "abreast of" is generally acceptable, avoid using it in highly informal contexts where simpler alternatives like "knowing about" or "up-to-date on" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "abreast of" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb to indicate that someone is keeping up-to-date or well-informed about a particular subject or situation. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

28%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "abreast of" is a common and grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to convey the idea of staying informed or up-to-date on a particular subject. According to Ludwig AI, its primary function is to emphasize continuous monitoring and awareness, particularly in professional, academic, and news-related contexts. While generally neutral in register, it's best suited for contexts where a slightly formal tone is appropriate. Alternatives like "informed about" or "up-to-date with" can be used in more casual settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

up-to-date with

Emphasizes currency and timeliness of knowledge.

informed about

Focuses on receiving information, differing from proactively staying updated.

keeping up with

Focuses on the effort to maintain current knowledge.

aware of

Highlights the state of knowing something, regardless of how recent.

apprised of

Suggests formal notification or informing.

familiar with

Implies a degree of understanding or experience.

in the know about

Suggests having insider knowledge or being privy to information.

clued in on

Similar to 'in the know', indicating awareness of something secret or not widely known.

conversant with

Implies a fluency or competence in understanding a subject.

conscious of

Highlights an awareness that might influence actions or decisions.

FAQs

How can I use "abreast of" in a sentence?

You can use "abreast of" to indicate that someone is up-to-date with the latest information or developments. For example, "It is important to stay abreast of current events".

What are some alternatives to "abreast of"?

Alternatives to "abreast of" include "informed about", "up-to-date with", or "aware of".

Is "abreast of" formal or informal?

"Abreast of" is generally considered a neutral to slightly formal expression, suitable for professional, academic, and news-related contexts.

What's the difference between "abreast of" and "aware of"?

"Abreast of" implies actively keeping up with the latest information, while "aware of" simply means having knowledge of something, regardless of how current it is.