afraid about

USAGE SUMMARY

'afraid about' is not a correct or grammatically acceptable phrase in written English.
The correct phrase is 'afraid of'. Example sentence: She was afraid of the dark and couldn't sleep without a nightlight.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

What are they afraid about?

The Guardian

We were afraid about Lenny".

The New York Times - Sports

That, I'm afraid, about sums it up.

The New Yorker

"People are very afraid about Lalish.

The Guardian

I am not afraid about that.

The Guardian - Sport

But now I'm afraid about future of young artists.

The New York Times

I told him I am not afraid about it.

The Guardian - Sport

"Because of this history, people are afraid about their land," he says.

The Economist

"People are afraid about who will see the image, how it will be used.

The Guardian - Arts

"But I am quite afraid about the future at the moment," he said.

The New York Times

"I'm afraid about the changeover, to be honest with you, because there's such confusion," he said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and grammatical correctness, "concerned about" or "worried about" are better alternatives to "afraid about".

Common error

The common mistake is using "about" after "afraid". Always remember the correct structure is "afraid of". For example, say "I am afraid of spiders", not "I am afraid about spiders".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "afraid about" functions as a prepositional phrase, where "afraid" is an adjective describing a state of fear or apprehension, and "about" incorrectly attempts to link this feeling to its cause or object. However, according to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "afraid of".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "afraid about" appears frequently in diverse sources, it is grammatically incorrect; the correct usage is "afraid of". Ludwig AI confirms this, advising against its use in formal writing. This analysis shows that despite its prevalence, particularly in News & Media and informal contexts, writers should opt for grammatically sound alternatives such as "afraid of", "concerned about", or "worried about" to ensure clarity and credibility. By understanding the proper prepositional usage, one can communicate more effectively and avoid common grammatical pitfalls.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

afraid of

Uses the correct preposition 'of' instead of 'about' to express fear.

scared of

Replaces "afraid" with "scared", which has a similar meaning, and uses the correct preposition.

frightened of

Uses 'frightened' instead of 'afraid,' paired with the accurate preposition 'of'.

fearful of

Replaces "afraid" with "fearful", maintaining a similar intensity with the correct preposition.

concerned about

Shifts the focus to concern rather than fear, using correct grammar.

worried about

Emphasizes worry, providing a less intense alternative with correct usage.

anxious about

Highlights anxiety as the primary emotion, while using correct grammar.

apprehensive about

Presents a more formal way to express unease, using correct grammar.

uneasy about

Indicates a lack of comfort or ease, employing correct grammar.

dreadful of

While grammatically incorrect (should be 'dreadful at' or 'dreadful about'), aims to capture a sense of great fear, highlighting the importance of grammar.

FAQs

Is "afraid about" grammatically correct?

No, "afraid about" is not grammatically correct. The correct preposition to use with "afraid" is "of". Therefore, the proper phrasing is "afraid of".

What's the difference between "afraid of" and "concerned about"?

"Afraid of" typically indicates a feeling of fear or apprehension, while "concerned about" suggests worry or unease. The intensity of fear is generally higher in "afraid of" than in "concerned about".

What can I say instead of "afraid about"?

Since "afraid about" is incorrect, you can use alternatives like "afraid of", "scared of", or "worried about" depending on the context.

How to use "afraid of" in a sentence?

You can use "afraid of" in a sentence like this: "She is afraid of heights" or "They are afraid of making mistakes".