appalled about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appalled about" is not correct in standard English; the correct expression is "appalled at" or "appalled by." You can use it when expressing strong disapproval or shock regarding a specific situation or action.
Example: "I was appalled at the lack of response to the urgent issue."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Who thinks about throwing them out?" "I think what I was most appalled about," he said, "was the constitutionality of them being able to come in and search my office.

The New York Times

I've, oh God, on [unintelligible], and what I'm really appalled about is that they're burning down the AMPM and that they forget that we live, people live behind the AMPM.

Huffington Post

She was appalled about the indifference of the hospital staff.

The Washington Post

People say they're appalled about my private life being dragged through the pages of a magazine.

The Guardian - Film

Gormley said: "I'm pretty appalled about what it says about human nature.

The Guardian

There is plenty to be appalled about at South Florida, where the player who was allegedly struck by the former coach Jim Leavitt details the ensuing cover-up, and where Skip Holtz has been chosen as the new coach.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

What's appalled me about this whole debate is about how little it has to do with making people safe".

Huffington Post

(Jasmine's appalled aside about being forced to move to Brooklyn after being priced out of Manhattan amusingly suggests why he didn't).

The New York Times

At his Chicago news conference — a frequent enough occurrence that he addressed reporters by their first names — he spoke with a kind of appalled relish about the alleged crimes of Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich.

The New York Times

It's been almost 40 years since Joan Baez took him on stage with her at the Newport Folk Festival, where he appalled just about everyone with his stridently unpretty singing voice and his raucous, edgy lyrics.

The New York Times

What most appalled me about the testing, however, was the fact that the tester was not allowed to react or respond in any way to a child's answer.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing strong disapproval or shock, use "appalled at" or "appalled by" instead of "appalled about". For example, instead of "I was "appalled about" the decision", say "I was "appalled at" the decision" or "I was "appalled by" the decision".

Common error

A frequent mistake is using "about" after "appalled". Always use "at" or "by". "Appalled of" is also incorrect. If you are unsure, try rephrasing the sentence to use a different verb like "shocked" or "disgusted" with the correct preposition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appalled about" functions as an adjective phrase followed by a preposition. While it's used to express strong disapproval or shock, it is considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that the correct prepositions are "at" or "by" instead.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "appalled about" is found in various sources, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct alternatives are ""appalled at"" or ""appalled by"". Ludwig AI highlights this distinction. It is important to consider your audience and context. In formal writing and speech, using the grammatically correct options will ensure clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appalled at

Uses the correct preposition "at" to express being appalled.

appalled by

Uses the correct preposition "by" to express being appalled.

shocked by

Replaces "appalled" with a synonym, "shocked", and maintains the same preposition.

disgusted by

Replaces "appalled" with a different synonym, "disgusted", to indicate a strong feeling of revulsion.

outraged by

Replaces "appalled" with "outraged" to suggest a sense of moral indignation.

horrified by

Replaces "appalled" with "horrified" to emphasize the intensity of the negative feeling.

aghast at

Uses a more formal synonym "aghast" with the correct preposition "at".

dismayed by

Replaces "appalled" with "dismayed" to suggest disappointment and concern.

taken aback by

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey surprise and shock.

sickened by

Replaces "appalled" with "sickened" suggesting something caused a physical feeling of disgust.

FAQs

Which preposition should I use after "appalled"?

The correct prepositions to use after "appalled" are "at" or "by". For example, "I was "appalled at" his behavior" or "I was "appalled by" the news" are both correct. "Appalled about" is generally considered incorrect.

What does it mean to be "appalled by" something?

To be ""appalled by"" something means to be shocked and disgusted by it. It implies a strong negative reaction to something considered morally wrong or offensive.

Is "appalled about" ever correct?

While "appalled about" appears in some contexts, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. The preferred and more widely accepted alternatives are ""appalled at"" or ""appalled by"".

What are some synonyms for "appalled" that I can use?

Synonyms for "appalled" include "shocked", "disgusted", "outraged", "horrified", "aghast", and "dismayed". Using these synonyms with the correct prepositions, such as "shocked by" or "disgusted at", can help avoid the incorrect usage of "appalled about".