apply about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "apply about" is not correct and usable in written English.
It does not convey a clear meaning and is not a standard expression in English. Example: "You need to apply about the job opening."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

An adult in a bathing suit should apply about three tablespoons of lotion every two hours, experts say.

The New York Times - Health

In the Chinese and other versions, there is no Charleston and different rules apply about claiming tiles and scoring.

The New York Times - Arts

Here the Russian roulette analogy does apply: about 50% of smokers will die from a tobacco-related illness.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ask your school counselor and the admission officers at the schools where you intend to apply about the policies regarding academic majors.

The New York Times

Harold A. (1) On the older trains, you have to apply about 5 to 10 pounds of weight on the handle.

The New York Times

The school sends out 12,000 pieces of mail inviting sophomores from all over the state to apply; about 400 do; 64 are selected each year.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

In the organic cropping system, we applied about 325 lbs/acre of Kreher's composted manure as a starter fertilizer.

Cornell University

Each year about 2,000 apply for about 200 spaces.

The New York Times - Arts

Thousands will apply for about 12 jobs.

The Guardian - Opinion

This should only apply to about 0.05percentt of messages, though.

TechCrunch

I decided to apply to about 30 schools and ended up applying to 37.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the phrase "apply about", consider using more precise alternatives such as "apply to" or "inquire about" depending on the intended meaning. Clarity is key in effective communication.

Common error

A common mistake is using "about" when "to" is the correct preposition. For instance, instead of saying "apply about a job", say "apply to a job" to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "apply about" does not have a clear grammatical function. It appears in contexts where application or relevance is intended, but it's often misused. As Ludwig AI notes, it's not a standard expression in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "apply about" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. While it appears in a few online sources, including news articles and wikis, it's not a recognized or recommended usage. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's better to use more precise alternatives like "apply to" when you mean to submit an application, or "inquire about" when you're asking for information. Avoiding "apply about" will enhance the clarity and correctness of your writing, especially in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apply to

Replaces "about" with "to" to indicate direct application or relevance.

inquire about

Substitutes the entire phrase to focus on seeking information.

ask about

Simpler alternative to "inquire about", focusing on a request for information.

approximately apply

Adds "approximately" to soften the precision of the application.

roughly implement

Replaces "apply" with "implement" and adds "roughly" to show approximation.

generally concern

Changes the phrase to indicate a general focus on a topic.

relate to

Shifts the focus to a relationship or connection instead of direct application.

be relevant to

Similar to "relate to", emphasizing relevance or applicability.

concern oneself with

Emphasizes engagement or attention to a particular subject.

have bearing on

Indicates an influence or effect on a particular matter.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically correct way to use "apply"?

Instead of "apply about", use "apply to" when referring to submitting an application for something. For example, "apply to a job" or "apply to a university".

When should I use "inquire" instead of "apply about"?

If you mean to ask for information, use "inquire about". For example, "inquire about the details" or "inquire about the requirements".

Is "apply about" ever considered correct in certain contexts?

While some sources may use "apply about", it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use more precise alternatives like "apply to" or "inquire about" for clarity.

What's the difference between "apply to" and "apply about"?

"apply to" means to formally submit an application, while "apply about" is not a standard or grammatically correct phrase. If you intend to ask for information, use "inquire about" instead.