argue about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "argue about" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are looking to express a disagreement between two or more people. For example: My siblings and I often argue about who gets to choose the movie for family movie night.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What do you argue about?

The New York Times

And argue about them.

The New York Times - Magazine

Do you argue about work?

The New York Times

Carver's characters argue about love.

The New Yorker

They even argue about arguing.

The New York Times

Why argue about how intelligent she is?

The New Yorker

Then we can argue about everything else.

The New York Times

We can argue about wealth versus income.

The New York Times

Experts still argue about their motives.

The Economist

You can't argue about its necessity.

The New York Times

They argue about what time it is.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using the alternative "<a href="/s/argue+over" target="_blank" rel="alternative">argue over" when the disagreement concerns the possession of something or a specific decision.

Common error

Do not use "argue about" when you mean to support or advocate for a specific position. Use "<a href="/s/argue+for" target="_blank" rel="alternative">argue for" to express support and "argue about" to express the general topic of conflict.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "argue about" functions as a phrasal verb (verb + preposition) where "about" introduces the object of the preposition, which is the topic of the dispute. Ludwig AI confirms its role as a transitive construction used to link the action of arguing to its specific subject matter.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "argue about" is an essential and grammatically correct component of English, used to identify the subject of a disagreement. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples showing its versatility across topics ranging from household chores to complex political ideologies. It is characterized by its neutral register, making it suitable for both casual conversation and professional reporting in outlets like The New York Times. While synonyms like "<a href="/s/disagree+about" target="_blank" rel="alternative">disagree about" may offer a softer tone, "argue about" remains the most direct way to describe a verbal conflict over a specific topic. Writers should be mindful of its distinction from "<a href="/s/argue+for" target="_blank" rel="alternative">argue for", which denotes advocacy rather than simple disagreement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disagree about

Suggests a difference of opinion without necessarily implying a heated verbal conflict

quarrel over

Implies a more personal, emotional or heated disagreement, often between people who know each other

bicker about

Used for petty or trivial arguments, often repetitive in nature

squabble about

Refers to a noisy argument about something unimportant

debate on

Indicates a more formal or structured discussion of opposing arguments

clash over

Highlights a sharp or violent confrontation between opposing views or interests

dispute

A more formal term often used in legal, political or professional contexts

wrangle about

Suggests a long and complicated argument or dispute

contest

Focuses on the act of challenging the truth or validity of something

altercate over

An extremely formal and rare term for a noisy public argument

FAQs

How do I use "argue about" in a sentence?

You can use it to introduce the subject of a disagreement, such as: "They often <a href="/s/argue+about+money" target="_blank" rel="alternative">argue about money" or "The experts <a href="/s/argue+about+the+results" target="_blank" rel="alternative">argue about the results".

What is the difference between "argue about" and "argue over"?

While often interchangeable, "argue about" is generally used for broad topics or ideas, whereas "<a href="/s/argue+over" target="_blank" rel="alternative">argue over" frequently refers to tangible items, specific decisions or prizes.

What can I say instead of "argue about"?

Depending on the tone, you can use "<a href="/s/disagree+about" target="_blank" rel="alternative">disagree about", "<a href="/s/debate" target="_blank" rel="alternative">debate", "<a href="/s/quarrel+over" target="_blank" rel="alternative">quarrel over" or "<a href="/s/bicker+about" target="_blank" rel="alternative">bicker about".

Is "argue about" considered formal English?

Yes, "argue about" is perfectly acceptable in neutral and formal English. For a more academic tone, you might prefer "<a href="/s/dispute" target="_blank" rel="alternative">dispute" or "<a href="/s/contention+regarding" target="_blank" rel="alternative">contention regarding".