be following about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be following about" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express the idea of someone or something being followed, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "I noticed that he seems to be following about without a clear purpose."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

They were participating in a national study, the Cardiovascular Health Study, that would be following about 5,000 people ages 65 to 90 for a decade, starting in 1990.

The New York Times - Health

In collaboration with the University College London (UCL) Cancer Trials Centre and the UCL Cancer Institute, Swanton's research group will be following about 850 patients with NSCLC from diagnosis to death as part of a clinical trial to understand tumor evolution.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Dr. Smith's team is following about 600 women after pregnancy, half of whom had pre-eclampsia.

The New York Times - Health

Last Saturday I decided to follow Barack Obama after seeing he had more than 2 million followers and was following about three quarters of a million people.

Huffington Post

For all discussions I've been following about legislative information, I so infrequently see information about administrative information.

Cornell University

At MedStar Washington Hospital Center in the District, Jennifer Ballard has been following about a dozen patients potentially exposed to Zika during recent trips.

The Washington Post

Beginning this summer, researchers from the RAND Corporation are following about 5,700 students in those cities who will enter fourth grade this fall.

The New York Times

Youth rebels, including self-declared anarchists, who had been following about 7,000 marchers began pelting the police outside the Parliament building with rocks.

The New York Times

The registry is following about 2,100 patients who received a version of the device that is used as a traditional hip implant.

The New York Times - Health

It has been following about 800 people for about six years and has yielded significant findings about changes in the hippocampus, and about screening for Alzheimer's proteins with PET scans and spinal fluid tests.

The New York Times - Health

Just 26percentt of non-voters say they've been following about Mueller's investigation even somewhat closely, and only 27percentt report having at least a fairly good understanding of what the investigation has uncovered.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "be following about" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more conventional alternatives such as "monitoring", "tracking", or "following closely".

Common error

The phrase "be following about" is often mistakenly used by non-native speakers who may be trying to create a phrasal verb. Instead, use established phrasal verbs or simpler verb constructions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be following about" functions as a verb phrase, though its usage is grammatically questionable. It seems intended to convey the action of tracking or observing, but it's not a recognized or standard construction, as Ludwig AI confirms.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science & Research

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "be following about" may appear in various contexts, it's considered grammatically incorrect and lacks a standard meaning. Ludwig AI underlines this with his response. It's crucial to favor more precise and grammatically accepted alternatives such as "following closely", "monitoring", or "keeping track of" to ensure clarity and avoid misinterpretations. The absence of "be following about" in authoritative sources reinforces the need for caution when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to be following closely

Omits the 'about' to create a grammatically correct phrase with a similar meaning.

to be tracking

Focuses on the act of tracing the progress or movement of something.

to be monitoring

Replaces "following about" with a more direct synonym, emphasizing observation over time.

to be watching closely

Emphasizes attentive observation.

to be observing

Highlights the act of watching something closely.

to be keeping an eye on

Suggests a vigilant watchfulness over something.

to be keeping tabs on

Emphasizes regular monitoring and staying informed about developments.

to be staying informed about

Focuses on maintaining awareness of ongoing events or developments.

to be investigating

Suggests a deeper inquiry or examination.

to be examining

Emphasizes a thorough inspection or analysis.

FAQs

What does "be following about" mean?

The phrase "be following about" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and lacks a clear, standard meaning in English. It's often interpreted as an awkward way of saying "to be monitoring" or "to be tracking".

How can I rephrase "be following about" to sound more natural?

Instead of "be following about", consider using phrases like "following closely", "keeping track of", or "monitoring" depending on the context.

Is "be following about" grammatically correct?

No, "be following about" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The inclusion of "about" is unnecessary and creates an awkward construction.

Are there situations where "be following about" is appropriate?

Due to its non-standard nature, it is generally best to avoid "be following about" in both formal and informal writing. Opt for more precise and grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity.