be guided about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be guided about" is not correct in standard written English.
It is unclear and does not convey a clear meaning in the context of guidance or direction. Example: "You should be guided about the best practices for this project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Boys also are less likely to be guided about their sexual health by physicians.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Writer was guided about by Mr. Lee, who gave facts about orchids.

The New Yorker

Writer was guided about by Richard Allen, the curator of the Archive of New Orleans jazz at Tulane Univ.

The New Yorker

For some reason, the park's manager, a viper of a woman named Coco La Bouche (Ms. Sarandon), tells Stu to bring all his friends, and in Paris everyone is guided about by Coco's lovely and impossibly sweet assistant, Kira.

The New York Times

When the griever wants to recover, he or she can rather quickly be guided into thinking about positive memories of the loved one.

The New York Times

Sunil Gulati, the president of the US Soccer Federation, said the USSF would be guided by FIFA about approving any matches.

Wikipedia

In addition, PCPCs might be guided by information about individuals' wishes with respect to such direct participation in research.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Ideally, the response of psychiatrists should be guided by evidence about what approaches are feasible and how different responses are linked to outcomes.

BMC Psychiatry

By using digital diagnosis software (as on the Stone Clinic website), you can be guided through common questions about the pain.

Huffington Post

They are guided by about one million adult volunteers, including parents and many former scouts.

The New York Times

I don't know why different editors modernise different words: perhaps they're guided by assumptions about their readers' understanding.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "be guided about" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives like "be informed about" or "receive guidance on".

Common error

A common mistake is assuming "be guided about" is a proper passive construction. Instead, recognize that "guided" usually needs a preposition like "by" (to indicate the guide) or "in/on" (to indicate the area of guidance).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be guided about" functions as a passive construction, but it's considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI notes that it does not convey a clear meaning. The correct usage would involve prepositions like 'by' or 'in'.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be guided about" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. Ludwig AI indicates that it lacks clarity and does not conform to standard English usage. Although some instances appear in news and scientific sources, it's best to opt for clearer alternatives such as "be advised about", "be informed about", or "receive guidance on". These alternatives accurately convey the intended meaning of receiving direction or instruction without grammatical errors. Using such alternatives will ensure your writing is clear, professional, and easily understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be advised about

Focuses on receiving advice or recommendations regarding a topic.

be informed about

Emphasizes receiving information or knowledge about something.

be instructed about

Highlights being given specific instructions or directions.

be directed about

Implies being pointed towards a specific course of action or path.

receive guidance on

Highlights the action of receiving guidance rather than a state of being.

be counselled about

Suggests receiving advice from a counselor or expert.

be enlightened about

Implies gaining understanding or insight about a topic.

be educated about

Focuses on learning or being taught about a subject.

be briefed on

Implies receiving a summary or set of instructions.

be updated on

Highlights receiving current information or news about something.

FAQs

What's a better way to say "be guided about"?

Instead of "be guided about", use phrases like "be advised about", "be informed about", or "receive guidance on" depending on the context.

Is "be guided about" grammatically correct?

No, "be guided about" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's better to use alternatives that clearly express the intended meaning.

How can I use "guide" correctly in a sentence?

Use "guide" with prepositions like "by" (e.g., "I was guided by my mentor") or "in/on" (e.g., "She provided guidance on the project"). Avoid "be guided about".

What's the difference between "be guided by" and "be guided about"?

"Be guided by" means to be influenced or directed by something (e.g., "be guided by principles"), whereas "be guided about" is not standard English. Use "be guided by" for correct grammar.