be negotiated about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be negotiated about" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct usage would typically be "be negotiated" without the preposition "about." Example: "The terms of the contract will be negotiated next week."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

With a new B.C.S. contract due to be negotiated about a year from now, officials from Big East universities need to find a solution quickly, and Long said the conference had a timetable of Sept. 1. "Some people perceive us to be in limbo," Long said, referring to the remaining members of the Big East, "but it's not really limbo.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"The only thing we should be negotiating about is how we kill him".

The Guardian

"But what are we supposed to be negotiating about?

The New York Times

I don't think I should be negotiating about what I would do as president.

The New York Times

They are negotiating about terms and venue.

The New York Times

All the Israelis want to do is negotiate about negotiating.

Independent

They are negotiating about repayment but have yet to reach a deal.

The Guardian - Business

"Now, Palestinian demands are to return back to the situation right before the intifada, and we are negotiating about this".

The New York Times

Officials of the two countries have been negotiating about how the Germans can aid the Americans without breaking German law.

The New York Times

"We are negotiating about the West Bank and you continue eating the West Bank slice after slice, slice after slice," Mr. Abu Zayyad said.

The New York Times

Susan Spilka, Wiley's director of corporate communications, said the company had been negotiating about moving to Hoboken, but no agreement had been signed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "be negotiated about". It's grammatically incorrect. Use "be negotiated" instead.

Common error

Don't add "about" after "be negotiated". The verb "negotiate" already implies that something is being discussed or bargained over, making the preposition redundant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be negotiated about" functions as a passive construction indicating that something is in the process of being discussed or bargained over. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, it's not considered correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "be negotiated about" attempts to convey that something is under discussion, it is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms this, recommending the omission of "about". Although examples can be found in various sources, including news media, it is best practice to use the grammatically correct form, "be negotiated", or alternative phrases like "be discussed" or "be under negotiation", especially in formal writing. The frequency of this phrase is rare, and its usage should be avoided to maintain clarity and grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be negotiated

Removes the unnecessary "about", aligning with standard English grammar.

be under negotiation

Emphasizes the ongoing process of negotiation.

be subject to negotiation

Highlights that the item is open for discussion and potential change.

be discussed

Offers a more general term for addressing a topic.

be deliberated

Suggests a more formal and thoughtful consideration.

be decided upon

Focuses on the eventual agreement or decision.

be agreed upon

Emphasizes the consensus-building aspect of the negotiation.

be settled

Implies that the matter is being resolved.

be hammered out

Indicates a more intensive and potentially difficult negotiation process.

be thrashed out

Suggests a very rigorous and thorough debate.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "negotiate" in a sentence?

Use "negotiate" directly with the object being negotiated, like "We will negotiate the terms of the contract" or use the passive form "The contract will "be negotiated"".

Is it grammatically correct to say "be negotiated about"?

No, the phrase "be negotiated about" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct form is to say ""be negotiated"".

What are some alternatives to "be negotiated"?

Some alternatives include "be discussed", "be reviewed", or "be settled", depending on the context.

Why is "be negotiated about" considered incorrect?

The preposition "about" is redundant because the verb "negotiate" inherently implies the discussion or bargaining over something. Therefore, adding "about" creates an unnecessary and grammatically awkward construction.