be scared with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be scared with" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression would typically be "be scared of." Example: "I tend to be scared of spiders."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

I prefer to be scared with style...and Hitchcock was the master.

Huffington Post

In Kerry Kennedy's book, Speak Truth To Power, which chronicled how human rights activists survived hardships, Archbishop Desmond Tutu says, "We should not be scared with being confrontational, of facing people with the wrong that they have done.

Huffington Post

Not everyone likes to be scared with Randomness.

WikiHow

If you're watching it with friends and they look scared or say that they're scared, be scared with them!

WikiHow

They could encourage you, or be scared with you, your choice.

WikiHow

You might be SCARED with yourself with how amazing you'll get into the story!

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Now everyone is scared with little stability.

The Guardian

Ana was alone, and she was scared – with good reason.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Funder is scary because I am scared with funder," Sonya reasoned.

The New York Times

But it's kind of fun too, when you're a teenager, being scared with a group of friends.

The Guardian - Film

"I wanted to pray in the open, but I was scared with everything going on in the media," he said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for more standard expressions like "be scared of", "be afraid of", or "feel frightened by" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. These alternatives are widely accepted and understood.

Common error

Avoid using "with" after "scared". The correct preposition to use with "scared" when expressing the object of fear is "of". Using "with" can lead to confusion and is generally considered grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be scared with" functions as a verb phrase attempting to describe a state of fear or apprehension in relation to something. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is not standard English. The correct form is "be scared of."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

40%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "be scared with" appears in various sources, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI suggests that the correct and more accepted alternative is "be scared of". Although the intention is clear—to express a state of fear—using the non-standard form can lead to confusion. For clarity and correctness, especially in formal writing, it's best to opt for alternatives like "be afraid of" or "feel frightened by". The phrase's infrequent and questionable usage contributes to its classification as a rare and informal expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be afraid of

Uses "afraid" instead of "scared" and "of" instead of "with", resulting in a more standard expression.

be frightened by

Replaces "scared" with "frightened" and uses "by" to indicate the cause of fear, creating a more formal tone.

be terrified of

Substitutes "scared" with "terrified" to emphasize a stronger sense of fear.

be anxious about

Employs "anxious" to describe a state of worry or unease, changing the focus from immediate fear to prolonged concern.

feel fearful about

Uses "fearful" and includes "feel" to describe the emotional experience of fear.

be apprehensive about

Replaces "scared" with "apprehensive", suggesting a sense of unease about a future event.

be worried about

Uses "worried" to indicate concern and anxiety, differing from the immediate fright implied by "scared".

be petrified of

Substitutes "scared" with "petrified" to express extreme fear, close to paralysis.

be intimidated by

Replaces "scared" with "intimidated", suggesting fear stemming from feeling threatened or overpowered.

be alarmed by

Uses "alarmed" to describe a sudden feeling of fear or surprise.

FAQs

What's the correct way to express fear: "be scared with" or "be scared of"?

The correct and commonly accepted way to express fear is "be scared of". The phrase "be scared with" is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English.

What are some alternatives to "be scared of"?

You can use alternatives like "be afraid of", "be frightened by", or "feel fearful about" depending on the context.

Is "be scared with" ever appropriate in writing?

While some instances of "be scared with" may appear in informal contexts, it is generally not considered standard English and should be avoided in formal writing. Stick to "be scared of" for clarity and correctness.

How can I avoid making mistakes when expressing fear in English?

Always double-check the preposition you use after "scared", "afraid", "frightened", etc. The most common and correct preposition is "of". Using other prepositions like "with" can lead to grammatical errors and confusion.