being facetious of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "being facetious of" is not correct in English.
The correct expression would typically be "being facetious about" when referring to a subject or topic. Example: "I was just being facetious about the situation; I didn't mean to offend anyone."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

I'm being facetious of course.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

(Example: He seemed genuinely interested in Convo, and didn't seem to know what it was, when I asked about it and mentioned that we use it at TechCrunch. It's in many ways a very direct competitor. This could have been Butterfield being facetious, of course).

TechCrunch

When Weems wrote, "As a playground for body fascists and crack whores, the circuit has a sacred dimension," in The Fierce Tribe, he was being facetious, of course.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

That's facetious, of course.

The Guardian - Sport

"I am incessantly accused of being a fantasizer, of being facetious," he says without a trace of apology, as if in agreement.

The New York Times

Asked about Mr. Bush's demeanor, Mr. Bridges, who is retired, said, "The man was, and I say this without being facetious, a picture of integrity.

The New York Times

It would be facetious to deny the plight of many more Ahmeds who are too afraid to voice their mistreatment, or who simply believe it's normal to be mistreated.

Independent

There's no way of asking without being facetious or plain rude: wasn't he a bit of an unlikely Scientologist?

The Guardian - Film

Nicholas D. Kristof is of course being facetious when he asks, "Who needs socialized police and fire services?" All governments owe police and fire services to their citizens.

The New York Times

All of tHes lumber piled in the mud is knowasas Siberian Larch, which is primarily used tofmake that shitty particourserd furniture you've got all over your house.

Vice

He was, of course, being facetious, but his comment couldn't have been further from the truth; in their subject matter, Pratchett books always felt like fringe concerns, yet their massive success actually put him at the center of public taste.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer the construction "being facetious about" as it aligns with standard English grammar. For example, "He was being facetious about the proposal" is more grammatically sound than "He was being facetious of the proposal".

Common error

Avoid using "of" after "facetious". The correct preposition to use is "about". Using "of" can lead to misinterpretation and grammatical errors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "being facetious of" functions as an adjective phrase followed by a preposition, attempting to describe a state of insincerity or playful deception. Ludwig AI points out it's not the standard usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "being facetious of" appears in some contexts, Ludwig AI advises that it's grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "being facetious about". The intention behind using this phrase is to express insincerity or playful humor. Given its infrequent and non-standard usage, it's best to opt for grammatically sound alternatives such as "being sarcastic about" or "not being serious about", especially in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

being facetious about

Corrects the preposition; more grammatically sound.

not being serious about

Directly states the lack of seriousness, removing the nuance of "facetious".

being sarcastic about

Focuses on using sarcasm, a form of irony, rather than general facetiousness.

being ironic about

Highlights the use of irony, where the intended meaning is the opposite of the literal one.

being insincere about

Directly points out the lack of genuineness, losing the playful aspect.

joking about

Implies making light of a subject through humor, differing from subtle insincerity.

being flippant about

Emphasizes a lack of respect or seriousness, possibly more dismissive than "facetious".

being playful regarding

Suggests a lighthearted approach, replacing negative connotations with positive ones.

speaking tongue-in-cheek about

Highlights the insincerity but is more descriptive and less direct.

being waggish concerning

Uses more archaic language to convey a similar sense of light-hearted mockery.

FAQs

Is "being facetious of" grammatically correct?

No, the correct preposition to use with "being facetious" is "about", not "of". Therefore, "being facetious about" is the grammatically correct form.

What does it mean to be "being facetious"?

To be "being facetious" means to treat serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant. It suggests a lack of seriousness, often with an intent to be amusing or provocative. Consider using alternatives like "being sarcastic about" or "being playful regarding".

Which is correct, "being facetious of" or "being facetious about"?

"Being facetious about" is the correct and grammatically sound phrase. "Being facetious of" is considered incorrect. Replace it with alternatives such as "not being serious about".

What can I say instead of "being facetious of"?

Since "being facetious of" is not grammatically correct, you can use "being facetious about". Other alternatives include "joking about", "being ironic about", or "being flippant about" depending on the context.