compete about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "compete about" is not a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You would not use it in this form; however, the phrase "compete for" is a phrase that would be used. For example: The teams are competing for first place in the race.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

And it's about social levelling, as it eliminates the need to compete about brands".

The Guardian

I started riding again five years ago and compete about 15 times a year.

The New York Times

It is as if writers compete about who can stretch the boundary further still".

The Guardian

and by giving competitors access to the network so that they could compete about its best use.

Harvard University

Her new film takes aim at macho rivalry, set on a luxurious boat where a group of men compete about any random thing they can think of, in pursuit of the title of "the best in general".

The Guardian - Film

As the correspondents compete about who is making genuine human connections and who and what is really nice and good, they seem to be in some realm far from most kinds of human connection save for that of heated testosteronic battle.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Wiesia Kuczaj, 32 Amateur racer "I started competing about six years ago and I used to have to travel all around the country to find races.

Independent

People are competing about being busy.

Huffington Post

Competing about our pregnant bodies turns into competing about our kids once they're born.

Huffington Post

Nobody's bowled a 300 game and men and women compete just about equally".

The New York Times

The games' 350 participants will compete for about $1 million in prize money.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using "compete about", use "compete for" or "compete over" to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "compete about". The correct prepositions to use with 'compete' are 'for' or 'over' depending on the context. "Compete for" indicates what is being strived for, while "compete over" emphasizes the struggle for something.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "compete about" functions as a prepositional phrase, where 'compete' acts as a verb attempting to describe an action, and 'about' incorrectly connects it to the object of competition. However, as Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

32%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "compete about" appears in various sources, it's grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI explains, the correct alternatives are "compete for" or "compete over", depending on the intended meaning. "Compete for" signifies striving towards a specific goal or prize, whereas "compete over" denotes a rivalry or struggle. Therefore, using the correct preposition is crucial for clear and accurate communication. Remember to use "compete for" or "compete over" to maintain grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compete for

Replaces 'about' with 'for', which is grammatically correct and indicates the object of the competition.

compete over

Uses 'over' instead of 'about', signifying a struggle or rivalry for something.

vie for

Substitutes 'compete' with 'vie', implying a strong desire to win something.

contend for

Replaces 'compete' with 'contend', suggesting a struggle or effort to achieve something.

compete regarding

Substitutes 'about' with 'regarding', which is grammatically correct but less common.

rival each other for

Emphasizes the rivalry aspect using 'rival each other' instead of 'compete', while still using the correct preposition 'for'.

struggle for

Focuses on the effort involved in competition by using 'struggle for'.

compete on

Uses 'on' to specify the basis or criteria for competition, rather than the object.

compete in

Uses 'in' to specify the area in which competition happens.

compete concerning

Substitutes 'about' with 'concerning', which indicates the subject of the competition.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "compete" with a preposition?

The verb "compete" is typically followed by prepositions such as "for" or "over", not "about". "Compete for" indicates the prize or goal, while "compete over" suggests a conflict or rivalry.

What can I say instead of "compete about"?

You can use alternatives like "compete for", "compete over", or "vie for" depending on the context.

Is "compete about" grammatically correct?

No, "compete about" is not grammatically correct. The correct usage involves prepositions such as "compete for" or "compete over".

Which is correct, "compete for" or "compete about"?

"Compete for" is correct, while "compete about" is not. "Compete for" is used to indicate what individuals or groups are striving to achieve.