crying about

USAGE SUMMARY

"crying about" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used when describing someone who is upset or expressing strong emotion about something. Example: She wouldn't stop crying about her lost cat, even though it had been missing for days.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What car scribes were really crying about was a disturbing trend.

Forbes

"What are you crying about," she scolded.

Vice

Quit crying about it.

The New York Times

They aren't crying about it.

The New York Times

"I'm not crying about it anymore.

Independent

There's no point crying about it.

The Guardian - Sport

Everyone is crying about the glaciers melting".

The Guardian

"And I was crying about my 600-square-foot place".

The New York Times

"She said, 'Why am I crying about this?

The New York Times

"I always start crying about three minutes in".

The New York Times

This was Brett, that I had felt like crying about.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "crying about" to convey a sense of emotional distress or upset related to a specific event or situation. It's suitable for informal and some formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "crying about" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "lamenting" or "grieving over" /s/grieving+over for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "crying about" primarily functions as a verb phrase expressing emotional distress or sadness related to a specific subject. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, aligning with the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "crying about" is a common and grammatically sound phrasal verb used to express emotional distress or sadness related to something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's frequently found in News & Media sources and is generally suitable for neutral to informal contexts. While versatile, more formal alternatives like "lamenting" or "grieving over" may be more appropriate for academic or professional writing. Understanding these nuances ensures effective and contextually appropriate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

upset about

Indicates a state of being disturbed or unhappy, a milder form of emotional distress.

grieving over

Focuses on a deeper sense of loss and sorrow, implying a more profound emotional impact.

distressed by

Highlights the experience of suffering or being troubled by something.

lamenting

Implies expressing sorrow or regret, often in a formal or literary way.

mourning

Describes a state of deep sorrow, often associated with the death of someone.

complaining about

Shifts the focus to expressing dissatisfaction or annoyance, rather than deep sorrow.

anguishing over

Conveys a sense of extreme mental or physical suffering.

bewailing

Suggests a more dramatic and expressive display of grief or sorrow.

regretting

Highlights feelings of sorrow or disappointment over something that has happened or been done.

moaning about

Implies a more informal and often irritating expression of complaint or unhappiness.

FAQs

How can I use "crying about" in a sentence?

You can use "crying about" to express emotional distress or upset, as in: "She was crying about the unfair grade she received on her exam."

What can I say instead of "crying about"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "upset about", "complaining about", or "grieving over".

Is "crying about" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "crying about" is generally more suitable for informal contexts. For formal writing, consider alternatives like "lamenting" or "expressing grief over".

What's the difference between "crying about" and "complaining about"?

"Crying about" suggests a deeper emotional reaction, often involving sadness or distress, while "complaining about" implies expressing dissatisfaction or annoyance without necessarily involving strong emotions.