debating about what

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "debating about what" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "debating what" without the preposition "about." Example: "They are debating what the best course of action should be."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

After more than a month of diagnostic tests and the pumping of tens of thousands of barrels of drilling fluids — and everything from golf balls to shards of rubber — into the broken blowout preventer, engineers are still debating about what they think may be the inner contours of the five-story stack of pipes and how to best contain its leaking gashes.

The New York Times

Because while we're talking about Killer Mike or debating about what transpired at a Nevada caucus, children in Flint are dying.

Huffington Post

The review also praised "her reverberant chest voice [and] her head voice, hitting the highest register with intonation and purity" and echoed Janis: "That she continues to be greeted with skepticism is unfair.... Yes, the concert showed that Jackie is a young girl, yet one with artistry to be appreciated now without debating about what her future might hold".

Wikipedia

Monica, Buenos Aires We are a language school and we decided to take advantage of this day to hold an open class with our students reflecting upon how violence affects women and debating about what we can do in our everyday lives to prevent it - in English, of course.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

There is still debate about what Christchurch should become.

The Guardian

After the wall came down, Germany debated about what to do: Tear down the palace?

The New York Times - Arts

There is often debate about what equivalent hole sizes should be used for a consequence study, and usually a range of hole sizes (3 4 values) is examined.

Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries

Geologists have debated about what caused the slide debris to travel the distance it did.

Wikipedia

Make sure you don't only debate about what's wrong, insulting countries and getting enemies.

WikiHow

No debate about what?

The Guardian

There was debate about what exactly was meant.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "debating about what" in formal writing. Opt for the grammatically correct version, "debating what", or alternative phrases like "discussing what" or "considering what".

Common error

The preposition "about" is often mistakenly added after "debating". Remember that "debating" already implies the subject of the discussion, so adding "about" is redundant and grammatically incorrect. Use "debating what" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "debating about what" functions as part of a clause expressing uncertainty or discussion. However, it's grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates the correct form is "debating what". The examples showcase its usage within larger sentences expressing ongoing discussions or considerations.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "debating about what" appears in some sources, it is grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the correct form is "debating what". This phrase is intended to introduce a topic of discussion or unresolved question, but the extra preposition undermines clarity. It's best to use "debating what" or other alternatives like "discussing what" or "considering what", especially in formal writing. The phrase's presence is rare, with examples primarily from news and wiki sources, making its usage in professional or academic contexts inadvisable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

debating what

Omits the unnecessary preposition "about", resulting in grammatically correct phrasing.

discussing what

Replaces "debating" with "discussing", offering a slightly less formal alternative with similar meaning.

considering what

Uses "considering" instead of "debating", indicating a more thoughtful and reflective approach.

arguing about what

Replaces "debating" with "arguing", suggesting a more contentious discussion.

questioning what

Uses "questioning" to imply an inquiry or doubt about a particular subject matter.

contemplating what

Uses "contemplating" to convey a more serious and reflective manner of considering something.

pondering what

Replaces "debating" with "pondering", suggesting deep and careful thought.

reflecting on what

Uses "reflecting on" to emphasize a thoughtful consideration of past events or experiences.

analyzing what

Uses "analyzing" to denote a detailed examination or evaluation.

examining what

Replaces "debating" with "examining", indicating a closer, more scrutinizing look.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "debating about what"?

No, the correct phrasing is "debating what". The preposition "about" is unnecessary and makes the sentence grammatically incorrect. It's more concise and accurate to simply say "debating what".

What are some alternatives to "debating about what"?

You can use phrases like "discussing what", "considering what", or "questioning what" instead. These options provide similar meanings while avoiding the grammatical error.

Which is more appropriate, "debating what" or "debating about what"?

"Debating what" is the more appropriate and grammatically sound choice. Adding "about" is redundant. Always use "debating what" in your writing and speech.

How can I remember to use "debating what" instead of "debating about what"?

Think of "debating" as already including the idea of "about". Just like you wouldn't say "discussing about something", avoid saying "debating about something". Stick with "debating what" to keep your writing clear and correct.