demonstrate about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'demonstrate about' is not a correct or usable phrase in written English.
However, you could use the phrase 'demonstrate' instead. For example: "My professor asked me to demonstrate my understanding of physics."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

The nominating processes gave the confident delegates something to cheer and demonstrate about as they sent the victorious team of 1952 back into battle against a Democratic slate again headed by Adlai E. Stevenson of Illinois.

The New York Times

What might this "shore" demonstrate about conditions on Titan?

The New York Times

What does this exercise demonstrate about the information revealed or lost with fossil findings?

The New York Times

And second, what if anything does this demonstrate about the efficacy of the Voting Rights Act?

The New York Times

The more knowledge you are able to demonstrate about medicine, the more committed you will seem.

Columbia University

Whatever he meant to say about workers, what's really important about the comments is what they demonstrate about his — and the GOP's — broader economic agenda.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

"This was to give him some idea what Afghanistan demonstrated about our capabilities".

The New York Times

"People in all sorts of countries are demonstrating about things – look at what happened in Trafalgar Square".

The Guardian - Business

The device demonstrated about 37 μm out-of-plane deflection using 60VDC.

Procedia Engineering

In particular, compound 3e demonstrated about 40% reduction in ulcerogenic potential relative to the reference drug.

European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry

It was demonstrated about 1900 that living cells of the stem are not responsible for water movement.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "demonstrate about". The correct and more concise form is simply "demonstrate". For example, instead of "demonstrate about gun safety", use "demonstrate gun safety".

Common error

A common mistake is adding the preposition "about" after "demonstrate". This is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect. "Demonstrate" already implies showing or proving something, so adding "about" creates a redundant phrase.

Linguistic Context

The verb "demonstrate" functions as a transitive verb, directly taking an object that represents what is being shown or proven. The addition of "about" is superfluous and grammatically incorrect. This is according to Ludwig AI, which flags the construction as non-standard.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "demonstrate about" appears in some sources, it's grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the correct usage is to simply use "demonstrate" followed by the object or concept being shown or proven. The frequency of occurrence suggests that the incorrect form is not uncommon, but it's important to avoid this usage in formal writing. Consider using alternative verbs like "show", "illustrate", or "prove" for clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

demonstrate

This is the grammatically correct form, omitting the unnecessary preposition.

show

A simpler and more direct way to convey the idea of making something evident.

illustrate

Emphasizes the use of examples or visual aids to clarify a point.

prove

Highlights the act of establishing something as true or valid.

establish

Focuses on the act of firmly setting something in place or proving it.

confirm

Suggests reinforcing or verifying something that is already believed.

reveal

Implies uncovering or disclosing something previously unknown.

exhibit

Highlights the act of displaying or presenting something for others to see.

indicate

Suggests pointing out or signaling something without necessarily proving it.

evidence

Focuses on providing proof or supporting information.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "demonstrate" in a sentence?

Use "demonstrate" followed directly by the object or concept you are showing or proving. For instance, "The experiment demonstrated the principle of thermodynamics."

Is it ever correct to say "demonstrate about"?

No, the phrase "demonstrate about" is grammatically incorrect. The preposition "about" is redundant after "demonstrate".

What can I use instead of "demonstrate"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "show", "illustrate", "prove", or "establish".

What's the difference between "demonstrate" and "demonstrate about"?

"Demonstrate" means to show or prove something clearly. Adding "about" (resulting in "demonstrate about") is grammatically incorrect and doesn't add any meaning.