designating about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "designating about" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not a standard expression and does not have a specific context in which it can be used effectively. Example: "The report is designating about the new policies" does not make sense.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The firm has taken steps to shore up that portfolio, including by designating about half of its existing holdings and all of its new purchases as hold-to-maturity, which allows for a different valuation of those securities.

The New York Times

And the Obama administration has ruled out drug legalization, despite expanding support for the idea in Latin America, while designating about 60 percent of the federal antidrug budget of roughly $25 billion a year to supply-side efforts, with 40 percent to demand, as the government has for decades.

The New York Times

SUWA's leadership and supporters called the letter, written by State Representative Michael E. Noel, Republican of Kanab, a politically motivated effort to discredit the group because of its role in drafting proposed legislation designating about 9.5 million acres in Utah as federally protected wilderness.

The New York Times

In the end the stakeholders followed the science in designating about 20percentt of Wyoming as core habitat, subject to extensive -- but not total -- limits on energy development.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Since the Landmarks Preservation Commission was created in 1965, it has designated about 1,000 individual landmarks and about 70 historic districts.

The New York Times

He met with Chinese officials about 15 years ago, when they first designated about 10 tourism destinations to market heavily.

The New York Times

Since 2002, community gardens have been regulated by an agreement that designated about 150 gardens for development but preserved or increased protections for about 500 others.

The New York Times

BLOOMBERG NEWS   Buyers at the Ready for European Bank Assets  |  Hedge funds and private equity firms have designated about $76.6 billion to buy noncore European bank assets in the coming years, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers survey, The Financial Times reports.

The New York Times

The other is Eastville, a neighborhood in Sag Harbor that was designated about 10 years ago and that goes back to the village's days as a whaling mecca in the early 1800's.

The New York Times

The government will designate about five funds — really big funds, the kind whose top executives are either billionaires or used to be and hope to be again — as buyers of "legacy securities," financial instruments made out of bundles of loans that have been repackaged and resold.

The New Yorker

And while landmark buildings are not entirely unknown to the area -- the Gage & Tollner restaurant on Fulton gained that status in the mid-1970's and the Dime Savings Bank building at Albee Square was designated about 20 years later -- 81 Willoughby is only the beginning of a potential wave.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "designating about". Instead, opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives like "designating approximately" or rephrase the sentence to use verbs like "specifying" or "assigning" with appropriate prepositions.

Common error

Avoid using "designating about" as a catch-all phrase to connect ideas. It lacks precision and is not a standard English construction. If you aim to link concepts, consider causal connectors like 'due to' or purpose connectors like 'in order to' for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "designating about" functions as a gerund phrase, attempting to link the action of designating with a related topic. However, its usage is grammatically questionable, as pointed out by Ludwig. Clearer phrasing is generally preferred.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "designating about" is not considered standard English and is flagged as incorrect by Ludwig. While it appears in some news and scientific sources, alternative phrasings are preferable to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. Consider using phrases like "designating approximately", "specifying concerning", or restructuring the sentence for better communication. The phrase's attempt to link designating with a topic is better achieved through more precise and conventional expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

designating approximately

Adds precision by indicating an estimation of the quantity being designated, differing from a general designation.

assigning in relation to

Shifts the focus to the act of assigning with respect to a specific context or criteria.

specifying concerning

Replaces "designating" with "specifying" and "about" with "concerning", slightly altering the tone and formality.

indicating regarding

Uses more general terms to convey the idea of pointing something out in relation to a topic.

determining with respect to

Emphasizes the act of making a decision in relation to something, rather than a simple designation.

allocating with reference to

Focuses on the distribution or allocation of resources based on a particular reference point.

establishing concerning

Highlights the establishment of something relevant to a particular subject matter.

defining in connection with

Centers on the definition of something as it relates to a specific context or subject.

marking with respect to

Emphasizes the act of marking or identifying something in relation to a given parameter.

identifying concerning

Uses "identifying" to denote the recognition of something, linked to a specific topic.

FAQs

How can I rephrase a sentence that uses "designating about"?

Instead of "designating about", use more precise phrases like "designating approximately", "specifying concerning", or restructure the sentence for clarity.

Is "designating about" grammatically correct?

No, "designating about" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It is better to use alternative phrasings that clearly convey your intended meaning.

What are some alternatives to "designating about" in formal writing?

In formal writing, consider using phrases like "allocating with reference to" or "determining with respect to" for a more professional tone.

When is it appropriate to use "designating about"?

The phrase "designating about" is generally not recommended due to its lack of clarity and grammatical issues. It's better to use more standard and clear expressions.