desire about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'desire about' is not grammatically correct.
You could use the phrase 'desire for' instead. For example, "She had a strong desire for success in her career."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

It, too, is about disguise, deception, crime, and desire, about mental illness and unhealed trauma.

The New Yorker

What's so shameful about wanting, about desire, about having failed to achieve satisfaction, about experiencing unhappiness?

The Guardian - Books

This is a novel about ambition and desire, about a woman's refusal even to contemplate life as a doormat.

The Guardian - Books

Each term is a cultural Rorschach test, writes Naomi Wolf, conveying a mess of anxiety and desire about the female sex and informing the way women view themselves.

The Economist

It is, as anorexia and bulimia are, about resisting desire, about lashing oneself to the mast so one can't be swept away.

The New Yorker

He said Frostrup was being commissioned to make a new series called Objects of Desire about "cult objects and what makes people covet them".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Emotions involve knowledge, beliefs, opinions, and desires about the world.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The latter are desires about desires.

SEP

A global version of the comprehensive theory ranks desires, so that desires about the shape and content of one's life as a whole are given some priority.

SEP

His thinking is that blacks have the same kinds of beliefs about political circumstances and desires about political interests and outcomes as any group would.

SEP

Migrants' views and desires about the future, as individuals and members of families and broader communities, evolve in parallel with their biographies.

Comparative Migration Studies

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct preposition, "for", after "desire" to ensure grammatical accuracy. For example, prefer "desire for knowledge" over "desire about knowledge".

Common error

Avoid using prepositions like "about", "of", or "in" after "desire". The correct preposition is typically "for". Incorrect: "a desire about success". Correct: "a desire for success".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "desire about" is generally ungrammatical in standard English. It attempts to function as a verb or noun followed by a preposition, but the preposition is incorrect. Instead, "desire" should typically be followed by "for". As stated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "desire about" is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. As Ludwig AI pointed out, it's more appropriate to use "desire for" to correctly express wanting or longing for something. Because of its incorrectness, this phrase is absent from authoritative sources, making it important to avoid in formal writing. Remember to use "desire for" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

desire for

Uses the correct preposition "for" to express wanting something.

yearning for

Emphasizes a deep longing or craving.

longing for

Similar to yearning, but perhaps less intense.

craving for

Highlights a strong need or urge.

passion for

Highlights a strong enthusiasm or love.

wish for

Indicates a hope or aspiration.

eagerness for

Conveys enthusiasm and anticipation.

need for

Expresses a requirement or necessity.

want for

A more casual expression of needing or desiring.

inclination toward

Indicates a tendency or preference.

FAQs

What is the correct preposition to use after "desire"?

The correct preposition to use after "desire" is usually "for". For example, it's correct to say "desire for knowledge" but not "desire about knowledge".

How can I rephrase "desire about" to sound more natural?

You can replace "desire about" with alternatives such as "desire for", "longing for", or "yearning for" to sound more natural and grammatically correct.

Is "desire about" grammatically correct?

No, "desire about" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The correct usage is typically "desire for".

What does "desire for" mean, and how does it differ from "desire about"?

"Desire for" expresses a strong feeling of wanting or wishing for something. Since "desire about" is grammatically incorrect, there is no meaningful difference; "desire for" is the proper way to express that sentiment.