experimenting about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "experimenting about" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in contexts where one is discussing the act of trying out different ideas or methods related to a specific topic, but "experimenting with" is more standard. Example: "The scientists are experimenting about the effects of climate change on local ecosystems."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The other major contribution, and I would rank this higher than the first, is that the way we make progress is by experimenting about what I call "possible selves".

The New York Times

Meehan, 25, began experimenting about a year ago with different paint types and layering techniques to achieve a three-dimensional effect.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

How about "experimenting" with that?

The Guardian - Opinion

What about experimenting with the supply chain?

Stanford University

2008 was all about experimenting.

TechCrunch

It's all about experimenting".

Vice

First, though, what was the experiment really about?

The Guardian

The experiment took about 60 minutes in total.

Nature

The whole experiment took about 60 minutes.

Security Informatics

The total experiment took about 1 h to complete.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Did he understand what the experiments were about?

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the standard phrase "experimenting with" instead of "experimenting about" for better clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "about" after "experimenting". The correct preposition is almost always "with". "Experimenting about" is not standard English and may confuse your readers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "experimenting about" attempts to describe the act of conducting experiments or trying out different approaches. However, it's grammatically unconventional and not widely accepted in standard English. Ludwig flags this as a phrase that is not commonly used.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "experimenting about" is rare and grammatically questionable. It appears in a mix of news, academic, and scientific contexts, but is not considered standard English. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is not commonly used. For clearer and more correct communication, it is recommended to use alternatives like "experimenting with" or "conducting experiments on". While sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian occasionally use it, the phrase's low frequency and grammatical ambiguity suggest avoiding it in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

experimenting with

Switches the preposition to "with", which is the standard and grammatically correct choice when referring to the object of experimentation.

conducting experiments on

Replaces "experimenting" with "conducting experiments", clarifying the activity and using the preposition "on" to specify the subject.

exploring possibilities of

Uses "exploring possibilities" instead of "experimenting", which conveys a similar sense of investigation.

testing hypotheses regarding

Focuses on testing specific hypotheses, framing the activity as a more formalized experimental process.

investigating the effects of

Emphasizes the investigation of cause-and-effect relationships through experimentation.

trying out different approaches to

Highlights the practical application of different methods or approaches.

exploring different methods for

Focuses on the exploration of methods, suggesting a systematic investigation.

undertaking trials concerning

Frames the experimental activity as undertaking formal trials or tests.

assessing the potential for

Shifts the focus to assessing potential outcomes through experimentation.

studying the impact of

Highlights the study of impacts or effects, often through controlled experiments.

FAQs

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

The correct and commonly used preposition is "with". Using "experimenting with" indicates that you are trying out or testing something in order to discover or understand it. Avoid using "experimenting about" as it is not standard English.

Is "experimenting about" grammatically correct?

No, "experimenting about" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The correct phrasing is "experimenting with". See "experimenting with" for appropriate usage.

What can I say instead of "experimenting about"?

Use phrases like "experimenting with", "conducting experiments on", or "exploring possibilities of" instead of "experimenting about" for clearer and more grammatically correct communication.

What does it mean to say someone is "experimenting with" something?

To say someone is "experimenting with" something means they are trying out different ideas or methods to see what happens or what is effective. It implies a process of trial and error.