familiar about

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "familiar about" is not correct.
You cannot use it on its own in written English. You might use the phrase "familiar with" instead. For example: "I am familiar with your work."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Something familiar about that?

The Guardian - Film

There's something very familiar about Billy Elliot.

The Guardian - Film

There is something familiar about his gaze.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There was something familiar about it.

The Guardian - Sport

There's something drearily familiar about the scene.

The Guardian - Arts

There was something familiar about the image.

The New Yorker

There's something familiar about it to me".

The New York Times - Style

There was something familiar about her.

The New York Times

"I thought there was something familiar about you," he says.

The New Yorker

There is something familiar about watching them away from home.

Independent

What's new, and what's terribly familiar, about the bombings.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "familiar with" instead of "familiar about". The preposition "with" is the correct choice to indicate acquaintance or knowledge.

Common error

Avoid using "about" after "familiar". The correct preposition to use with "familiar" is "with". Incorrect preposition usage can lead to grammatical errors and miscommunication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "familiar about" functions as an adjectival phrase intending to describe a state of awareness or knowledge. However, it is grammatically incorrect, as evidenced by Ludwig AI, which indicates that the correct usage is "familiar with".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

20%

Science

19%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "familiar about" is frequently encountered but is grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the correct form is "familiar with". While the intended meaning—to express knowledge or acquaintance—may often be clear from context, using the proper preposition "with" is crucial for grammatical accuracy, especially in formal or professional settings. Despite its prevalence in various sources, including news and academic contexts as shown by Ludwig, it's best to replace "familiar about" with ""familiar with"" or other alternatives like "knowledgeable about" to ensure clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

familiar with

Uses the correct and standard preposition "with" to express being acquainted with something.

acquainted with

A more formal way of saying "familiar with", indicating some level of knowledge.

knowledgeable about

Replaces "familiar" with a synonym emphasizing deep understanding.

conversant with

Suggests a comfortable and informed level of familiarity.

aware of

Focuses on the aspect of being conscious or informed about something.

informed about

Highlights the state of having information about a subject.

well-versed in

Indicates a high level of skill and knowledge in a particular area.

abreast of

Implies staying up-to-date with current information or developments.

up-to-date on

Specifies that one has the latest information available.

au fait with

A more formal and slightly archaic way of saying familiar with, implying sophistication.

FAQs

What is the correct preposition to use with "familiar"?

The correct preposition to use with "familiar" is "with", not "about". For example, say "I am familiar with that book" instead of "I am familiar about that book".

How do I use "familiar with" in a sentence?

Use "familiar with" to indicate knowledge or acquaintance with something. For example, "She is "familiar with" the local customs".

What can I say instead of "familiar about"?

Since "familiar about" is grammatically incorrect, you can use alternatives like ""familiar with"", "knowledgeable about", or "acquainted with".

Which is correct, "familiar about" or "familiar with"?

"Familiar with" is the correct and grammatically sound phrase. "Familiar about" is not standard English.