famous about

USAGE SUMMARY

Sentence.
The phrase 'famous about' is not technically correct in written English. You can, however, use the phrase 'famous for' instead. For example, "She is famous for her philanthropic work."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

For 15 years, Jonathan Sale interviewed the famous about their school years for a column in 'The Independent'.

Independent

(His movie "Almost Famous," about a rock groupie, er, muse, is inspired in part by Ms. Buell).

The New York Times - Style

He is about to become famous — about to become, for better and worse, the most influential American writer of his century.

The New York Times - Books

One of the most famous, about the "deep lane/ Shuttered with branches, dark in the afternoon", seems very close to Thomas's "The Lane", where "now September hides herself" until "little I know/ Or heed if time be still the same".

Independent

In "Swimming to Cambodia" — the monologue that made Spalding Gray (relatively) famous, about the time he spent in Thailand playing a small role in "The Killing Fields," the film about the Cambodian genocide — Gray tells a strange, disconcerting story about the death of Thomas Merton.

The New York Times - Books

Niseko became famous about a decade ago, especially in Australia, for the quality and consistency of its light, powdery snow, the result of Siberian winds interacting with moisture from the Sea of Japan.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

As his now famous about-the-author note from "The Shadow of the Sun" (2001) informs us, Kapuscinski "witnessed 27 coups and revolutions" and "was sentenced to death four times," a biographical précis many nonfiction writers would do anything, short of earning it, to have.

The New York Times - Books

Her famous remark about two inches of ivory holds.

The Guardian - Books

I was living Hemingway's famous words about going broke two ways, "gradually and then suddenly".

The New York Times

The two Woonsocket legislators quickly decided to apply Rahm Emanuel's famous maxim about never letting a crisis go to waste.

The New York Times

Well, what's that famous saying about power?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "famous for" instead of "famous about". The preposition "for" correctly indicates the reason or quality that makes someone or something famous.

Common error

Avoid using "about" after "famous". This preposition does not properly connect "famous" to its cause or attribute. Instead, opt for "famous for".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "famous about" functions as an adjectival phrase attempting to modify a noun, but its grammatical incorrectness undermines its function. Ludwig AI indicates that it's not technically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "famous about" appears in some contexts, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI identifies it as technically wrong, and ""famous for"" should be used instead. Its intended purpose is to express recognition or renown, but its incorrectness diminishes its effectiveness and suitability for formal communication. The frequency of "famous about" is uncommon, and although found in News & Media and Science contexts, it's best to avoid this phrasing in favor of grammatically correct alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

famous for

Replaces "about" with the correct preposition "for", indicating the reason for fame.

renowned for

Uses a stronger synonym "renowned" and the correct preposition "for", indicating widespread acclaim.

well-known for

Employs a more common synonym "well-known" with "for", emphasizing general awareness.

notable for

Substitutes "famous" with "notable", highlighting significance or importance with "for".

celebrated for

Replaces "famous" with "celebrated", suggesting widespread praise and public recognition, followed by "for".

known for

Uses the simple "known for" to indicate what someone or something is recognized for.

recognized for

Highlights the act of being recognized for specific qualities or achievements.

acclaimed for

Similar to celebrated, this option refers to things that are highly approved and praised by the public.

respected for

The alternative suggests admiration and respect, usually for one's accomplishments or qualities.

distinguished for

It suggests that something or someone is well-known for a notable or excellent quality.

FAQs

How can I correct the phrase "famous about" in a sentence?

Replace "about" with "for". The correct phrasing is "famous for", as in "She is "famous for" her discoveries".

What is a better alternative to "famous about"?

Use ""famous for"", "renowned for", or "well-known for" depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Why is "famous about" considered grammatically incorrect?

The preposition "about" does not properly connect the adjective "famous" to the reason or characteristic that causes fame. The correct preposition to use is "for", which indicates the cause or reason.

Is there any context where "famous about" might be acceptable?

No, "famous about" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in all standard contexts. Always use ""famous for"" or a similar alternative.