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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
indicates about
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "indicates about" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct usage would typically involve just "indicates" without "about." Example: "The data indicates a significant trend in consumer behavior."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
57 human-written examples
It indicates about 6 inches fell in Ellicott City proper.
News & Media
A zero indicates the car is stopped, and a 5 indicates about 5 MPH.
Academia
How much the production itself indicates about the direction the whole tetralogy will take is much harder to assess.
News & Media
We discuss what Carol Dweck's research indicates about a growth mindset and how it can be used in the classroom.
Academia
You have to be able to hear the tonalities, what the language indicates about the intelligence or class of the speaker.
News & Media
Yet the elephant also has a double nature, as a story told in the first novella indicates, about a man confronted with a stampede.
News & Media
The sobering significance of the Yemeni underwear bomb was less the plot itself than what it indicates about the way forward.
News & Media
The law enforcement official did not answer the Guardian's question about what the apparently unsolicited outside guidance indicates about the FBI's competence in digital investigations.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
3 human-written examples
Japanese records indicate about 9,000 were launched.
News & Media
Results indicated about good matching between them.
Science
What does the color indicate about your depiction?
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When aiming for clarity and precision, use "indicates" without adding "about". For example, instead of "The study indicates about a correlation", write "The study indicates a correlation".
Common error
The addition of "about" after "indicates" is generally redundant. Using just "indicates" makes your writing more concise and grammatically sound.
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "indicates about" functions as a verb phrase aiming to express that something serves as a sign or signal. However, the inclusion of "about" is generally considered grammatically incorrect due to redundancy, as Ludwig AI confirms.
Frequent in
Science
60%
News & Media
40%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Academia
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "indicates about" is generally grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. Ludwig AI analysis confirms this. While the intention is to convey that something serves as a sign, the addition of "about" is redundant. More appropriate alternatives include using "indicates" alone, or replacing the phrase with "suggests", "points to", or "implies". Although examples exist across various sources, the ungrammatical nature of the phrase significantly diminishes its suitability for professional and academic contexts.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
suggests
This is a direct replacement for 'indicates', removing the unnecessary 'about'.
suggests that
A slight expansion, explicitly introducing a clause that contains the suggested information.
implies
A more concise and grammatically correct way of saying "indicates about".
points to
Replaces 'indicates about' with a more idiomatic phrase conveying a similar meaning of suggestion or implication.
shows
A simpler and clearer alternative, directly conveying that something is being demonstrated.
demonstrates
A more formal alternative emphasizing proof or clear evidence.
reveals
Similar to 'shows' but with a stronger emphasis on uncovering or making something known.
highlights
Focuses on bringing attention to a specific aspect or detail.
is indicative of
A more formal and emphatic way of stating that something serves as a sign or symptom.
bears witness to
Implies a very strong indication, almost like a testimony or confirmation of something.
FAQs
What is the correct way to use "indicates" in a sentence?
Use "indicates" directly followed by what it points to, without adding "about". For example, "The data indicates a rising trend" is correct.
What can I say instead of "indicates about"?
Is "indicates about" grammatically correct?
No, "indicates about" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. The word "indicates" already implies "about", so adding it is redundant.
What's the difference between "indicates" and "suggests"?
"Indicates" implies a more direct and clear sign, while "suggests" implies a less direct or certain implication. The choice depends on the strength of the evidence you want to convey.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested