learnt about

USAGE SUMMARY

"learnt about" is a correct and usable verb phrase in written English.
It is the past participle of the verb "learn" and can be used to express the idea that someone obtained knowledge or information about something. For example, "In my history lesson, I learnt about the industrial revolution."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Star learnt about India, and Zee learnt about broadcasting".

The Economist

"He has taken everything he's learnt about international cricket and he has taken everything he has learnt about life and come back ready to make a difference.

Independent

Perhaps they should have learnt about them earlier.

The Economist

A special issue explores the lessons being learnt about life.

Nature

As a result, lessons are learnt about assistance programs and their success in improving housing quality.

Habitat International

Test what you've learnt about time phrases and the passive.

BBC

What we've learnt about asteroids, however, is that they are not all the same.

BBC

Paris Lees: Everything I've Learnt About Sex.

Vice

To lend authenticity to her part, Vidya met several pregnant women and learnt about their lifestyle.

Wikipedia

Read next: 9 most important things we've learnt about our jobs in 2018.

Huffington Post

Mothers learnt about remedies from family members.

BMC Family Practice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for an American audience, consider using "learned about" instead of "learnt about" for broader appeal.

Common error

Avoid using "learn about" when the context requires a past tense. "Learn about" is present tense, while "learnt about" or "learned about" (American English) indicates a completed action in the past. For example, it's incorrect to say, "Yesterday, I learn about history."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "learnt about" functions as a verb phrase, specifically the past tense of the verb "learn" combined with the preposition "about". It indicates the action of acquiring knowledge or understanding something, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Learnt about" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the acquisition of knowledge or understanding. While "learned about" is more common in American English, "learnt about" is widely accepted, especially in British English. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is used across various contexts, including news, science, and formal writing. Remember to consider your audience and the context when choosing between "learnt" and "learned". Use alternatives such as "gained knowledge of", "became familiar with", or "found out about" to vary your writing. This is a very used pattern with good significance and is well documented on Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gained knowledge of

Focuses on the acquisition of knowledge, highlighting the result of learning.

became familiar with

Emphasizes the process of getting acquainted or comfortable with a topic.

found out about

A more casual way of saying you learned something, often unexpectedly.

acquired information on

Highlights the gathering of specific data or facts.

received instruction in

Focuses on formal learning or teaching about a subject.

been taught about

Highlights the act of receiving information from someone else.

studied

Indicates a more in-depth and structured approach to learning.

educated myself on

Suggests self-directed learning and taking responsibility for one's knowledge.

ascertained information about

Highlights the action of finding something out for certain, usually after making an inquiry.

discovered

Implies finding out something previously unknown.

FAQs

What is the difference between "learnt about" and "learned about"?

"Learnt about" and "learned about" are both past tense and past participle forms of the verb "learn". "Learnt" is more common in British English, while "learned" is more common in American English. They are interchangeable, but consider your audience when choosing which to use.

How can I use "learnt about" in a sentence?

You can use "learnt about" to describe gaining knowledge or understanding of a specific subject. For example, "During the workshop, I learnt about the latest marketing strategies."

What are some alternatives to "learnt about"?

Alternatives to "learnt about" include "gained knowledge of", "became familiar with", or "found out about", depending on the specific context.

Is "learnt about" formal or informal?

The formality of "learnt about" depends on the context. It is generally acceptable in both formal and informal settings, especially in British English. However, "learned about" is often preferred in more formal or academic writing in American English.