listened about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'listened about' is not correct in written English.
When talking about someone 'listening' to something, the word 'to' should be used. A common phrase to use in written English is 'listened to'. For example, "He listened to my explanation about the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The man in the seat behind me talked nonstop into his cellphone, complaining to his unseen listener (who listened and listened and listened) about how he hated his commute.

The New York Times

Don't you wish you'd listened about black lives?

The Guardian - Opinion

Don't you wish you'd listened about women's humanity?

The Guardian - Opinion

"In the Soviet Union professional boxing was forbidden but we studied and listened about this fighter a lot, and after that we had a chance to see the fights.

Independent

"I didn't have a chance to meet him personally but I listened about him so much and that's why he will be always in the memory of the new generations.

Independent

To a point, Franklin listened — about the 4 bowl appearances in 121 years, the 2 winning seasons in the last 35 years — so he could understand and learn from the past.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"That's what we're listening about," she said.

The New York Times

You listen about who they are and what makes them tick.

The New York Times

"People do not care to listen about how they should use less water or waste less.

The Guardian

He's aching to benevolently lecture anyone who will listen about simple frugal pleasures and the true meaning of community.

The New York Times - Magazine

He proudly tells anyone who will listen about how he continues to ski in the Rockies.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the preposition "to" after the verb "listen" when indicating what is being heard. For example, use "listened to the music" instead of "listened the music".

Common error

Avoid using prepositions other than "to" after "listen" to maintain grammatical correctness. Phrases like "listen about" or "listen at" are incorrect. Always use "listen to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "listened about" functions as a verb phrase attempting to describe the act of listening in relation to a topic. However, it's grammatically incorrect as the correct preposition to use with "listened" is "to". As Ludwig AI states, "listened about" is not standard English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "listened about" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is always "listened to". As Ludwig AI points out, the examples show that while the intent is understandable, standard English requires a different preposition. While some instances of "listened about" appear across various online sources, including news and media, its usage is not recommended in formal writing or speech. Remember to use "listened to" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

listened to

Uses the correct preposition "to" after "listened", making it grammatically sound.

listened carefully to

Highlights the degree of attention given while listening.

heard about

Indicates receiving information or news, similar to listening in some contexts.

paid attention to

Emphasizes focus and attentiveness while listening.

listened concerning

While grammatically questionable, attempts to convey listening with regard to a specific topic.

gave ear to

A more formal or literary way of saying "listened to".

took note of

Suggests acknowledging and remembering what was heard.

attended to

Similar to paying attention, but can also mean taking care of.

considered

Indicates that one listened and thought about something.

took under consideration

A more formal way of saying considered, referring to the action after listening

FAQs

How do I correctly use the word "listen" in a sentence?

Always follow "listen" with the preposition "to" when indicating the object of your listening. For example, "I "listened to the radio"" is correct.

What's the difference between "listen to" and "hear"?

"Hear" is the passive reception of sound, while "listen to" implies conscious attention and effort. You might hear background noise, but you listen to a conversation.

Is it ever correct to say "listen about"?

No, "listen about" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct phrase is always "listen to".

What are some alternatives to saying "I listened to"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "I heard", "I paid attention to", or "I took note of".