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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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narrative around

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

'narrative around' is not correct and cannot be used in written English.
To use a phrase like this in written English, you could say 'narrative surrounding.' For example, "I wrote a narrative surrounding the events of my summer vacation."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The narrative around drones had been "sanitised", she said.

News & Media

The Guardian

The entire narrative around our online lives remains always punitive.

They are angry at the English narrative around Tintagel.

News & Media

The Guardian

The memorial will necessarily question the official narrative around 'what to remember' and 'how to remember'.

News & Media

The New York Times

Often, this takes place against an unfairly negative narrative around the supposedly evil stepdad.

News & Media

Independent

It's another when you frame the entire narrative around the debt crisis we face".

News & Media

The New York Times

Much of the narrative around breast-feeding of late is about the "backlash".

News & Media

The New York Times

It creates a solid heroic narrative around an awful lot of aesthetic and spiritual information.

Did you plan from the beginning to build the narrative around that?

News & Media

The New Yorker

Ockham's Razor always choose their apparatus first, then build a narrative around it.

News & Media

The Guardian

Original sin is only a component in Augustine's bigger narrative around baptism.

Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "narrative surrounding" instead of "narrative around" for grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "around" when you mean "surrounding" in formal writing. "Around" typically indicates location or proximity, while "surrounding" implies encompassing or enveloping. Therefore, opt for "narrative surrounding" to maintain grammatical correctness.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

86%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "narrative around" functions as a prepositional phrase aiming to modify a noun by specifying the context or environment in which the narrative exists. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically incorrect. While numerous examples exist, they do not validate the phrase's correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "narrative around" is frequently used, as shown by Ludwig's examples, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests that "narrative surrounding" is a better alternative. The phrase appears most often in news and media contexts. It's crucial to prioritize grammatical accuracy and use "narrative surrounding" in formal writing to maintain credibility. Although widely used, remember that common usage does not always equate to correctness.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to use "narrative around"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. A more appropriate phrase would be "narrative surrounding."

What does "narrative surrounding" mean?

"Narrative surrounding" refers to the context, details, and related stories that encompass a particular event, person, or topic. It describes the overarching story or explanation that is associated with something.

What can I say instead of "narrative around"?

You can use alternatives like "narrative concerning", "story surrounding", or "discourse surrounding depending on the context.

How do I ensure I'm using "narrative surrounding" correctly in my writing?

Double-check that you intend to convey the idea of a story or explanation that encompasses or surrounds a subject. If you mean to indicate physical proximity or location, "around" might be appropriate in a different context, but not with "narrative".

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Source & Trust

86%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: