obtained about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "obtained about" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is unclear and may lead to confusion, as "obtained" typically requires a direct object that specifies what was obtained. Example: "The data obtained about the experiment was inconclusive."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The current Justice Department has obtained about two death penalties a year, slightly fewer than earlier administrations.

The New York Times

The information that can be obtained about a planet by the gravitational wobble method alone, he explained, is limited.

The New York Times - Science

The newspaper has been basing weeks of disclosures on an unedited official database it obtained about legislators' expenses.

The New York Times

And for that price, it obtained about 1.2 billion active users that it can use to lure advertisers.

The New York Times

"The legislation is about shooting the messenger and not having evidence obtained about animal security," he said.

The Guardian

PCB destruction efficiencies were obtained about 99.95%.

Journal of Hazardous Materials

It's still not clear exactly what information the FBI obtained about Mohamud using FAA-authorized surveillance.

TechCrunch

After these restrictions, we obtained about 1.4 million observations.

IZA Journal of Development and Migration

No relevant information can be obtained about water rock interaction.

Geothermal Energy

At present, spatially very detailed data sets can be obtained about soil, landscape and crop variability.

Geoderma

In this case, the globularity of primary crystals was obtained, about 0.91.

Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, prioritize clarity and grammatical accuracy by replacing "obtained about" with more precise alternatives such as "acquired information on" or "gathered data regarding."

Common error

Do not use "obtained about" in formal writing. It is often grammatically unsound and unclear. Instead, specify what was obtained (e.g., "information", "data", "results") and use a preposition like "on", "regarding", or "concerning" to clearly link it to the subject.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "obtained about" functions as a verb phrase followed by a preposition, attempting to link the action of obtaining with a related subject. However, according to Ludwig, this construction is often grammatically incorrect and lacks precision.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "obtained about" appears frequently, especially in scientific and news contexts, it's often grammatically incorrect. Ludwig suggests that this construction lacks precision and can be ambiguous. For clear and formal writing, it's best to replace "obtained about" with more specific alternatives like "acquired information on", "gathered data regarding", or "received details concerning". These alternatives not only enhance grammatical correctness but also provide greater clarity. Always aim for precision to avoid misinterpretations and ensure your message is effectively communicated.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

acquired information on

Replaces "obtained" with "acquired" and specifies "information," making the phrase more direct and grammatically sound. It focuses on the acquisition of knowledge.

gathered data regarding

Uses "gathered" to emphasize the collection of data, and "regarding" provides a more formal and accurate preposition to link the data to the subject.

received details concerning

Employs "received" to indicate the act of getting details and "concerning" to clarify the subject matter, enhancing formality and precision.

learned facts pertaining to

Indicates the process of learning specific facts, with "pertaining to" formally connecting the facts to a particular topic.

discovered insights into

Focuses on finding new insights, using "into" to show a deeper understanding or investigation of a subject.

ascertained specifics of

Highlights the act of confirming or finding out specific details, with "of" linking the specifics to the subject.

collected evidence relating to

Stresses the gathering of evidence, using "relating to" to connect the evidence to a specific subject matter in a formal manner.

procured knowledge about

Replaces "obtained" with "procured" to emphasize the effort or means by which the knowledge was obtained, maintaining the "about" preposition for general topic association.

extracted intelligence regarding

Implies a careful and deliberate process of extracting relevant information, with "regarding" providing a formal connection to the topic.

compiled findings concerning

Suggests a systematic accumulation of findings, with "concerning" formally linking the findings to a specific subject.

FAQs

How can I properly use "obtained about" in a sentence?

While "obtained about" is frequently used, it is often grammatically incorrect. It's better to specify what was obtained and use a more appropriate preposition. For instance, instead of "obtained about legislators' expenses", use "obtained information on legislators' expenses".

What are some alternatives to "obtained about"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "acquired information on", "gathered data regarding", or "received details concerning".

Is it correct to say "obtained about" in formal writing?

Generally, no. "Obtained about" is considered grammatically unsound. It's better to use more precise and formal alternatives to ensure clarity and correctness in your writing.

What is the difference between "obtained about" and "acquired information on"?

"Obtained about" is a less precise and often grammatically questionable phrase. "Acquired information on" is more specific and grammatically correct, clearly indicating the acquisition of information related to a particular subject.