planning about what

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "planning about what" is not correct in standard written English.
It is generally better to use "planning what" or "planning for what" instead. Example: "We are still planning what to do for the upcoming event."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

So do advocates and practitioners of nonviolent civil resistance, who have often concentrated on the task of getting rid of dictators with less thought and planning about what comes after.

The Guardian - Opinion

"And realistically I don't know what's going to happen with this election campaign, but I'm playing to win, and I'm not planning about what's going to happen when I get into parliament or if I'm unsuccessful.

The Guardian

"Of course there are problems now - the main one seems to be a lack of planning about what we were going to do after the first phase.

The Guardian

He said: "You need to have some sort of strategic planning about what you are doing and some sort or game plan, and hopefully we are going to call that right.

Independent

But no one at NBC has done much serious planning about what to do with "The Apprentice," because of what two executives cited as pervasive doubts that Mr. Trump would actually enter the race.

The New York Times

If you don't have good answers and haven't done some disaster planning about what the company will do, there is a good chance your outcome will not be happy.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

He has everything planned about what to do and where to go".

The New York Times

I think they ought to plan about what they need to do, and come down and meet with us before they start showing the baby off".

The New York Times

This is a policy perspective paper and what is clearly lacking is policy and plans about what will happen when we see a sudden change in a polar bear population.

The New York Times

"We haven't planned much about what to do.

The New York Times

"He looks like he really has a plan about what he wants to do.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Relying on standard English constructions enhances clarity and credibility, so choose alternatives to "planning about what".

Common error

Avoid adding unnecessary prepositions. Instead of "planning about what", simply use "planning what" or "planning for what" to reduce wordiness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "planning about what" functions as a gerund phrase followed by a preposition. Although Ludwig provides examples of its usage, these instances do not validate it as grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Wiki

21%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

11%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "planning about what" appears in various sources, including news and media, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, it's better to opt for alternatives like "planning what" or "planning for what" to ensure clarity and correctness. Using the recommended alternatives enhances the grammatical soundness and overall quality of your writing. Therefore, sticking to standard English constructions is advisable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

planning what to do

Focuses on the action being planned without the unnecessary preposition.

planning for what to do

Emphasizes preparation for a future action or event.

deciding what to do

Highlights the decision-making aspect of the planning process.

figuring out what to do

Suggests a process of working out the best course of action.

strategizing what to do

Implies a more detailed and strategic approach to planning.

making plans for what comes next

Specifies the intention to prepare for future events.

preparing for what will happen

Focuses on readiness for future occurrences.

arranging what needs to be done

Highlights the organization and arrangement of tasks.

considering what actions to take

Emphasizes the careful consideration of different actions.

determining the next steps

Focuses on identifying and deciding on the subsequent actions.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "planning about what"?

The more grammatically sound alternatives include "planning what" or "planning for what". These options are more concise and align with standard English usage.

Is "planning about what" grammatically correct?

No, "planning about what" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use "planning what" or "planning for what".

When should I use "planning what" instead of "planning about what"?

Always opt for "planning what" as it is the grammatically correct and widely accepted form. Avoid using "planning about what" in both formal and informal contexts.

What are some alternatives to "planning about what"?

Alternatives include "deciding what", "considering what", or "figuring out what", which all convey the idea of strategizing or thinking ahead.