shows about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shows about" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not a commonly used expression and may lead to confusion. Example: "The documentary shows about the impact of climate change on polar bears."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Shows about wildly aggressive cops.

The Guardian

Shows about bars.

The Guardian

Shows about Hell's Angels.

The Guardian

Shows about fighting.

The Guardian

I like shows about cooking.

The Guardian

"We had shows about violence at school.

The New York Times - Arts

There've even been shows about housework.

The Guardian - Opinion

The library will lend pages for shows about French's work.

The New York Times - Arts

They are shows about the end of the American dream".

The New York Times - Books

Are there any shows about Hollywood agents in the works?

The New York Times - Magazine

"You see shows about mysticism, the occult, vampires".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the theme of a show, replace "shows about" with more grammatically correct alternatives such as "shows that focus on", "shows concerning", or "shows that explore". This will enhance clarity and credibility.

Common error

Do not use "shows about" in formal writing. Instead, opt for alternatives like "shows that cover" or "shows concerning" to maintain grammatical accuracy and professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shows about" functions as a noun phrase followed by a preposition, attempting to describe the topic of television shows. However, it's grammatically awkward. Ludwig AI indicates it is not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

8%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "shows about" is a frequently used but grammatically incorrect way to describe the subject of television programs. Ludwig AI identifies it as non-standard English. While numerous examples can be found across various sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, opting for grammatically sound alternatives such as "shows that focus on", "shows concerning", or "shows that cover" enhances clarity and credibility. Despite its common occurrence, especially in news and media, it's best to avoid "shows about" in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

television programs about

Replaces "shows" with the more formal "television programs".

programs concerning

Substitutes "shows" with the more generic "programs" and "about" with "concerning".

series focusing on

Uses "series" instead of "shows" and "focusing on" to convey the topic.

documentaries covering

Specific to documentaries, replaces "shows" and uses "covering" for the topic.

presentations regarding

More formal, suitable for academic or professional contexts; replaces "shows" with "presentations" and "about" with "regarding".

broadcasts dealing with

Emphasizes broadcasting and uses "dealing with" to express the subject matter.

productions centered on

Uses "productions" in place of "shows" and "centered on" to indicate the main theme.

films concerning

Refers specifically to films and replaces "about" with "concerning".

features dealing with

Uses "features" instead of "shows" and "dealing with" to express the subject matter.

talks regarding

Replaces 'shows' with 'talks' and 'about' with 'regarding'.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "shows about"?

You can use alternatives like "shows that focus on", "shows that cover", or "shows concerning" depending on the context.

Is "shows about" grammatically correct?

No, "shows about" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "shows that are about" or "shows concerning".

How to use "shows that focus on" in a sentence?

Instead of saying "shows about cooking are popular", you could say "shows that focus on cooking are popular" for better clarity.

What's the difference between "shows about" and "shows concerning"?

"Shows about" is grammatically incorrect and less formal, while "shows concerning" is a grammatically correct and more formal alternative. Use "shows concerning" in professional or academic writing.