speaking about me

USAGE SUMMARY

"speaking about me" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to something you said or wrote previously in a conversation or document. For example, you could write, "I believe in taking risks, as I discussed earlier when speaking about me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Riegels once said: "All the times I've run across or heard people saying 'wrong way,' even though they weren't referring to me, I immediately turned around to see if they were speaking about me.

Wikipedia

I sensed she was speaking about me, till she made that gesture with her hand which referred to my head scarf.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"He spoke about give me the mandate again, trust me again, re-elect me," Professor Weimann said.

The New York Times

"People speak about me being upset.

Independent

There are times when the words that are spoken about me hurt.

The New York Times

Terry said: "It's a difficult one for me - he went and spoke about me in the court case".

Independent

Let's stop talking about this – I spoke about him, he speaks about me, let's stop".

The Guardian - Sport

"If you must speak about me, leave my Jewishness out of it," the conductor said.

The New York Times - Arts

"Obviously he was the one who spoke about me in the court case and said things I don't want to talk on air [sic].

Independent

This is a happy moment for me so now is not the time to say it, but a lot of lies have been spoken about me and I will respond to them," he said at the time.

Independent

PRAGUE — Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that Barack Obama would speak about me during his address in my hometown last week.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "speaking about me", ensure the context clarifies who is doing the speaking and in what manner. For example, 'The article was accurate in speaking about me'.

Common error

Be careful not to use "speaking about me" in contexts where it could be misinterpreted as you speaking about yourself, rather than someone else speaking about you. Add context to clarify who is speaking, such as 'When they were speaking about me, I listened carefully'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "speaking about me" functions as a gerund phrase, often serving as the object of a verb or preposition. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a grammatically sound construction in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "speaking about me" is a grammatically correct and frequently used gerund phrase that describes instances where someone is talking or making comments about the speaker. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical soundness. Its communicative purpose is to refer to these instances, and its register is generally neutral. Usage is common across various sources like news, media and wiki. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding who is speaking and the context of the conversation to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

talking about me

This alternative uses a different verb ("talking" instead of "speaking") to convey the same meaning.

speak about me

This is the infinitive form of the verb phrase, conveying a similar meaning but a different grammatical structure.

referring to me

This alternative emphasizes the act of direct reference.

commenting on me

This suggests a more evaluative or judgmental form of speaking.

discussing me

This alternative implies a more in-depth conversation or analysis.

mentioning me

This suggests a brief or incidental reference.

addressing me

This indicates a more direct or formal way of talking.

remarking about me

This conveys a lighter, less formal tone.

saying things about me

This is a more general and less specific way of describing the action.

gossiping about me

This suggests speaking secret or intimate things about another person.

FAQs

What does "speaking about me" mean?

The phrase "speaking about me" refers to instances where someone is talking or making comments about you, either directly or indirectly.

What are some alternatives to "speaking about me"?

Alternatives include "talking about me", "referring to me", or "commenting on me", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "speaking of me" instead of "speaking about me"?

While "speaking of me" can sometimes be used, it typically implies a transition in conversation where you are being introduced as a related topic. "Speaking about me" is more directly related to the content of the speech or discussion.

How can I use "speaking about me" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "I overheard them "speaking about me", and I was curious about what they were saying".