sympathy about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sympathy about" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when expressing feelings of compassion or understanding regarding a specific situation, but "sympathy for" is more standard. Example: "I have sympathy about the challenges you are facing at work."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

"But Death is not supposed to be a character who has sympathy about taking someone's soul".

The New York Times - Books

I expressed sympathy about his illness, but that wasn't what he wanted to talk about.

The New York Times

Similarly, there was widespread sympathy about the apparent unfairness of the patent litigation system.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Rottura speaks descriptively, and with sympathy, about his prominent clients' hair struggles.

The New York Times

The strange thing is I was writing with sympathy about Kapuściński.

The Guardian

He said that while questioning Mr. Bakhru, he had voiced sympathy about the difficulty of the test.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

And we see that "Talk to Her" is not about sympathy but about loyalty, and the picture with its crafty twists of fate earns our loyalty as well.

The New York Times

Thirteen years after it convened, panel member Thornton Page privately admitted that he helped organise a documentary (now viewable on YouTube) based around its conclusions, despite his own sympathies about the existence of flying saucers.

The Guardian - Film

Mexico, a nation with divided sympathies about how much oil should cost, is setting out on a round of shuttle diplomacy that analysts here said seemed intended to head off an oil price war.

The New York Times

Archives|Censure, Impeachment or Enough Already?; How About Sympathy?

The New York Times

Censure, Impeachment or Enough Already?; How About Sympathy?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "sympathy about" is understandable, prefer using "sympathy for" for a more natural and widely accepted expression.

Common error

Avoid substituting "for" with "about" when expressing sympathy; "sympathy for" is the standard and grammatically preferred construction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sympathy about" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, expressing a feeling of compassion or understanding regarding a specific situation. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, it is less common than "sympathy for".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "sympathy about" is used and understood, it's not the most common or grammatically preferred way to express feelings of compassion. Ludwig suggests that "sympathy for" is generally a better alternative, and this is reflected in its wider acceptance and frequency. Although Ludwig reports that the phrase is 'acceptable', preferring 'sympathy for' will lead to clearer and more standard English usage. Primarily found in News & Media contexts, using "sympathy for" enhances clarity and aligns with established grammatical conventions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sympathy for

More idiomatic and widely accepted alternative.

compassion about

Focuses more on active concern and care.

empathy towards

Stresses the ability to share another's feelings.

understanding of

Highlights intellectual comprehension of a situation.

concern regarding

Emphasizes worry or anxiety about something.

commiseration about

Implies sharing grief or hardship.

pity for

Suggests a feeling of sorrow and perhaps condescension.

condolences regarding

Offers sympathy specifically for a loss or death.

solicitude for

Conveys care and attentiveness.

warm feelings towards

Indicates positive and caring emotions.

FAQs

Is "sympathy about" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "sympathy about" is less common and can sound awkward. "Sympathy for" is the more standard and grammatically preferred phrase.

What's a better alternative to expressing "sympathy about"?

A stronger alternative is to use "sympathy for". You could also use phrases like "compassion for" or "understanding of" depending on the specific context.

How do I use "sympathy for" in a sentence?

You can use "sympathy for" followed by the person or thing you feel sympathy towards. For example, "I have sympathy for those affected by the disaster".

When is it appropriate to use "sympathy for" instead of "sympathy about"?

"Sympathy for" is generally appropriate in all contexts where you want to express feelings of compassion or understanding. It's a more versatile and widely accepted phrase than "sympathy about".