thorough about

USAGE SUMMARY

No, "thorough about" is not an English phrase as it is written.
It is not a combination of words that can be used in written English.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

"My interest is in being thorough about representing human behaviour and emotion.

The Guardian - Books

But Mr. McCauley is a committed formalist and a defiant singer; he loves hating himself, and he's thorough about it.

The New York Times - Arts

The weaver ants, it turns out, are very thorough about hunting down and eating fruit flies, as well as a host of other pests.

The Economist

"We have to be more detailed and thorough about the way we note absences and attendance," she said in an interview.

The New York Times

But parents may have to be more resourceful about finding child-care services abroad -- and more thorough about checking out the person or agency they are considering.

The New York Times - Travel

Yet it's worth being thorough about it as EU law influences a broad spectrum of our current laws, across both private and public practice in the UK.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

After a week of calling, Mr. Bhatnagar came to the phone, following a thorough grilling about a reporter's newspaper association.

The New York Times

It's about how aware, kind, thoughtful, and thorough I am about what I do.

Huffington Post

Finally, the 'Basic premises: client's account and home circumstances' scale concerns the importance of a consistent account of daily activities, thorough questioning about this account and information about the client's home circumstances in the assessment.

BMC Public Health

Indeed, the best part about shopping at the Poster Shop is Mr. Abu's thorough knowledge about his wares and the movies they promote.

The New York Times

Provide a thorough explanation about who this guy is and also describe what you know about his parents and his family life.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Although "thorough about" appears in some sources, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Use "thorough in", "thorough with", or "thorough when" instead.

Common error

Avoid using "about" after "thorough". Instead, opt for prepositions like "in" or "with" to maintain grammatical accuracy. For instance, say "thorough in my research" or "thorough with the details" rather than "thorough about my research" or "thorough about the details".

Linguistic Context

While "thorough" functions as an adjective describing the quality of being comprehensive or detailed, the addition of "about" creates a grammatically unsound phrase. Ludwig AI points out that this combination is not standard English. The correct usage involves pairing "thorough" with prepositions like "in" or "with".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

29%

Wiki

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "thorough about" appears in a number of sources, Ludwig AI indicates that it is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's more appropriate to use constructions like ""thorough in"" or "thorough with" to maintain grammatical accuracy. Although some sources may use "thorough about", it's generally best to avoid it in formal writing to ensure clarity and professionalism. Sticking to authoritative grammar rules will enhance your writing's credibility and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

comprehensive about

Replaces "thorough" with a synonym emphasizing the extent of detail covered.

meticulous about

Highlights precision and attention to minor details.

exhaustive about

Highlights the completeness of the process, leaving nothing out.

painstaking about

Highlights a very diligent and careful approach.

detailed about

Emphasizes the inclusion of many particulars.

rigorous about

Implies strict adherence to standards and procedures.

careful about

Focuses on caution and attention to avoid mistakes.

diligent about

Focuses on the application of persistent and careful effort.

conscientious about

Highlights being governed by conscience; careful and principled.

scrupulous about

Emphasizes moral integrity and exactness.

FAQs

Is "thorough about" grammatically correct?

No, "thorough about" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use alternatives like "thorough in", "thorough with", or rephrase the sentence to use a different structure.

What prepositions can I use with "thorough"?

Common and grammatically correct prepositions to use with "thorough" include "in" (e.g., "thorough in my research") and "with" (e.g., "thorough with the details").

How can I rephrase a sentence that uses "thorough about"?

Instead of saying "He was thorough about his investigation", try "He was "thorough in" his investigation" or "He conducted a thorough investigation."

Are there any situations where "thorough about" might be acceptable?

While some sources may use "thorough about", it's generally best to avoid it in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives to ensure clarity and professionalism. It's best to be "careful about" using the most correct grammar.