was about every

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was about every" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey a sense of inclusivity or generality, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "The discussion was about every aspect of the project, from planning to execution."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

But since so much of MacFarlane's humor was rote and derivative, it's more likely that he just stopped at the idea that "Zero Dark Thirty" was about "every woman's innate ability to never ever let anything go".

The New Yorker

It was hostile to human association because it was about every individual entitlement, not people doing things together".

The Guardian

Whenever he found his speech growing too modern — which was about every sentence or two — he ladled in a few such Scriptural phrases as "exceeding sore," "and it came to pass," etc., and made things satisfactory again.

The New Yorker

At his nadir, which for Dennis was about every Tuesday, he was consuming, on a daily basis, half a gallon of rum, 28 beers and three grams of cocaine.

Independent

There was zero-down, zero-interest, zero-payments-for-six-months financing, and a bell that went "clang clang clang clang" every time the Sea Ray booth sold a boat, which was about every half-hour.

The New York Times

This follows Kobe Bryant's sniping at his own front office, which even Magic Johnson thinks was a good idea,  and the Mavericks owner Mark Cuban holding court before the game to proclaim the lockout was about every team being able to make a profit.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"It's about every-thing that's hidden or dirty getting flaunted or celebrated.

The Guardian

It's about challenging every human fear.

The New York Times

That's about 38 every day.

Vice

That's about 200 people dying every day.

BBC

"There are about 275,000 deaths [every year].

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, replace "was about every" with more precise language that specifies the extent or degree of involvement. For example, use "concerned nearly all" or "related to almost every" for better accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "was about every" when a more specific quantifier would provide better clarity. Overgeneralization can weaken your statement. Instead of saying "the meeting was about every issue", consider "the meeting covered all the main issues".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was about every" functions as a connector or introductory element, often preceding a noun or clause to introduce the topic or scope. However, it's not grammatically sound and is generally considered incorrect, as noted by Ludwig AI. It attempts to convey inclusivity or broad relevance.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was about every" is used to express a comprehensive scope or coverage, but it is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase doesn't follow standard English grammar rules. While it may appear in various sources, including news outlets, its usage is best replaced with clearer and more precise alternatives such as "concerned nearly all" or "related to almost every". Using these alternatives will improve the clarity and grammatical correctness of your writing. Despite its presence in some published sources, remember that striving for grammatical accuracy enhances the credibility and impact of your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

concerned nearly all

Emphasizes the extent of involvement or relevance, highlighting near-total inclusion instead of ambiguous 'every'.

related to almost every

Shifts focus to connection or relevance, indicating widespread association, providing a clearer understanding.

dealt with practically every

Highlights the action of handling or addressing nearly every item or issue, improving clarity about actions taken.

pertained to virtually every

Emphasizes relevance or connection to almost everything, which adds precision.

applied to nearly every

Focuses on the scope of application, specifies a broad but not necessarily complete application.

touched upon almost every

Indicates a brief or limited engagement with nearly everything, which suggests a less comprehensive review.

involved nearly every aspect

Highlights the extent of involvement, stressing comprehensive participation or inclusion.

encompassed almost every detail

Focuses on inclusivity and detail, communicates thorough coverage.

affected virtually every

Highlights the impact on nearly all, emphasizes wide-ranging effects or changes.

covered virtually every area

Emphasizes the breadth of coverage, signifies a detailed and extensive examination.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "was about every" to sound more grammatically correct?

Consider using phrases like "concerned nearly all", "related to almost every", or "applied to virtually every" for improved grammatical correctness and clarity.

Is "was about every" considered grammatically correct in formal writing?

No, "was about every" is generally not considered grammatically correct in formal writing. It's better to use more precise and grammatically sound alternatives.

What are some alternatives to "was about every" that maintain a similar meaning?

Alternatives include "concerned nearly all", "related to almost every", or "dealt with practically every" depending on the context.

In what contexts might I encounter the phrase "was about every", even though it's not ideal?

You might encounter "was about every" in informal speech or less carefully edited content. However, strive for more precise language in formal or professional contexts.