wavering about

USAGE SUMMARY

"wavering about" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is uncertain and can't make up his or her mind. For example, "The chairman was wavering about whether to approve the proposal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

For days, he has been wavering about the job.

The New York Times

In each case, when her leave ended, the employee was wavering about coming back.

Harvard Business Review

I was wavering about stopping the fight, but I decided to give Joe one more round.

The New York Times - Sports

But after a decade in an especially demanding job, Cashman was wavering about re-signing.

The New York Times - Sports

But it may also hold off investment by companies who are wavering about embarking on advanced data analysis projects.

The New York Times

If your team is wavering about whether to apply an idea or debate its merits hypothetically, lean toward a test.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

"We can't waver about the rules of golf.

The Guardian - Sport

When he wavered about whether college was right for him, she persuaded him to stay.

The New York Times

She is also the one who has publicly wavered about returning next season.

The New York Times - Arts

They spoke four times that night as the woman wavered about going to Albuquerque alone.

The New York Times

Bunn has wavered about that idea publicly, sometimes encouraging people to put away their phones.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wavering about" when you want to convey a sense of indecision or hesitation regarding a particular decision or action. It suggests a back-and-forth movement in thought.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions like "wavering on" or "wavering with" instead of "wavering about". The preposition "about" is crucial for conveying the intended meaning of indecision regarding a specific topic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wavering about" functions as a verb phrase with a preposition, indicating a state of indecision or uncertainty regarding a particular matter. As confirmed by Ludwig, it describes someone unable to make up their mind.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "wavering about" is a common and grammatically correct way to express indecision or uncertainty, as confirmed by Ludwig. Predominantly found in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts, it effectively communicates a hesitant attitude towards a specific choice. While alternatives like "hesitating regarding" and "uncertain concerning" exist, "wavering about" provides a concise and readily understood way to convey this state. According to Ludwig, the phrase is best used to showcase a back-and-forth thought process.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hesitating regarding

Replaces "wavering" with "hesitating" and "about" with "regarding", emphasizing a pause before acting.

indecisive concerning

Uses "indecisive" to describe the state of being and "concerning" instead of "about", focusing on the lack of decision.

uncertain regarding

Emphasizes the lack of certainty using "uncertain" and replaces "about" with "regarding".

undecided on the subject of

Replaces "wavering" with a phrase indicating a lack of decision and uses a more formal structure.

doubtful with respect to

Shifts the focus to doubt using "doubtful" and employs a more formal prepositional phrase.

ambivalent towards

Indicates mixed feelings using "ambivalent" and changes the preposition to "towards".

having reservations about

Highlights the presence of doubts or concerns using "having reservations".

on the fence regarding

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey indecision and replaces "about" with "regarding".

in two minds concerning

Employs a British idiom to express being unable to decide and substitutes "about" with "concerning".

fluctuating in opinion about

Replaces "wavering" with a more descriptive phrase about changing opinions.

FAQs

How can I use "wavering about" in a sentence?

You can use "wavering about" to describe someone who is uncertain and indecisive. For example, "The committee was "wavering about" whether to approve the funding."

What are some alternatives to "wavering about"?

Alternatives include "hesitating regarding", "uncertain regarding", or "indecisive concerning", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "wavering on" instead of "wavering about"?

While "wavering" can be used with other prepositions in different contexts, "wavering about" specifically indicates indecision or doubt regarding a particular topic. "Wavering on" might suggest a physical instability or a different kind of uncertainty.

What does "wavering about" imply?

"Wavering about" implies a state of uncertainty and an inability to make a firm decision. It suggests a back-and-forth consideration of different options or possibilities.