what was about

USAGE SUMMARY

"what was about" is not a correct phrase.
It is unclear what the intended meaning is in this sentence. It is possible that the speaker meant to say "what was it about." However, without more context it is difficult to provide a proper example. Here are two possible examples using "what was it about": 1. Can you remind me what the meeting was about? 2. I can't quite remember, can you tell me what the movie was about?.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Everyone knew what was about to happen.

The New York Times - Sports

What was about to happen?

The New York Times - Magazine

Schmeichel knew what was about to happen.

The Guardian - Sport

Young knew what was about to happen.

The New York Times

Jack didn't know what was about to hit him.

The New York Times

'We were perfectly aware of what was about to happen.

The Guardian

Which was precisely what was about to happen to Jacobs.

The Guardian

But Weathers had no idea what was about to unfold.

The New York Times - Sports

Moses was evidently unprepared for what was about to happen.

The New York Times

As they prepared, they discussed what was about to happen.

The Guardian - Sport

Nolan had no idea what was about to happen.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure the phrase includes the necessary pronoun or article (e.g., "what it was about" or "what that was about") to maintain grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid omitting pronouns or articles when using the phrase to maintain grammatical accuracy. The missing pronoun leads to awkward phrasing and potential misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what was about" functions as an incomplete interrogative clause. It lacks a necessary pronoun or article to be grammatically correct. While it appears frequently, as shown in Ludwig, the absence of correct grammar impacts its usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "what was about" appears frequently in various texts, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI points out the need for a pronoun or article to form a complete and correct interrogative clause. The intended purpose is typically to inquire about the subject or reason behind something. For grammatically sound alternatives, consider using "what was it about" or "what was that about". Despite its common occurrence, adhering to proper grammar enhances clarity and professionalism in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what it was about

Adds the necessary pronoun 'it' for grammatical correctness.

what that was about

Specifies 'that' instead of 'it' for emphasis or clarity.

what it concerned

Replaces 'about' with 'concerned' to indicate the subject matter.

what the matter was

Focuses on the issue or problem at hand.

what was happening

Shifts the focus to an event or occurrence.

what it pertained to

Uses a more formal tone to describe the subject.

what the subject was

Emphasizes the topic of discussion.

what the situation involved

Describes the components of a specific situation.

what it was all regarding

Slightly rephrases to clarify the subject of something.

what it all meant

Asks for the underlying significance.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "what was about" in a sentence?

The phrase "what was about" is typically grammatically incorrect. Correct alternatives include "what was it about" or "what was that about".

What can I say instead of "what was about"?

Instead of "what was about", you can use alternatives such as "what was it concerning", "what was happening", or "what it pertained to" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "what was about" or "what was it about"?

"What was it about" is the correct and grammatically sound phrase. "What was about" is missing a necessary pronoun.

What's the difference between "what was about" and "what that was about"?

While "what was about" is incorrect, "what that was about" is grammatically correct. The word "that" emphasizes or specifies a particular subject or situation, providing clarity.