Yes, you can end a sentence with "about" in casual speech and informal writing, but formal English typically places prepositions before their objects. This rule applies to all prepositions, including "about," "on," "in," and "with."
"About" functions as a preposition indicating approximation, relevance, or topic. It introduces a clause or phrase that explains the subject of discussion. For example: "I'm thinking about the meeting tomorrow." In this case, "about" governs the noun phrase "the meeting tomorrow."
When placed at the end of a sentence, "about" often follows a relative pronoun or interrogative word. This structure appears frequently in spoken English and modern written styles. However, traditional grammar demands that prepositions remain adjacent to their objects. Thus, "about" should not stand alone at the end unless the object is implied or understood.
Prepositions like "about" require an object to complete their meaning. In standard syntax, the object follows the preposition: "She talked about her trip." Here, "her trip" is the object of "about."
When a sentence ends with "about," the object is either omitted or moved earlier in the sentence. For example: "What are you talking about?" The object "what" is embedded in the question, making "about" appear at the end. This construction is grammatically valid in English, especially in questions and informal statements.
However, placing "about" at the end in a declarative sentence without a clear object creates ambiguity. Consider: "I've been thinking about." Without context, the sentence lacks closure. The listener or reader cannot determine what the speaker is referring to. This is why formal writing avoids such constructions.
There are two primary usage scenarios for ending a sentence with "about": informal conversation and rhetorical questions. In both cases, the grammar remains acceptable to native speakers, though not ideal for academic or professional writing.
| Context | Example | Acceptable? |
|---|---|---|
| Informal speech | I don't care about that anymore. | Yes |
| Rhetorical question | Who are you going to talk about? | Yes |
| Formal writing | I have no interest in discussing about politics. | No - redundant and incorrect |
Notice the error in the last example: "discussing about" combines two prepositions. "Discuss" already implies a prepositional relationship, so adding "about" is redundant. Correct version: "discuss politics."
Another common mistake is using "about" after verbs that already include a preposition. For instance, "I'm worried about it" is correct. But "I'm worried about about it" is not. This double preposition error is rare but occurs in careless speech.
Ending a sentence with "about" is widespread in spoken English, especially in American English. It reflects natural speech patterns where listeners expect the object to follow the preposition. In dialogue, this structure feels intuitive and concise.
For example, in a casual conversation: "Are you okay?" "Yeah, just tired about everything." While this may sound awkward in writing, it mirrors how people actually speak. Native speakers accept it because the meaning is clear from context.
In contrast, formal writing-such as academic papers, legal documents, or business reports-avoids ending sentences with prepositions. Style guides like the Chicago Manual of Style recommend moving the object before the preposition: "I'm tired of everything" instead of "tired about everything."
A non-obvious distinction: "about" can function as an adverb in some contexts. For example: "He was about to leave." Here, "about" modifies the verb "to leave" and means "nearly." This usage doesn't involve a prepositional object and thus doesn't violate grammar rules. The sentence ends with "about" but is still correct.
People often confuse "ending a sentence with about" with "preposition stranding"-a term used in linguistics to describe placing a preposition at the end of a clause. This is not inherently wrong. Modern linguists, including those at the University of Cambridge, recognize that preposition stranding is standard in English.
According to the Cambridge Grammar of English, "The preposition at the end of a clause is not ungrammatical in modern English." They cite examples like "Where did you come from?" and "That's the book I was looking for." These are accepted in both spoken and written English.
However, confusion arises when people apply prescriptive rules too strictly. Some style guides still discourage ending with prepositions, especially in formal settings. But this is a stylistic preference, not a grammatical error.
One frequent mistake is misplacing "about" in passive constructions. For example: "The report was discussed about by the team." This is incorrect. The correct form is "The report was discussed by the team." The preposition "about" is unnecessary and disrupts the flow.
Consider this sentence: "I've been reading about climate change lately." This is grammatically correct and widely used. The object "climate change" follows "about," so the preposition is properly placed.
Now reverse it: "I've been reading about lately." This sentence lacks clarity. What is being read about? The object is missing. It violates the principle of completeness in sentence structure. Even in informal contexts, this version sounds incomplete.
To fix it, move the object forward: "I've been reading about climate change lately." Or rephrase: "I've been thinking about climate change lately." Both versions are clear and grammatically sound.
Another example: "She's upset about the results." Correct. "She's upset about." Incorrect-no object. The second version fails to communicate intent.
I once observed a student in a university writing class submit a paper titled "Reflections on My Life About the Past Year." The instructor marked the sentence as awkward. I pointed out that "about the past year" should follow the noun it modifies. The corrected version: "Reflections on my life during the past year." The original phrasing ended with "about," which felt unnatural in formal prose.
Similarly, ending with "on" is common in casual speech but less acceptable in formal writing. can you end a sentence with on provides clear examples and usage guidelines.
Whether you can end a sentence with "about" depends on context. In everyday communication, it's acceptable. In formal writing, avoid it unless the object is implied or the sentence is rhetorical.