What Does "concerning the" Mean?
- Grammatical function: "Concerning the" functions as a complex preposition. Its primary logical role is to introduce a specific topic or subject matter, acting as a synonym for "about" or "regarding."
- Typical sentence position: It is most commonly found in the medial position (after a noun or verb), but it can also appear in the initial position to set the frame of a sentence.
- Register: Formal to neutral. It is frequently used in legal, academic, journalistic, and professional business contexts to provide a more precise and authoritative tone than the informal "about."
How to Use It
- Syntactic patterns: It is typically followed by a noun phrase (the object of the preposition). It often follows nouns like questions, disputes, frustration, or data to specify the nature of those concepts.
- Punctuation rules: When used in the middle of a sentence to modify a noun, it usually requires no commas. If used as an introductory phrase to start a sentence, it is often followed by a comma to separate the topic from the main clause.
- Grammatical flexibility: It is highly flexible; it can modify nouns (e.g., "the debate concerning the...") or follow verbs of communication (e.g., "they spoke concerning the..."). It cannot be easily negated directly (one would say "not concerning" rather than "concerning not").
- What sounds unnatural: Using it in very casual conversation (e.g., "I'm thinking concerning the pizza") sounds overly stiff. Additionally, it should not be used as a verb in the progressive tense when it means "about."
Real-World Examples
These examples are sourced from concerning the on Ludwig.guru.
"Students also expressed frustration concerning the curriculum." — nytimes.com
"Disputes have broken out concerning the origins of the document." — theguardian.com
"There's quite detailed statutory provision concerning the protest period." — nytimes.com
"The debate concerning the monuments became increasingly heated." — newyorker.com
"Was there any controversy concerning the use of these subjects?" — nytimes.com
Similar Phrases and Alternatives
| Phrase |
Context |
| regarding the |
Very common in business correspondence; interchangeable with "concerning the." |
| with respect to the |
Highly formal and analytical; often used in legal or technical documents. |
| about the |
The neutral, standard alternative suitable for all levels of speech and writing. |
| pertaining to the |
Formal; suggests a direct logical or legal connection to the subject. |
| in relation to the |
Used when comparing two things or showing how one thing affects another. |
| as to the |
Often used at the beginning of a sentence to introduce a specific point of doubt or inquiry. |
Common Mistakes
- Confusion with "concerned": Do not confuse the preposition "concerning" with the adjective "concerned" (meaning worried). "I am concerning the results" is incorrect; it should be "I am concerned about the results."
- Overuse in casual contexts: Using this phrase in everyday text messages or informal emails can make the writer seem unnecessarily pompous.
- Prepositional Redundancy: Learners often mistakenly follow it with the preposition 'to' (e.g., 'concerning to the') due to confusion with the phrase 'according to'. "Concerning" acts as a complete preposition on its own and should never be followed by "to."
Quick-Reference Summary
| Expression |
Function |
Register |
Typical Position |
| concerning the |
Introduces a topic or subject |
Formal / Professional |
Medial or Initial |
FAQs
Can concerning the be used at the beginning of a sentence
Yes, concerning the can appear in the sentence-initial position to establish the topic of the following statement. When used this way, it often functions as a sentence adverbial and is typically followed by a comma to improve readability.
How does concerning the differ from regarding the
While both are formal prepositions used to introduce a topic, concerning the is often perceived as slightly more academic or literary. Regarding the is more ubiquitous in modern business communication, though they are grammatically interchangeable in almost all contexts.
Is it correct to say concerning to the
No, this is a frequent error where learners mistakenly follow it with the preposition to due to confusion with the phrase according to. The word concerning already functions as a full preposition, so it must be followed directly by the noun phrase without any extra words.