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the story is about vs the story was about

Both phrases are correct and just differ in their tenses. "The story is about" is used to talk about a story in the present tense, while "the story was about" is used to refer to a story in the past tense.
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Explained by Camille
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: September 01, 2024 • 22452 views

the story is about

This phrase is correct and commonly used when talking about a story in the present tense.

Use 'the story is about' when you are discussing a story or narrative that is currently relevant or ongoing.

Examples:

  • The story is about a young girl who discovers a magical world.
  • The book is about friendship and adventure.
  • The movie is about a group of friends on a road trip.
  • May 2, 2016 ... About the quote "Death is only the end if you assume the story is about you". Was this just a tweet or was it in an episode? I remember it ...
  • Dec 5, 2006 ... how would you say 'the story is about...' ? C'est le conte du...
  • Dec 23, 2017 ... [BtS E3] "The story is about how relationships only work..." Screenshot.
  • May 13, 2024 ... 251 likes, 8 comments - sebacestaro on May 13, 2024: "New one for @nytimes. The story is about millennial mothers in crisis.".
  • Jan 23, 2016 ... The Office (US) - The story is about Dwight, not Michael or Jim & Pam. He is in every episode. He's the only character who's homelife is ...
  • The story is about a little wave, bobbing along in the ocean, having a grand old time. He's enjoying the wind and the fresh air-until he notices the other ...
  • Mar 14, 2024 ... 439 likes, 12 comments - staufferstudio on March 14, 2024: "Out today, this week's @politicoeurope cover. The story is about Navalny's ...
  • Jun 10, 2024 ... The story is about my building, management and condo board doing nothing, misdirection, misleading around an air quality issue.

Alternatives:

  • the story revolves around
  • the story centers on
  • the story focuses on
  • the story concerns

the story was about

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to a story in the past tense.

Use 'the story was about' when discussing a story or narrative that has already concluded or is no longer relevant in the present.

Examples:

  • The story was about a detective solving a murder mystery.
  • The play was about a family struggling with loss.
  • The film was about a historical event.
  • May 23, 2021 ... Can someone explain to me what the story was about? Discussion. I didn't really get it. Could someone please tell me what it was really about ...
  • 4 days ago ... The story was about a girl named Sophie. As a teenager, my mom met Sophie at a remote sleep-away camp in rural Quebec. Sophie and my mom ...
  • May 18, 2018 ... Has anyone ever told you a story like "this thing happened to this guy" and you realised the story was about you, what's the story? Archived ...
  • Mar 6, 2023 ... The story wasn't anything like the painstakingly researched biographies that I was used to writing. The story was about me. It was about my son.
  • I don't remember what the story was about, and if there is a surviving copy anywhere, then I promise that if it comes to light I will post it on my blog. My ...
  • Aug 23, 2019 ... the story was about men and women growing further apart. Look at the plot: a remarkable, albeit outspoken woman (Garp's mother, Jenny Fields) ...
  • Apr 20, 2023 ... That experience, not surprisingly, totally transformed my understanding of what the story was about. HT: The narrator of “What Next” travels ...
  • ... the story was about or what I wanted to say in it. The last decade of my writing life has been almost exclusively focused on my current novel, and “Copper ...
  • Jul 22, 1998 ... The story was about my niece, Lucy, who was about to embark on a trip to Minneapolis for the USA Swimming Disabilities Championships.
  • The story was about making tamales with my family— but it was also about love and tradition and growing up. I think that's when I started to understand how ...

Alternatives:

  • the story dealt with
  • the story focused on
  • the story revolved around
  • the story centered on

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