"to hear about" vs "to hear of"

Question

"to hear about" vs "to hear of"

Both 'to hear of' and 'to hear about' are correct phrases in English, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'To hear of' is used when you become aware of something or someone's existence, while 'to hear about' is used when you learn details or information about something. They are not interchangeable, as they convey different meanings.

Last Updated: March 24, 2024

This phrase is used when you learn details or information about something, such as an event, news, or a person's experiences.

Examples:

I heard about the new project at work.
Did you hear about the latest scandal?
She heard about the accident from a friend.
He wants to hear about your trip to Europe.
They heard about the party through social media.

Alternatives:

to learn about
to find out about
to get information on
to be informed about
to discover details about

This phrase is used when you become aware of something or someone's existence, without necessarily knowing the details or information about it.

Examples:

I heard of a new restaurant that just opened in town.
Have you ever heard of the singer Adele?
She heard of the accident on the news.
He had never heard of such a strange custom before.
They heard of the company's bankruptcy through the grapevine.

Alternatives:

to learn of
to be informed of
to become aware of
to discover
to find out about

Answer 1

to hear about

The phrase 'to hear about' is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

to hear of

The phrase 'to hear of' is correct and commonly used in English.

"to hear about" vs "to hear of"

to hear about

to hear of

Related Comparisons