WHICH WORD?to hear of / to hear about


PROBLEM:
Using one or the other incorrectly can be confusing to the listener.
MEANING:

  • to hear of = thing, person, something that exists (passive)

  • to hear about = event, situation, incident, happening, information (active)
to hear of 
​(used mostly in questions)
 
  1. Have you ever heard of Logan, Utah?

    No, I haven't.

  2. Have you ever heard of a guy named Pepe who has a tech company in Miami Beach?           (visit Miami Beach)

  3. I have never heard of the word "redneck".

to hear about 

  1. Did you hear about the new job at Microsoft?

  2. Have you heard about the problem they are having in the econ department?

    Econ Department?   We have an Econ Department?   I've never heard of it!

  3. I don't want to hear about your problems.  I have enough of my own!
  • NOTE:  

  • In American English, we do not use "Do you know Stanford University?"  

  • Americans will say "Have you heard of Stanford University? or Have you ever been to Stanford University?"

  • Do you know is for people; not places or things.
    ​
  • EXCEPTION:   Do you know New York well?    
    Must be used in a question and refers to your knowledge about the city.