Photo by Carles Rabada on Unsplash
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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)
(used mostly in questions)
- Have you ever heard of Logan, Utah?
No, I haven't. - Have you ever heard of a guy named Pepe who has a tech company in Miami Beach? (visit Miami Beach)
- I have never heard of the word "redneck".
to hear about
- Did you hear about the new job at Microsoft?
- 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! - 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?" You know people; not places.
- 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.
