Cool MateAbout that vs Something like that
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
About that
Top 3,000 (common)
Something like that
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: About thatMost common: About that
| About that | Something like that | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //əˈbaʊt ðæt//🇺🇸 //əˈbaʊt ðæt// | 🇬🇧 //ˈsʌmθɪŋ laɪk ðæt//🇺🇸 //ˈsʌmθɪŋ laɪk ðæt// |
| Meaning | Regarding something that was mentioned | A phrase used to refer to similar things or ideas. |
| Example | About that project we discussed last week, do you have any updates? | I enjoy outdoor sports, like hiking and biking, or something like that. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| Collocations | talk about that, worry about that, think about that | say something like that, do something like that, feel something like that |
| Common mistakes | Using 'about this' when referring to a past topic., Confusing with 'after that' in terms of topic reference., Omitting 'that' and saying just 'about' which makes it unclear. | Using in formal contexts where precise language is required., Not using it when someone asks for clarification, leading to confusion., Confusing it with 'like this' which refers to something specific. |
| Usage notes | Use 'about that' in conversational contexts when referencing a previous topic. It may sound casual and is best avoided in formal writing. | Commonly used in conversation to express similarity or approximation. Best avoided in formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: About that vs Something like that
What's the difference between About that and Something like that?
About that: Regarding something that was mentioned Something like that: A phrase used to refer to similar things or ideas.
Which is more formal: About that and Something like that?
About that is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: About that and Something like that?
About that is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
About that: About that project we discussed last week, do you have any updates? Something like that: I enjoy outdoor sports, like hiking and biking, or something like that.
Can I use About that and Something like that interchangeably?
Not always. About that and Something like that are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.