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About and For in English: Don’t Mix These Two Prepositions

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About and for are two prepositions that learners often mix up. “A book about cooking” and “a book for cooking” mean very different things.

This guide is for A2 to B2 learners. It sets out the main uses of each preposition side by side, shows how they differ, and covers the mistakes learners make most. Three exercises let you practise straight away.

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A quick video summary

For and about: the main uses

The quickest way to keep them apart: for points to a reason, a purpose or a length of time; about points to a topic, an approximate amount, or movement around a place.

Preposition Main uses Examples
for Reason or cause; a period of time; the purpose or use of something. This gift is for you. / I waited for an hour. / a knife for cutting bread.
about Concerning or regarding a topic; spread around an area; an approximate measure; movement in a space. a book about history. / papers all about the room. / about 20 people. / walking about the city.
A useful test: if you can replace the word with “concerning” or “roughly”, use about. If you mean “in order to” or “intended for”, use for.

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Common mistakes with about and for

  1. Using for to introduce a topic. A discussion is about a subject, not for it: “We talked about the plan”, not “talked for the plan”.
  2. Using about for a purpose. Purpose takes for: “a tool for painting”, not “a tool about painting”.
  3. Using for for an approximate number. Approximation takes about: “about fifty people”, not “for fifty people”.
  4. Confusing duration and deadline. Use for for how long (“for two weeks”); use by or until for deadlines, not about.

Practice exercises

Try these three exercises. They open in a new tab so you can keep this guide handy.

Exercise 1. Complete each sentence with FOR or ABOUT.

Exercise 2. Decide whether each sentence is correct or incorrect.

Exercise 3. Complete the sentences with your own ideas, using FOR or ABOUT.

Quick self-check

Complete or fix each sentence, then reveal the answers.

1. This present is ___ you.
2. It is a documentary ___ the ocean.
3. There were ___ thirty guests.

Show answers

1. for.   2. about.   3. about.

How did that go? Choosing the right preposition in an exercise is a start; using it without thinking as you speak is the goal. In a free trial lesson, an experienced native teacher will help you get there.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between about and for?
About introduces a topic or an approximate amount (“a story about love”, “about ten euros”). For introduces a reason, a purpose or a length of time (“a gift for you”, “for two hours”).
Do you say talk about or talk for?
You talk about a subject: “We talked about the project.” “Talk for” is used only in the sense of speaking on behalf of someone: “I can’t talk for her.”
When do you use for with time?
Use for to say how long something lasts: “for an hour”, “for three days”. It answers the question “how long?”
Can about mean approximately?
Yes. About often means roughly or approximately: “about 100 people”, “about half an hour”.
Is it a room for reading or about reading?
“A room for reading” means a room intended for reading (purpose). “A book about reading” means a book on the topic of reading. The two are not interchangeable.

Key takeaways

  • Use for for a reason, a purpose or a length of time.
  • Use about for a topic, an approximate amount, or movement around a place.
  • If you can say “concerning” or “roughly”, use about.
  • If you mean “in order to” or “intended for”, use for.
  • You talk, read and write about a subject, never for it.

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Written and reviewed by the experienced native English teachers at Live English, online since 2007.