English UsageGrammar guide

Honest About: Standard Pattern

Honest About: Standard Pattern records a directly documented English construction and keeps guidance bounded to the evidenced pattern rather than turning one attested complement into a universal prohibition.

Quick answer

Use “honest about” before the subject, facts, feelings, or situation being spoken about truthfully.

Key details

Confusion Familyusage-construction
Rule Familyadjective or complement construction
Termshonest about

Further guidance

Construction

Use “honest about” before the subject, facts, feelings, or situation being spoken about truthfully.

Style Boundary

Cambridge separately attests “honest with” for the person or people receiving that honesty; the two patterns serve different complements.

Sources and evidence

Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.

  1. honest — Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Learner-dictionary examples directly attesting honest about and honest with constructions.

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