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Example:

"Did you notice anything unusual in the cows during the day?"

"Did you notice anything unusual about the cows during the day?"

What's the correct wording? And why?

Usernew
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wyc
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  • Both are correct, but have slightly different meanings. "In" pertains to something intrinsic, something "personal", whereas "about" relates to the vicinity, outward behavior. – Victor Bazarov Oct 05 '15 at 15:38
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    Having thought more about it, I'd probably say that, when speaking of cows, people are unlikely to say *in, and more likely to say about, since we can't really easily judge the mental or even physical state of another being, let alone of a different species. So, "about* the cows" is probably more correct. – Victor Bazarov Oct 05 '15 at 17:37

1 Answers1

4

Did you notice anything unusual about the cows during the day?

is correct. See about:

  1. in connection with; pertaining to" ⇒ the most interesting thing about her"

in the cows is more like something inside the cows. But you could say:

Did you notice anything unusual in the barn during the day?

You could also use with. See with:

5b. regarding; concerning" ⇒ with him, life is always a struggle"

user3169
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