about and on Compare: a book for children about Africa and its peoples / a textbook on African history a conversation about money / a lecture on economics We use about to talk about ordinary, more general kinds of communication. On suggests that a book, lecture, talk etc is serious or academic, suitable for specialists.  about to About+ infinitive means 'going to very soon'; 'just going to'. Don't go out now - we're about to have lunch. I was about to go to bed when the telephone rang. In informal American English, not about to can mean 'unwilling to'. I'm not about to pay 100 dollars for that dress.  accept and agree Before an infinitive, we usually use agree, not accept. I agreed to meet them here. (More normal than / accepted...)  according to According to X means 'If what X says is true'. Note that after is not used in this sense. According to Harry, it's a good film, (not After Harry-) We do not usually give our own opinions with according to. Compare: -    According to Joan, the people across the road are moving. (= If what Joan says is true,...) According to the timetable, the train gets in at 8.27. -    In my opinion, she's sick, (not According to me,...)  across, over and through 1    on/to the other side of (line): across and over Across and over can both be used to mean 'on or to the other side of a line, river, road, bridge etc'. His village is just across/over the border. See if you can jump across/over the stream. 2    high things: over preferred We prefer over to say 'on/to the other side of something high'. Why are you climbing over the wall? (not ... across the wall?) 3    on flat areas; in water: across preferred We usually prefer across to say 'on/to the other side of a flat area or surface', or to talk about movement in water. He walked right across the desert, (not ... over the desert.) Let's swim across the river, (not ... over the river.) But over is sometimes used in British English if there is no idea of arriving at the other side. We often walk over the fields in the evening. 4    the adverb over Note that the adverb over has a wider meaning than the preposition over. You cannot say Lot's swim over the river to the church, but you can say Let's swim over to the church. 5    across and through The difference between across and through is like the difference between on and in. Through, unlike across, is used for a movement in a three-dimensional space, with things on all sides. Compare: We walked across the ice. (We were on the ice.) I walked through the wood. (I was in the wood.) We dro ve across the desert. We drove through several towns. actual(ly) 1    meaning and use Actual means 'real'; actually means 'really' or 'in fact'. They can be used to correct mistakes or misunderstandings. The book says she died aged 47, but her actual age was 43. 'Hello, John. Nice to see you.' 'Actually, my name's Andy.' They are also used to make things clearer or more precise, or to introduce unexpected information. I've got a new job. Actually, they've made me sales manager. She was so angry that she actually tore up the letter. British people often use actually to break bad news gently. 'How did you get on with my car?' "Well, actually, I'm terribly sorry, I'm afraid I had a crash.' Actually can suggest either that the hearer's expectations were wrong (see above examples), or that they were correct (especially in British English). 'Did you enjoy your holiday?' 'Very much, actually.' 2   'false friends' Actual and actually are 'false friends' for people who speak some languages of European origin. They do not mean the same as actuel(lement), aktuell, attual(ment)e etc. We express these ideas with present, current, up to date; at this moment, now, at present. What's our current financial position? (not ... our actual financial position?) In 1900 the population of London was higher than it is now. (not ... than it actually is.) after (adverb) 1    after in adverb phrases After is often used in adverb phrases like shortly after, long after, a week after, a few days after etc. We had oysters for supper. Shortly after, I began to feel ill. They started the job on 17 June and finished a week after. 2    after not used alone After is not normally used alone as an adverb. Instead, we use other expressions like afterwards, then or after that. I'm going to do my exams, and afterwards I'm going to study medicine. (not ... and after, I'm going...)  after (conjunction) clause + after + clause after + clause, + clause 1    use and position The conjunction after joins one clause to another. After and its clause can come either after or before the other clause. -    I went to America after I left school. After I left school, I went to America. (In both cases the speaker left school first and then went to America. Note the comma in the second structure.) -    He did military service after he went to university. (He went to university first.) After he did military service, he went to university. (He did military service first.) 2    present with future meaning In a clause with after, we use a present tense if the meaning of the clause is future (see 556). I'll telephone you after I arrive, (not ... after I will arrive.) 3    perfect tenses In clauses with after, we often use present and past perfect tenses to show that one thing is completed before another starts. /'// telephone you after I've seen Jake. After I had finished school, I wen t to America. 4    after...ing In a formal style, we often use the structure after + -ing. After having + past participle is also possible, especially when talking about the past. After completing this form, give it to the secretary. (More natural than After having completed...) He wrote his first book after returning I having returned from Mongolia. after all 1    two meanings After all can mean 'in spite of what was said before' or 'contrary to what was expected'. Position: usually at the end of a clause. I'm sorry. I can't come after all. I expected to fail the exam, but I passed after all. Another meaning is 'we mustn't forget that...', introducing an important argument or reason which may have been forgotten. Position: at the beginning or end of a clause. I think we should let Sylvia go camping with her boyfriend. After all, she's a big girl now. Of course you're tired. After all, you were up all night. Let's finish the cake. Somebody's got to eat it, after all. 2    not used for 'finally' After all does not mean'finally', 'at last', 'in the end'. After the theatre we had supper and went to a night club; then we finally went home, (not ...