No atinente à dados

You use this phrase at the start of a sentence or a new paragraph in a formal document. It acts as a heavy-duty transition. In Portuguese, the word atinente requires the preposition a. Because dados is masculine and plural, you usually use a (the preposition alone) or aos (preposition + article). If you are writing a report on user statistics for a new app like TikTok or Instagram, you might start a section with No atinente a dados de engajamento.... It signals to your reader: 'Stop scrolling, the serious numbers are coming.' It is like the dramatic drumroll before a big reveal, but for people who love graphs.

This phrase lives at the very top of the formality ladder. It is 'Very Formal'—bordering on 'Legalese' (the language of lawyers). You will see it in court rulings, academic theses, and high-level corporate audits. You would never, ever use this while grabbing a beer with friends or texting a sibling about who owes who money for pizza. If you used it in a casual WhatsApp group, your friends might think you have been hacked by a robot or a very boring ghost. It is perfect for LinkedIn articles or when you are trying to impress a CFO during a high-stakes Zoom presentation.

Imagine you are a developer presenting a security audit. You might say: No atinente a dados sensíveis, implementamos nova criptografia. This sounds much more authoritative than just saying 'About the data...'. Or perhaps you are writing a formal complaint to a delivery app. You could write: No atinente a dados de cobrança, houve um erro no processamento. It shows you mean business and you know how to handle professional Portuguese. It is the language of people who actually read the 'Terms and Conditions' before clicking 'Agree.' We all know those people exist, right? They probably love this phrase.

Reach for this phrase when the stakes are high and the tone must be impeccable. It is ideal for the 'Executive Summary' of a business proposal. It works beautifully in the introduction of a university research paper. Use it when you are discussing privacy laws, like the LGPD (Brazil’s version of GDPR). It is also great for formal emails to government agencies or large corporations where you want to sound educated and precise. If you are trying to win a complex argument on a professional forum, this phrase is your secret weapon. It makes your point look like it was carved in stone.

Do not use this in everyday conversation. It is way too heavy for a casual chat at a café. Avoid it in marketing copy for Gen Z—it will make your brand sound like a dusty old library. Also, do not use it if you are not 100% sure about the grammar following it. Because it is so formal, a small mistake in the surrounding words will stand out like a sore thumb. If you are writing a quick DM to a colleague you talk to every day, stick to sobre or quanto a. Using no atinente a there is like showing up to a gym in a three-piece suit. It’s technically impressive but very weird.

This is the most frequent error! You cannot use the grave accent (crase) before a masculine word like dados. It is a common hypercorrection by people trying to sound fancy.

Remember, atinente always takes a, never de.

Don't let other prepositions sneak in! Keep it strictly a. It is a loyal word; it only wants its specific partner. Another mistake is using it for people—No atinente ao João sounds like João is a piece of evidence in a trial. Stick to abstract concepts or data.

If you find no atinente a a bit too stiff, you have options. No que tange a is a very popular cousin; it means 'In what touches upon.' It is still formal but feels a bit more modern. No que diz respeito a is another solid choice that translates to 'In what concerns.' If you want to dial it down just a notch, try Relativamente a. It is like taking off the tuxedo jacket but keeping the tie. For something totally neutral, just use Quanto a or Em relação a. They get the job done without the extra drama.

Is this phrase common? In writing, yes. In speaking, rarely. It is a 'reading' phrase. Does it only work with 'data'? No, you can use it with informações, políticas, or procedimentos. Is it outdated? Some might say so, but it is still very much alive in professional circles. Can I use it in a cover letter? Yes, if the company is very traditional. If it’s a startup, maybe skip it. What is the most important rule? Don't use the accent (crase) before dados! That is the fastest way to look like you are trying too hard and failing.