No que tange à argumentação

You’ll mostly see this in writing or formal speeches. It acts as a sentence starter or a transition. You follow it with the specific subject you want to address. Because tanger requires the preposition a, and argumentação is a feminine noun, you almost always need the à (with the back-ticked accent called 'crase'). If you forget the accent, a Portuguese teacher somewhere in the world will lose their wings. In a professional email, you might say: No que tange à argumentação apresentada no relatório... (Regarding the argument presented in the report...). It allows you to isolate a specific variable in a complex debate without losing the formal flow of your prose. It’s like using a laser pointer instead of a flashlight.

This is 'Level 10' formality. We are talking Supreme Court levels of seriousness. You will find it in legal briefs, academic papers, and high-level corporate manifestos. You will almost never hear this in a casual WhatsApp group unless someone is being incredibly sarcastic. If you use this while ordering a burger via iFood, the delivery driver might think you're a time-traveling poet from the 19th century. In the world of 'Juridiquês' (legal jargon), this phrase is a staple. It’s designed to be precise and leave no room for ambiguity. It’s the linguistic version of a firm, dry handshake. Use it when the stakes are high and the audience expects intellectual rigor.

Think of a LinkedIn post where a CEO is explaining a pivot in company strategy. They might write, No que tange à argumentação de mercado, decidimos mudar nossa abordagem (Regarding the market logic, we decided to change our approach). Or imagine a student defending their thesis. When a professor asks about their methodology, the student replies, No que tange à argumentação teórica, baseei-me em Foucault (Regarding the theoretical argumentation, I based myself on Foucault). It also pops up in political debates on TV. When a candidate wants to dodge a personal question and return to policy logic, they might use this as a shield. It’s a very effective way to steer a conversation back to 'the facts' or 'the logic' while sounding incredibly composed.

Use it when you are writing a formal letter of complaint to a company and you want them to take you seriously. Use it in a job interview if you are applying for a position as a lawyer, a professor, or a high-level executive—it shows you can handle the 'erudite' register of Portuguese. Use it in academic essays to transition between paragraphs. It’s also great for debate clubs or when you’re writing a comment on a serious news article on a site like G1 or Público. It tells the reader, 'I am an educated person, and I am about to make a very specific point.' It’s the ultimate 'professional pivot' phrase.

Avoid this phrase at all costs in casual settings. Do not say this to your partner, your mom, or the guy at the bakery. 'No que tange à argumentação de por que não lavaste a louça...' (Regarding the argumentation of why you didn't wash the dishes...) is a fast track to an argument you won't win. Also, avoid it if the rest of your Portuguese is very basic. It’s a 'B2/C1' level phrase. If you drop this into a sentence full of basic grammar mistakes, it sounds like you’re trying too hard or using a bad translator. It’s like wearing a diamond necklace with pajamas—it just doesn't match the rest of the outfit.

The biggest pitfall is the 'crase' (the accent on the à). People often write No que tange a argumentação without the accent, which is grammatically incorrect because you need to merge the preposition a with the article a. Another mistake is using it with the wrong preposition, like No que tange o—always remember it’s tange A. Also, don't confuse it with No que toca a, which is slightly less formal but similar. Some learners also try to pluralize it unnecessarily. Keep it simple: No que tange a [something]. Finally, don't over-use it. If you use it three times in one paragraph, you'll sound like a robot that's been programmed by a 19th-century lawyer. Variety is the spice of life, even in formal Portuguese!

If you want the same meaning but a slightly different flavor, try No que diz respeito à argumentação. This is also formal but feels a bit more modern. Quanto à argumentação is a great 'lite' version—it’s neutral-to-formal and much easier to say. If you’re in Portugal, you might hear Relativamente à argumentação. If you want to be super-concise (maybe in a quick email), just use Sobre a argumentação. In more technical settings, you might see No tocante à argumentação. Think of these as different levels of 'fancy.' No que tange is the top-tier luxury brand, while Quanto a is the reliable, high-quality high-street brand.

Is this used in Brazil and Portugal? Yes, it is common in the formal registers of both countries. Does it always need the accent? Only if the following word is feminine and takes an article, like a argumentação. Is it 'old-fashioned'? A little bit, yes, but it’s still very much alive in professional and legal circles. Can I use it in a text message? Only if you're being funny or if you're texting your lawyer about a case. What's the best synonym for beginners? Sobre is your best friend until you're ready for the big leagues.