No que tange à conceitos

You will mostly encounter this phrase in written Portuguese or very formal speeches. To use it correctly, place it at the start of a sentence or as a transition between two ideas. For example, if you are writing a report about marketing, you might say, No que tange a conceitos de branding, precisamos de mais clareza. You are signaling to your reader: "Okay, stop thinking about the budget for a second; we are moving on to the abstract ideas of branding now." In spoken Portuguese, use it sparingly. If you use it while ordering a pizza, the delivery person might think you are a lost lawyer. It requires a complement, which is usually the topic you want to address. It is like a pointing finger that directs everyone's attention to a specific file on the desk of your conversation.

This phrase lives at the very top of the formality scale. It is high-level B2 or C1 territory. You will see it in the *Diário Oficial*, in legal contracts, or in a master's thesis. It is the opposite of "street talk." On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is texting your best friend "hey" and 10 is a Supreme Court ruling, this phrase is a solid 9. It is not something you would typically find in a WhatsApp group unless someone is being intentionally sarcastic or "extra." Using it shows you have a high command of the language, but using it in the wrong place makes you sound like a robot trying to pass for a human professor. It is all about the context—keep it for the office, the classroom, or the formal email.

Imagine you are watching a news segment about the economy. The reporter says, No que tange a conceitos de inflação, o Banco Central está atento. They are using the phrase to sound objective and serious. Or picture a LinkedIn post from a tech CEO discussing the "metaverse." They might write, No que tange a conceitos de realidade virtual, ainda há muito a explorar. It is also very common in academic feedback. A professor might write in the margin of your paper: Melhorar a argumentação no que tange a conceitos de sociologia. Even in professional emails, it is a great way to avoid repeating the word sobre five times in one paragraph. It adds variety and a "grown-up" feel to your writing.

Use this when you need to be taken seriously. It is perfect for the "Executive Summary" of a project or when you are defending a thesis. If you are in a job interview and the interviewer asks about your philosophy on leadership, starting with No que tange a conceitos de liderança... will definitely earn you some "intellectual points." It is also useful when you need to be very specific. Because it implies a certain boundary, it helps you isolate one part of a complex problem. Use it when you are transitioning from a broad discussion to a specific theoretical framework. It tells people: "I am being precise now, so pay attention."

Do not use this at a barbecue. Seriously, no que tange a and grilled meat do not mix. If you say, No que tange a conceitos de salga, esta carne está ótima, your friends will probably laugh at you. It is too "heavy" for casual social interactions. Also, avoid it if you are not 100% sure about the grammar following it. Because it is a formal phrase, any grammatical slip-up immediately after it will stand out like a sore thumb. If you are aiming for a friendly, warm, or intimate tone, steer clear. It creates a barrier of formality that can make you seem cold or unapproachable if used in a personal setting.

The most frequent mistake is the "crase" (the back-tick accent on the 'a'). Remember: you only use à if the next word is feminine and singular. Since conceitos is masculine and plural, you should never use à before it. Another mistake is using it as a direct object. It is a prepositional phrase, not a verb. You cannot "no que tange" something; you talk *about* something *no que tange a* it. Also, avoid "redundancy" by saying things like No que tange ao que diz respeito a. Pick one! Use either no que tange a or no que diz respeito a. Combining them is like wearing two hats at once.

• ✗ No que tange à conceitos → ✓ No que tange a conceitos (No crase before masculine plural)
• ✗ No que tange os conceitos → ✓ No que tange aos conceitos (Requires the preposition 'a')

If no que tange a feels a bit too stiff, you have options. No que diz respeito a is very similar but slightly more common in business settings. Quanto a is the neutral middle ground—it is professional but not overly dramatic. If you want to be even more academic, you could use No tocante a. This sounds like something a 19th-century philosopher would say. For something simpler, Em relação a (In relation to) works perfectly in almost any context. And of course, there is the humble Sobre (About), which is the "blue jeans" of the Portuguese language—it goes with everything and never goes out of style. Switch between these to keep your writing from sounding repetitive.

Is no que tange a common? In writing, yes. In daily speech, not at all. Does it mean the same as 'about'? Yes, but it is much more formal. Can I use it in an essay? Yes, it is perfect for academic writing. Is it hard to use? Only if you forget that it requires the preposition a. Should I use it with my Brazilian friends? Only if you want to sound like you are joking about being a lawyer. Can I use it at the end of a sentence? No, it must introduce a topic. It is an "opener" phrase that sets the stage for the rest of your thought.