No tocante à categorização

Grammatically, this is a fixed expression followed by a specific noun. The most important part is that tiny à with the back-tick (called a *crase*). This happens because no tocante a requires the preposition a, and categorização is a feminine noun that starts with the article a. Put them together and—boom—you get à. You’ll usually see this at the start of a sentence or as a transition between two big ideas in a report. Imagine you are sorting your Spotify playlists and want to sound like a musicologist. Instead of saying "About the genres," you’d say, No tocante à categorização dos gêneros musicais.... It’s a mouthful, but it’s impressive. Just don't try to say it while eating a pastel; it's a bit of a tongue twister.

This phrase lives in the penthouse of formality. You’ll find it in academic theses, legal contracts, and high-level corporate presentations. It is rarely, if ever, used in casual speech. If you use this at a Friday night BBQ, your friends might ask if you’ve recently been hit on the head with a dictionary. It’s "very formal" to "formal." In written form, it’s standard for LinkedIn articles or emails to the board of directors. Using it shows you have a command of higher-level Portuguese syntax. It's like wearing a tuxedo to a digital meeting—you definitely look the part, even if you're wearing pajama bottoms off-camera.

You’ll often see this in the world of data and science. Think of a TikTok creator explaining the "aesthetic" categories of their room decor in a very serious, satirical way. Or a Zoom meeting where the manager is discussing how to tag new leads in the CRM. "No tocante à categorização de novos clientes, precisamos de mais tags." You might also see it in news articles discussing government classifications of products or services. If you're browsing a Portuguese government website (good luck!), you'll practically trip over phrases like this. It's the bread and butter of bureaucracy.

Use it when you need to be surgical with your language. It’s perfect for the "Methodology" section of a paper or when you are defending a complex choice in a professional setting. If you’re a developer talking about how you’ve organized your CSS classes, this phrase adds a layer of professionalism that sobre just can’t reach. It’s also great for when you want to gently remind someone that the *way* they are grouping things is actually the problem. It’s a polite way to be a nerd about organization. Using it in a job interview when asked about your organizational skills is a total pro move.

Avoid this when the atmosphere is relaxed. Do not use it with your Uber driver to discuss the traffic. Do not use it while texting your crush about which Netflix movie to watch. "No tocante à categorização de filmes de romance..." is a one-way ticket to being left on read. It’s too heavy for everyday life. Also, if you aren't actually talking about *groups* or *classes*, don't use it. Using it to mean a general "about" is a classic over-correction. It’s like using a chainsaw to cut a piece of cake—technically possible, but way too much for the task at hand.

The biggest pitfall is the *crase*. Many people write No tocante a categorização without the accent, which is a grammatical sin in formal writing. Another mistake is using it for things that aren't being categorized.

Another one:

Remember, it needs to be about the *act* of classifying. Don't be that person who uses big words just to use them; make sure the context fits the crime!

If No tocante à categorização feels a bit too much, you can try No que tange à categorização. It means almost the same thing but uses the verb tanger (to touch/relate to). Another option is Relativamente à categorização, which is slightly more common in European Portuguese. For something a bit shorter, go with Quanto à categorização. If you want to be even more "old school" lawyer-style, you might see No que diz respeito à categorização. All of these serve the same purpose: they act as a spotlight, pointing directly at the organizational structure of your topic.

Is it used in Brazil and Portugal? Yes, it's universal in formal contexts, though maybe a bit more common in the heavy bureaucratic style of Brazil. Can I use it for people? Only if you are talking about demographic groups or sociological studies. Is it okay for emails? Only if the email is formal or to a superior. What's the short version? There isn't really one, but Quanto à is the closest quick equivalent. Does tocante always need a? Yes, tocante is an adjective that always requires that preposition. If you forget it, the sentence falls apart like a poorly made brigadeiro.