No que concerne à argumentos

You use No que concerne à argumentos to introduce or transition to a discussion about the specific points, claims, or reasons supporting or opposing something. It’s perfect when you want to steer the conversation towards the substance of a debate. Imagine you're in a meeting and someone's been talking about general strategy. You might jump in with, No que concerne à argumentos, acho que a nossa proposta tem falhas. (Regarding the arguments, I think our proposal has flaws.) It signals a shift from generalities to specifics. It’s also great for summarizing or contrasting different viewpoints. You're essentially saying, 'Now, let's talk about the actual substance of the debate.'

This phrase definitely leans towards the formal side. You wouldn't typically use it in a quick text to your best friend about weekend plans, unless you were being intentionally ironic or dramatic. It fits perfectly in academic settings, formal debates, business presentations, or even in a serious discussion where you want to sound articulate and well-prepared. Think of it as your secret weapon for sounding more sophisticated in Portuguese. It’s like upgrading from casual jeans to a smart blazer for a conversation.

• Academic Debate: A professor might say, No que concerne à argumentos apresentados pela defesa, há várias inconsistências. (Regarding the arguments presented by the defense, there are several inconsistencies.)
• Business Meeting: A manager could state, No que concerne à argumentos para a nova campanha, precisamos focar no público-alvo. (Regarding the arguments for the new campaign, we need to focus on the target audience.)
• Legal Discussion: A lawyer might argue, No que concerne à argumentos do promotor, eles não se sustentam com as provas. (Regarding the prosecutor's arguments, they don't hold up with the evidence.)
• Online Forum: Someone discussing a movie might post, No que concerne à argumentos do roteiro, achei um pouco previsível. (Regarding the arguments of the script, I found it a bit predictable.)

Use No que concerne à argumentos when you want to:

• Introduce the specific points of a debate.
• Transition to discussing reasons or justifications.
• Summarize the core arguments of a topic.
• Contrast different viewpoints logically.
• Sound more formal and structured in your speech.
• Signal that you're about to analyze or critique claims.

It’s like hitting the 'details' button on your conversation remote. You’re signaling that the light, fluffy stuff is over, and we’re getting into the meat of the matter. It’s perfect for situations where clarity and precision are key, like dissecting a complex issue or presenting a persuasive case. It's also a fantastic way to impress someone with your command of the language, especially if they're used to more casual phrasing.

Avoid No que concerne à argumentos in:

• Casual chats: Texting friends about lunch plans or gossiping about a celebrity. E aí, no que concerne à argumentos, qual o melhor sabor de pizza? – Yeah, that sounds weird.
• Informal settings: Talking with family about a movie, unless you're aiming for a laugh.
• Quick, spontaneous remarks: It requires a bit of setup and sounds too deliberate for rapid-fire chat.
• When you don't actually have arguments to present: Don't use it as filler if you're just going to say 'ummm' next. That’s like putting on a tuxedo to watch TV.
• When you want to sound super laid-back: This phrase is the opposite of 'chill.' It’s more ‘serious business time.’

A common slip-up is using it too casually or in the wrong context, making you sound overly stiff or even pretentious. Another mistake is misplacing it in a sentence. It usually comes at the beginning to set up the topic. Also, sometimes people mix up à (with the grave accent) and a (without), which changes the meaning! It’s like trying to drive a car with square wheels – it just doesn't work smoothly.

• ✗ Ele falou, no que concerne à argumentos, sobre o tempo. → ✓ Ele falou sobre o tempo, e quanto aos argumentos, apresentou alguns pontos. (Or, if the arguments were the main topic: No que concerne aos argumentos, ele falou sobre o tempo. - Note the change to aos if argumentos is plural and preceded by os)
• ✗ No que concerne a, vamos comer pizza. → ✓ No que concerne à pizza, vamos comer. or simply Vamos comer pizza. (The à needs a noun it relates to, and a without the accent is usually a preposition meaning 'to' or 'at'.)

While No que concerne à argumentos is quite specific, you might hear variations or related phrases:

• Quanto aos argumentos: This is a very common and slightly less formal alternative. It means 'Regarding the arguments' or 'As for the arguments.' It’s a great substitute if No que concerne à argumentos feels too heavy.
• Em relação aos argumentos: Similar to Quanto aos argumentos, meaning 'In relation to the arguments.' Also a solid, slightly less formal option.
• Falando em argumentos: More informal, like 'Speaking of arguments.' Use this when the topic of arguments comes up naturally.
• No que diz respeito aos argumentos: Another formal synonym, meaning 'As far as the arguments are concerned.' It’s practically interchangeable with our main phrase.
• Plural vs. Singular: Sometimes you might see No que concerne ao argumento (singular) if you're discussing just one specific point.

• Is this phrase common? It's not something you hear every single day in casual chat, but it's definitely used in more formal or analytical contexts. Think presentations, essays, or serious discussions. It’s more common than, say, reciting Shakespeare in a coffee shop.
• Can I use it with friends? Only if you're joking or trying to sound overly dramatic for comedic effect! Otherwise, it might make your friends think you swallowed a dictionary.
• What if I forget the à? Using a instead of à can change the meaning or make the sentence grammatically incorrect. The accent is important for indicating the contraction of a + a (preposition + article) and often signifies a specific grammatical structure related to 'concerning' or 'regarding'. It's a small detail that makes a big difference in sounding natural and correct.
• Is it similar to 'in conclusion'? Not really. No que concerne à argumentos introduces the *points* of a discussion, while 'in conclusion' wraps things up. They serve very different purposes in a conversation or text.