No tocante à constatação

You’ll mostly find this phrase at the start of a sentence or a new paragraph in a report. Because it's so formal, it acts like a giant neon sign saying 'Important analysis ahead!' You typically follow it with a noun that describes what was found, like no tocante à constatação de erros (regarding the finding of errors). It requires the feminine à because constatação is a feminine noun and tocante requires the preposition a. Think of it as a LEGO set where the pieces only click if you have the right connector. If you use it at a party, people might think you've spent too much time reading legal contracts, so use it wisely!

On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is 'shouting at a football match' and 10 is 'testifying before the Supreme Court,' this phrase is a solid 9.5. It belongs in the world of academic papers, legal documents, high-stakes business emails, and serious news reporting. You won't hear a teenager say this while playing League of Legends. In fact, if you used this in a WhatsApp group with friends, they’d probably ask if you’ve been possessed by a 19th-century librarian. It’s the tuxedo of Portuguese phrases—crisp, impressive, but definitely not for the beach.

Imagine a CEO sending a memo: No tocante à constatação de lucros recordes, daremos bônus aos funcionários. (Regarding the finding of record profits, we will give bonuses to employees.) Or a scientist writing a paper: No tocante à constatação da nova variante, os dados são claros. (Concerning the discovery of the new variant, the data is clear.) Even in a more 'casual' professional setting, like a performance review, your boss might say: No tocante à constatação do seu esforço, você será promovido. It adds a layer of 'officialness' that makes the statement feel undeniable and objective.

Use this when you want to sound authoritative, precise, and objective. It’s perfect for the 'Discussion' section of a university thesis or when you’re writing a complaint letter to a company about a verified defect in a product. It’s also great for job interviews when you want to refer back to a specific achievement mentioned in your CV. Basically, any time you want to sound like the smartest person in the room without actually saying 'I am the smartest person in the room.' It’s the ultimate 'professional pivot' move.

Please, for the love of all that is holy, do not use this with your Uber driver. No tocante à constatação de que o trânsito está ruim... will just get you a very confused look. Avoid it in casual texts, dating apps (unless you're dating a lawyer with a sense of humor), and while ordering food. If you say No tocante à constatação de que faltam batatas fritas at a McDonald's, the cashier might think you're filming a prank video. It's too stiff for any situation where you'd be wearing flip-flops or pajamas.

One of the biggest hurdles is the grammar. Many people forget the accent on the à. Remember: tocante + a + a constatação = à.

Another mistake is using it for things that haven't been 'found' yet. You can't use it for a guess.

Also, don't confuse constatação with conclamação (a call to action). One is seeing, the other is shouting. If you mix them up, you might accidentally call for a revolution when you just wanted to point out a typo!

You can swap out no tocante à for other formal expressions like no que tange à or em relação à. However, no tocante has a specific 'contact' metaphor (from the verb tocar, to touch) that feels a bit more direct. You might also see quanto à constatação, which is slightly shorter and just a tiny bit less formal. In Brazil, you might hear no que diz respeito à constatação, which is the long-distance runner of formal phrases—it takes forever to say but sounds very prestigious.

Is this phrase common in Portugal and Brazil? Yes, it's a staple of formal written Portuguese in both countries. Can I use it in a school essay? Absolutely, it will make your teacher think you've been reading the classics. Is it ever used in speech? Only in very formal speeches, lectures, or news broadcasts. Does it always need 'à'? Yes, because constatação is always feminine. What if I want to be less formal? Just use sobre (about) or em relação a. This phrase is like the expensive spices you only use for special dinners—save it for when it really matters.