Some actions or circumstances cause a change or event.

The idea

Bring about means cause something to happen. It is separable: bring about a change or bring a change about, but a pronoun goes between the parts: bring it about. The past form is brought. It is common in formal writing.

Examples

  • The new timetable brought about a shorter commute.
  • Their campaign brought about changes in local housing.
  • The storm brought about an unexpected delay.
  • A small donation brought the project about.
  • Years of discussion brought about a compromise.
  • The discovery brought it about sooner than expected.

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Watch out

Do not confuse causing an event with performing a planned task: bring about a change describes the result, while carry out a plan describes doing the work.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. The talks ___ about an agreement last week. (brought / bringed)

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    brought

    The completed talks call for the irregular past brought.

  2. Choose the correct option. The reform caused a change: it brought ___. (it about / about it)

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    it about

    The pronoun belongs between the verb and particle: it about.

  3. Choose the correct option. The new rules may bring ___ a reduction in waste. (about / out)

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    about

    The reduction is the result, so about completes the expression.

Use it today

Describe a change in your community and what caused it, using a noun object and then a pronoun.