This paper presents an exploratory corpus study of synonymous prepositions ‘about’ and ‘around’ and compares their usage and distribution differences, patterns, and similarities. The data sources are dictionaries that explain the relationship the two synonyms share, situational and contextual usage and the distinct meanings while transforming into other parts of speech. This study demonstrates the affinity between the two words and the immeasurable meanings and semantic relations they share. Finally, a corpus-based analysis of the two words reveals the collocations, frequency and context collocations they significantly occur.
Keywords: Corpus, Dictionary, Distribution, Language analysis, similarities
