the difference between acerca and sobre

Question

I would like to know when to use acerca and when to use sobre. They both mean "about" but I don't know when to use one or the other. ie: to ask about something: to know about something...confused as usual.

Answer 1

Hi Debbie-Clee

I reckon it's another case where you pick with a pin or maybe just use "acerca" today and "sobre" tomorrow. There's no obvious way to decide between them that I'm aware of.

Compare with "about" "concerning" and "in respect of" (and more if I were to sit down and think about it).

Obviously "sobre" is more versatile in regard to its meaning "on top of" but hopefully that shouldn't cause too much confusion.

Well er! how about "sobre mi pay-grade" = "I want a raise" or "it's outside my orbit" depending on context. But there aren't too many cases like this.

Answer 2

Acerca is a term used when you want to talk about "in regard to" or something that has to do with something else, but sobre has a variety of meanings. It could mean on something, such as "sobre del tablero" (on the board) or it could also mean "about a certain topic that you are discussing"