Is the usage of the word "about" correct?

I've come across this sentence recently:

All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you.

Is this a correct sentence? "All around you" would seem more standard to me. Of note this sentence is part of an example on the importance of punctuation, so maybe it's not the most natural wording, but I'm not sure whether it's even correct.

Solution 1:

Yes, this usage is acceptable, it is just antiquated and not commonly used today. For example, you could say:

"All about me were enemies, and the battlefield was empty of allies."

or referring to nature

"All about me were trees, and the pleasant sound of birdsong."

In these examples the meaning is interchangeable with "around". You could say they are synonyms.

"All around me were enemies, and the battlefield was empty of allies."

"All about me were trees, and the pleasant sound of birdsong."

You can also use about in this way to form a question:

"Are there any shops about that sell umbrellas?" - meaning - "Are there any shops around (nearby) that sell umbrellas?"

This usage of about is more common in British English than US English. It often found in older literature, and is not common in spoken English in the US today.