when it comes to — regarding / as far as X is concerned
expressionC1IELTS 7+neutralcommon
Used to introduce the topic you want to talk about, or to focus on a specific aspect of something.
Say it like a native
Textbook With respect to the matter of cooking, he is highly skilled.
Native When it comes to cooking, he's brilliant.
'When it comes to' is the natural topic-framer; 'with respect to the matter of' is heavy.
Pattern: when it comes to [noun/gerund], [clause]
In use
- When it comes to technology, my dad is completely lost.daily life
- When it comes to education, I believe my country offers a lot of opportunities, especially at university level. However, there’s still room for improvement in primary schools.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ When it comes to cook, she's the best.
✓ When it comes to cooking, she's the best.
'When it comes to' is followed by a noun or -ing, not a bare verb.
Common collocations
when it comes to— money, cooking, + -ing, relationships
Don't confuse it
'Speaking of' is similar but often used to link to something just mentioned. 'As for' is more direct and sometimes sounds abrupt.