Confirm

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Confirm" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when asking someone to verify or acknowledge something, such as information or an action. Example: "Please confirm your attendance at the meeting by the end of the day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I can subsequently confirm that there are still two unaccompanied minors on Manus, who were transferred there by the previous government.

The Guardian

Maybe get a stress test to confirm that there's no issue, but even that might be overkill.

The Economist

It's hard to confirm this but Adam Treloar seems like one of the biggest sledgers in the AFL.

The Guardian - Sport

A spokesman for Prasetyo, Tony Spontana, told Guardian Australia the executions would be after the Asian-African conference in Jakarta from 19 to 24 April, but could not confirm a timeframe beyond that.

The Guardian

A spokesperson for QUB's communications office said on Friday: "Following the completion of a comprehensive risk assessment, undertaken in line with approved protocols, the university is pleased to confirm that the Charlie Hebdo Research Symposium, organised by the Institute for Collaborative Research in the Humanities, has been approved".

The Guardian

Such a failure to legislate would be a moral hazard of such a scale as to confirm, even to many unionists, that the UK government has indeed become corrupted, and that the referendum was won on a lie.

The Guardian - Opinion

(The man, the Guardian understands, wishes to be anonymous; his current attorney declined to confirm Solowiej's account).

The Guardian

The camera trap also permits [us] to discover new species and to confirm some species as golden cats, gigantic pangolin, ratel [or honey badger]." McPhee's work, which he is currently crafting into a master's thesis, is not going unnoticed.

The Guardian

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "I can confirm that the Queen this morning attended her annual medical checkup at the King Edward VII's hospital in London.

The Guardian

I can't confirm that they're on Manus Island.

The Guardian

On Wednesday a spokesman for the Morrison said it was long-standing government practice not to confirm or comment on reports of individual acts of self-harm, but there was no basis to the claims of self-harm or attempted suicide.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "confirm" in formal writing, ensure that you have clear and reliable evidence to support your confirmation.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that you "confirm" something without offering any supporting data or justification. Provide details that substantiate your confirmation.

Linguistic Context

The word "confirm" primarily functions as a verb. Ludwig's examples show it used to verify facts, strengthen statements, or validate information. According to Ludwig AI, the word is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "confirm" functions as a verb used to establish certainty and validate information across various contexts. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically sound and prevalent in formal and informal settings. Based on Ludwig's analysis, the usage is particularly frequent in news and media, where accuracy is essential. When writing, use "confirm" to convey assurance and verification, but ensure that your claims are supported by solid evidence. While "confirm" is generally correct, alternatives like "verify", "validate", and "affirm" can add nuance and precision to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Verify

Focuses on establishing the truth or accuracy of something.

Validate

Emphasizes the process of checking or proving the validity of something.

Affirm

Stresses a strong declaration or assertion of truth.

Corroborate

Highlights providing additional evidence to support a statement.

Substantiate

Implies providing evidence to prove the truth of something.

Authenticate

Focuses on confirming the genuineness of something.

Ascertain

Emphasizes the effort to find something out for certain.

Establish

Highlights setting something on a firm or permanent basis.

Certify

Implies giving official assurance that something meets certain standards.

Attest

Focuses on providing formal declaration or testimony.

FAQs

How can I use "Confirm" in a sentence?

You can use "Confirm" to verify information, as in "Please "confirm" your email address", or to strengthen a belief, like "These findings "confirm" our hypothesis".

What's a more formal alternative to "Confirm"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "verify", "validate", or "ascertain" instead of "Confirm". For example, "We need to "verify" the data before proceeding".

Is it always necessary to "Confirm" everything?

No, not everything requires confirmation. Use "Confirm" when there's a need to ensure accuracy or validity, especially in professional or critical contexts. In informal settings, a simple acknowledgement may suffice.

How does "Confirm" differ from "Acknowledge"?

"Confirm" implies verifying or establishing the truth of something, while "Acknowledge" simply means recognizing or admitting something. You "confirm" facts, but you acknowledge receipt of an email.