I conferred with him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I conferred with him" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where you discussed or consulted with someone about a particular matter. Example: "After I conferred with him about the project details, we were able to finalize our plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"My father was in town at the time, making Half a Sixpence with Tommy Steele, so I conferred with him.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Mohammed, still in the Gulf, conferred with him often by telephone and contributed six hundred and sixty dollars.

The New Yorker

"The referee took his time and conferred with him.

BBC

His attorneys conferred with him for several minutes, whispering in Spanish.

Vice

"As long as I can talk to him and confer with him," Torre added, "that's what I need".

The New York Times - Sports

Periodically, Rosemary left me alone in the conference room and went to confer with him.

The New Yorker

The Pope refused to confer with him again or give a mass at Malacañang Palace.

The New Yorker

No sooner had the ballots been counted than he invited Governor Roosevelt to confer with him.

The New York Times

When John F. Kennedy became President in 1961, Mr. Khrushchev went to confer with him in Vienna.

The New York Times

In May, Kerry traveled to Putin's favorite resort, Sochi, to confer with him on Iran, Ukraine and Syria.

The Washington Post

After futilely screaming at Switzer from the field, Aikman called a timeout to confer with him on the sidelines.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I conferred with him" when you want to emphasize a formal or deliberate discussion, especially in professional or academic contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "I conferred with him" in casual conversations where simpler terms like "talked to" or "discussed with" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I conferred with him" functions as a statement describing a past action of consulting or discussing something with another person. It expresses the speaker's act of seeking counsel or exchanging information, consistent with Ludwig's analysis.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I conferred with him" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression for indicating that a consultation or discussion took place. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for a variety of contexts, especially news, media, and business settings. When writing, keep in mind its slightly formal tone and consider using simpler alternatives like "discussed" or "talked" in more casual situations. The primary function is to relay an action of seeking advice or exchanging information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I consulted with him

Replaces "conferred" with the synonym "consulted", maintaining a similar level of formality.

I discussed it with him

Uses a more general term, "discussed", making it slightly less formal than the original phrase.

I spoke with him about it

Emphasizes the act of speaking, which can be less formal depending on the context.

I had a conversation with him

Highlights the interactive nature of the exchange, suggesting a more casual discussion.

I sought his advice

Focuses on seeking guidance or counsel from the other person.

I got his input

Implies gathering information or perspective from the other person.

I touched base with him

A more informal way of saying you briefly consulted him.

I picked his brain

Suggests extracting knowledge or ideas from the other person, is informal.

I had a word with him

Implies a short, perhaps private, conversation.

I took counsel with him

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying you sought his advice.

FAQs

What does "I conferred with him" mean?

The phrase "I conferred with him" means that you had a discussion or consultation with someone, often to seek advice or make a decision. It suggests a formal or deliberate conversation.

What can I say instead of "I conferred with him"?

You can use alternatives like "I consulted with him", "I discussed it with him", or "I spoke with him about it" depending on the context.

Is "I conferred with him" formal or informal?

"I conferred with him" is generally considered a formal phrase. In informal situations, simpler alternatives like "I talked to him" or "I discussed it with him" might be more suitable.

How to use "I conferred with him" in a sentence?

You can use "I conferred with him" to describe a situation where you sought advice or had a formal discussion with someone. For example: "Before making the final decision, I conferred with him to get his expert opinion."