I connected with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I connected with" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a sense of understanding, empathy, or relationship with someone or something. Example: "During our conversation, I connected with her experiences and felt a deep sense of empathy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Film

Music

Books

TV & Radio

Sports

Tech

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I connected with how much Danny felt.

The New York Times

"Being half-Irish I connected with him.

The Guardian - Film

Maybe that's why I connected with her so much.

The New York Times

It wasn't something I connected with when I was younger.

The Guardian

I connected with the spirit of the song.

The Guardian - Music

It was the first book I connected with.

The Guardian

This was the one I connected with the most.

The Guardian - Music

I connected with some of the housemates – Darren and Mel.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"I connected with it right away," she said.

The New York Times

"I connected with Jyoti because of the randomness of her story," she says.

Independent

"I connected with some of my girlfriends and I said: 'We have off.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a purely intellectual understanding, consider using "I understood" or "I grasped" instead of "I connected with".

Common error

Avoid using "I connected with" excessively in a single piece of writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "I resonated with" or "I identified with" to maintain reader engagement and clarity.

Linguistic Context

"I connected with" functions as a verb phrase indicating a personal connection, resonance, or understanding. As Ludwig AI's examples show, it expresses a feeling of rapport or empathy with a person, idea, or experience. This phrase emphasizes a subjective and emotional link.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Lifestyle

15%

Film

10%

Less common in

Music

10%

Books

8%

Tech

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I connected with" is a versatile phrase used to express understanding, empathy, or a sense of personal resonance. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and very common, appearing frequently in News & Media and Lifestyle contexts. While "I connected with" is widely accepted, varying your language with synonyms like "I related to" or "I identified with" can enhance your writing. Remember to use "I connected with" when you want to highlight a personal and emotional connection, and avoid overusing it for purely intellectual understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I resonated with

Focuses on a deeper, more emotional understanding or agreement.

I related to

Emphasizes a shared experience or understanding.

I identified with

Suggests a strong sense of similarity and understanding, often on a personal level.

I empathized with

Highlights the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

I felt a bond with

Indicates the formation of a strong emotional connection.

I understood

Simply indicates comprehension or awareness.

I felt akin to

Implies a sense of shared nature or characteristics.

I established rapport with

Highlights the development of a harmonious relationship.

I got through to

Suggests successfully communicating with and affecting someone.

I found common ground with

Emphasizes discovering shared interests or opinions.

FAQs

What does it mean to say "I connected with" someone?

Saying "I connected with" someone implies that you felt a sense of understanding, empathy, or personal resonance with them. It suggests a bond or a shared experience that made you feel close or aligned with that person.

What can I say instead of "I connected with" to express understanding?

You can use alternatives like "I related to", "I understood", or "I identified with" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "I connected to" grammatically correct instead of "I connected with"?

While "I connected to" can be grammatically correct in certain contexts (e.g., "I connected to the internet"), "I connected with" is the idiomatic and more widely accepted phrase when referring to a sense of understanding, empathy, or relationship with someone or something.

How is "I related to" different from "I connected with"?

While both phrases suggest a sense of understanding or empathy, "I related to" often implies a shared experience or perspective, whereas "I connected with" can suggest a broader sense of resonance or personal understanding, even without necessarily having the same experiences.