I made reference to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I made reference to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that you mentioned or alluded to something in your writing or speech. Example: "In my previous report, I made reference to the importance of sustainable practices in our industry."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"I sent her a congratulatory note," he said, "and I made reference to the fact that I now have a women's college in Israel in which we are going very far with women's rights, and I urged her to visit".

The New York Times

Last October I wrote a piece Nearly Half Of Marketers Don't Know Who Their Best Customers Are in which I made reference to the fact according to research, over half of retailers - and all marketers for that matter, had no idea who their most valuable customers were.

Forbes

In my end-of-the-year piece last year, Looking Back, Looking Ahead - CMOs Weigh In, I made reference to the fact that I wanted to do something different writing "I wanted to put a little different spin on it – I am a big fan of spinning, as it were". The spin last year was that I asked CMOs to not only look ahead but also look back at the year that was ending.

Forbes

In this space yesterday, I made reference to current UCLA guard Keith Wilkes.

Los Angeles Times

At the end of the story, I made reference to my efforts to obtain eight parking permits for the winners of the Newport High Point Series.

Los Angeles Times

In the subsequent blog, I made reference to The Glass House as a "clone" of the Farnsworth House and shortly received a stern email lecture from a zealous member of the National Trust Press department for using the "c" word.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"Dorian and I made references to popular culture this time, like on the song "Erin O'Connor" [about the enigmatic model]," Jackson agrees.

Independent

11 March 2001 note: I make reference to an "email virus" in the above.

University of California, Berkeley

I make reference to my Dad, who spoke in 1955, as a delegate, calling for the nationalisation of the means of production.

The Guardian

In today's column on the winding, surprising road to Super Tuesday, I make reference to an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll with some distressing news for Mitt Romney: the percentage of voters who view him unfavorably is 11 points higher than the percentage of voters who view him favorably.

The New York Times

I make reference to this corpus in my discussion of the individual text.

Functional Linguistics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I made reference to" when you want to indicate you are alluding to something without going into extensive detail. It suggests a brief or indirect mention.

Common error

While "I made reference to" is grammatically correct, overuse can make your writing sound overly formal. In more casual contexts, consider simpler alternatives like "I mentioned" or "I referred to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I made reference to" functions as a statement indicating that the speaker or writer alluded to or mentioned something previously. It highlights that a connection or link was drawn to a particular subject or idea. Ludwig examples show its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I made reference to" is a grammatically correct way to indicate that you mentioned or alluded to something, as validated by Ludwig. It's most frequently found in News & Media, Academia and Scientific writing, suggesting a neutral formality level. While correct, simpler alternatives like "I referred to" or "I mentioned" might be preferable in less formal contexts. Remember that while widely accepted, overuse of this longer phrase can make your language sound too formal. Ludwig AI's analysis highlights its function as a statement of connection or mention, serving to provide context and background information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I referred to

Similar to 'made reference', but uses a different verb.

I mentioned

Directly states that something was brought up.

I alluded to

Uses a different verb to express indirect mention.

I made an allusion to

Uses the noun form of 'allude', indicating an indirect reference.

I touched upon

Indicates a brief mention or discussion.

I drew attention to

Highlights something that was pointed out.

I spoke of

More formal way of saying 'I talked about'.

I cited

Indicates a formal reference, often used in academic or legal contexts.

I hinted at

Suggests an indirect or subtle reference.

I gave a nod to

Suggests a brief acknowledgement or recognition.

FAQs

What's the difference between "I referred to" and "I made reference to"?

While both phrases are similar, "I referred to" is more direct. "I made reference to" can imply a more subtle or indirect mention. You can use alternatives like "I mentioned".

When is it appropriate to use "I made reference to"?

It's appropriate in formal writing or speech when you want to indicate you are briefly alluding to something. In informal contexts, simpler alternatives may be better.

What can I say instead of "I made reference to" in casual conversation?

In casual settings, you can use phrases like "I mentioned", "I talked about", or "I touched on".

Is "I made a reference to" grammatically correct?

Yes, "I made a reference to" is grammatically correct, though slightly more verbose than "I referred to" or "I mentioned". The phrase "I made reference to" is correct and usable in written English.