I recognise her

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I recognise her" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that you are familiar with someone or can identify them. Example: "As soon as she walked into the room, I recognised her from the conference last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Don't I recognise her from somewhere?

The Guardian

I recognise her, not from life but from telly.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I recognise her by the, er …" The line trails off, as if he can't be bothered.

The Guardian - Film

Does she go out with someone famous?" Lindsay Stewart, 22, Grangemouth "Carey Mulligan, I recognise her.

The Guardian - Film

We lock eyes, I recognise her, she smiles shyly, as if trying to remember who I am, then realises she has no idea.

The Guardian - Film

When she walks into the Tricycle, where she is performing in The Great Game, a 12-play marathon about Afghanistan hailed by Michael Billington in the Guardian as "mind-blowing", I recognise her at once.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

I recognised her.

The Guardian - Books

I recognised her underwear.

The Guardian

'I recognised her style immediately when I saw the manuscript.

The Guardian - Books

I recognised her sandals with the imprints of her feet in them.

The Guardian

I recognised her actions, for they were exactly what I do.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I recognise her" when you want to express an immediate feeling of familiarity upon seeing someone. It suggests a connection or prior encounter.

Common error

Be mindful of your audience: "Recognize" is the standard spelling in American English, while "recognise" is preferred in British English. Use the appropriate spelling depending on your target readership.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of the phrase "I recognise her" is to express recognition of a female subject. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. It serves as a declarative statement about the speaker's ability to identify the person.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I recognise her" is a grammatically sound and understandable expression used to convey a feeling of familiarity with a woman. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable. While not exceptionally common, it appears most frequently in News & Media. When considering variations, "I recognize her" is the American English equivalent, while other alternatives like "I know her" or "she looks familiar" provide nuanced substitutions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I recognize her

Similar meaning with a different spelling (American vs British English).

I identify her

Focuses on the act of distinguishing or classifying the person.

I know her

Implies familiarity without necessarily having to 'recognize' at a specific moment.

I am familiar with her

Emphasizes acquaintance or prior knowledge.

She looks familiar

Shifts the focus to her appearance and implies you've seen her before, but can't place her.

Her face rings a bell

Idiomatic expression indicating a vague sense of recognition.

I place her

Indicates remembering where you know her from.

I recall her

Formal, emphasizes remembering someone.

I recollect her

Even more formal than 'recall', emphasizes bringing her to mind.

I remember her

Simple recall of her existence.

FAQs

What is the difference between "I recognise her" and "I recognize her"?

"I recognise her" and "I recognize her" are the same phrase, but with different spellings. The former is British English, while the latter is American English.

What can I say instead of "I recognise her"?

You can use alternatives like "I know her", "I identify her", or "she looks familiar" depending on the context.

Is "I recognise her" formal or informal?

"I recognise her" is generally neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

How to use "I recognise her" in a sentence?

You can use "I recognise her" to express that you know someone by sight or by other characteristics. For example, "When she walked in, I immediately said, "I recognise her from the conference last year."