I recognise this

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I recognise this" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that you are familiar with something or have seen it before. Example: "As I walked through the gallery, I stopped in front of a painting and thought, 'I recognise this from the art book I read last week.'"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

I recognise this.

The Guardian - Opinion

I recognise this land in paintings.

The Guardian - Arts

"I recognise this chap; his mother must be around somewhere".

Independent

I recognise this in myself and I recognise it in my fellow activists – of all parties.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I recognise this is totally psychologically revealing of me more than of her".

The Guardian - Books

"I recognise this place," I tell the taxi driver when he draws up outside an attractive early Victorian villa.

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

I recognised this impulse from my death books.

The Guardian

"I recognised this as an opportunity I couldn't not take," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

I recognised this account of motherhood and found it foreign - because it is so unrelentingly dark.

The Guardian - Books

Since then the system has evolved and developed, post October 2015 I recognised this and requested further education from Ukad, I will come back to this later.

The Guardian - Sport

I recognised this kind of ammunition from other warzones.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "I recognise this" in writing, ensure the context clearly indicates what "this" refers to, avoiding ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "I recognise this" without a clear antecedent. Make sure the "this" refers to something explicitly mentioned in the previous sentence or easily understood from the immediate context to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I recognise this" functions as a declarative statement expressing familiarity or acknowledgement. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. The phrase is used to indicate that the speaker has encountered something before, either visually, audibly, or through prior experience.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I recognise this" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to convey familiarity or acknowledgement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is frequently employed across various contexts, particularly in news and media, as well as in scientific discussions. Its neutral register makes it suitable for both formal and informal communication, with the primary function of establishing a connection between the speaker and the identified subject. While alternatives exist, such as "I am familiar with this" or "This rings a bell", "I recognise this" remains a clear and effective choice for expressing recognition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I recognize this

Differs only by using the alternative spelling "recognize" instead of "recognise".

I am familiar with this

Expresses familiarity using a different structure.

This is familiar to me

Rephrases to emphasize the object's familiarity.

I know this

Offers a more direct statement of knowledge.

This rings a bell

An idiomatic expression indicating a vague recollection.

I've seen this before

Focuses on prior visual experience.

I recall this

Emphasizes remembering something.

This is recognizable to me

Highlights the recognizability of something.

I am aware of this

Indicates awareness, which is a broader concept.

I understand this

Shifts the focus to comprehension rather than recognition.

FAQs

What does "I recognise this" mean?

The phrase "I recognise this" means that you are familiar with something because you have seen, heard, or experienced it before.

When should I use "I recognise this"?

Use "I recognise this" when you want to express that something is familiar to you based on past experience or knowledge. It's suitable for various contexts, both formal and informal.

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

You can use alternatives like "I am familiar with this", "This is familiar to me", or "I know this" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "I recognise this" and "I remember this"?

While both phrases express familiarity, "I recognise this" implies a more immediate acknowledgement upon encountering something, while "I remember this" suggests recalling something from memory. The phrases are often interchangeable, but "I remember this" puts more emphasis on the retrieval of past knowledge.