I sent to him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I sent to him" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as it lacks a direct object, making it unclear what was sent. Example: "I sent to him the documents he requested."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"I've got curry for you at home", was an innocuous text I sent to him last week.

Independent

"It was really just a first draft that I sent to him, but an hour and a half later I got a call, and Joe said, 'Look, we're going to do this movie,' " Mr. Crystal recalled.

The New York Times - Arts

He's got some copies of my book, which I sent to him," Azinger says, adding: "Corey has got a philosophy and strategy, and there is no reason for me to know a great deal about them.

The Guardian - Sport

"I can't tell you how many people I sent to him because they saw the success I had," said Lynn Adams, a retired teacher, referring to Dr. Thomas Najarian, the inventor of Qnexa who opened a weight-loss clinic here in 2001.

The New York Times

"At the expiration of Blazer's contract in 1998 I advised him that I will not be renewing his contract until and unless it is reviewed and I followed this up with a formal letter I sent to him in 2002, a copy of which letter I still have in my possession".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

My adviser immediately reads anything I send to him.

Science Magazine

Actually, I had one sent to him, FedExed to him in advance.

The New Yorker

He requested visuals of Hughes, which I assembled and sent to him.

The New York Times

I was sent to photograph him for a magazine article.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I sent it to him to an address in Nigeria.

Huffington Post

Nobody here at Golf Channel knew anything about it and my editor at Golf.com asked me to rewrite the ending when I sent it to him".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always include a direct object when using "sent". Use "I sent it to him" or "I sent him [the item]". This clarifies what was sent and avoids grammatical errors.

Common error

Avoid using "I sent to him" without specifying what was sent. This construction is grammatically incorrect and creates ambiguity. Always include a direct object to clarify your meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I sent to him" attempts to describe an action of transmitting something to someone. However, it is incomplete without a direct object. Ludwig AI identifies this as grammatically incorrect due to the missing element specifying what was sent.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I sent to him" is grammatically incorrect due to the missing direct object, as noted by Ludwig AI. Although it appears in various contexts, mainly News & Media, its usage is infrequent and should be avoided in formal writing. Correct alternatives include "I sent it to him" or "I sent him [the item]". Always ensure the inclusion of a direct object to avoid ambiguity and grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I sent it to him

This alternative corrects the grammatical error of the original phrase by including the direct object "it" and using the preposition "to" correctly.

I forwarded it to him

Uses "forwarded" instead of "sent" to indicate the action of passing something along, often implying something received from another source.

I dispatched it to him

Replaces "sent" with "dispatched", suggesting a more formal or official transmission of something.

I mailed it to him

Specifies the method of sending as "mailed", implying postal delivery.

I transmitted it to him

Substitutes "sent" with "transmitted", often used for electronic data or signals.

I handed it over to him

Replaces "sent" with a phrasal verb emphasizing the physical act of transferring something.

I remitted it to him

Uses "remitted" to mean sending money, payments or transfers in a formal context.

I shipped it to him

Specifies the method of sending as "shipped", implies more like sending packages and goods.

I beamed it to him

Uses "beamed" instead of "sent" to indicate the action of sending something with light or radiowaves.

I gave it to him

This uses the general verb "gave" with the direct object "it" and the preposition "to", this construction is valid but not as specific or descriptive as the original

FAQs

Why is "I sent to him" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "I sent to him" is incorrect because it lacks a direct object. The verb "sent" requires a direct object to specify what was sent. Correct alternatives include "I sent it to him" or "I sent him the package".

What can I say instead of "I sent to him"?

You can use alternatives like "I sent it to him", "I sent him [object]", or rephrase the sentence to be more specific about the method of sending, such as "I mailed it to him".

Is there a difference between "I sent it to him" and "I sent him [object]"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "I sent him [object]" is often more concise. The choice depends on the context; if the object is already known, "I sent it to him" is appropriate. If introducing the object, "I sent him the report" is better.

Can "I sent to him" be used in any context?

No, "I sent to him" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. You should always include a direct object to clarify what was sent. Use constructions like "I sent it to him" or "I sent him the document".