Off the record

USAGE SUMMARY

"Off the record" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to indicate that something is not intended for public disclosure. Example: "The information you shared with me is off the record." Alternative expressions include "not for publication" and "confidential."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

Many other players seethed off the record.

The Guardian - Sport

"Dumpweed" kicks off the record, and explores sexual frustration.

Wikipedia

I don't know how there's an off the record, "Shhhh".

Huffington Post

Off the record?

The Economist

Off the record, they nodded.

The New York Times

"Off the record?" he asked the reporters.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

Strictly off-the-record.

The Guardian - Music

It's an off-the-record event".

The New Yorker

Off-the-record evidence suggests that these numbers are large.

The Economist

Or they're being invited to off-the-record meetings.

The New Yorker

Off-the-record conversations have, for example, been banned.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the hyphenated form 'off-the-record' when the phrase acts as a compound adjective preceding a noun, such as an 'off-the-record conversation'.

Common error

Do not assume that saying "Off the record" at the end of a long conversation retroactively protects everything you just said. Professionally, confidentiality must be negotiated at the start of the interaction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Off the record" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase used adverbially to modify how information is shared. According to Ludwig AI and the provided examples, it is frequently used to set the parameters of a conversation. It can also function as a compound adjective (hyphenated) when modifying a noun.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Social Media

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "Off the record" is an essential idiomatic tool in English, particularly within the realms of journalism and professional networking. Based on the analysis of 53 exact match examples from Ludwig, the phrase is used to ensure confidentiality and prevent public attribution. It is highly associated with elite publications like The New York Times and The Economist. Writers should remember to use the hyphenated form 'off-the-record' when it serves as an adjective before a noun. Overall, it is a grammatically correct and versatile expression for signaling that a statement is unofficial or private.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Confidentially

Uses a formal adverb to emphasize the private nature of the communication.

Unofficially

Directly highlights that the information is not part of the formal record.

Not for attribution

Specific journalistic term meaning the information can be used but the source cannot be named.

In confidence

A prepositional phrase emphasizing the trust between the speaker and listener.

Sub rosa

A Latin-derived term meaning 'under the rose', implying secrecy or privacy.

Behind closed doors

Focuses on the physical or situational privacy of the meeting.

Between us

A more personal and informal way to request confidentiality.

Off the books

More commonly used for unofficial financial or procedural records.

Strictly private

Adds a layer of intensity to the request for privacy.

Under the radar

Implies that an action is being taken without attracting public attention.

FAQs

How do I use "off the record" in a sentence?

You can use it as an adverbial phrase to qualify a statement, such as: "He spoke to the reporter "off the record" to clarify the situation without being quoted."

What is the difference between "off the record" and "on the record"?

When something is "on the record", it can be quoted and attributed to the speaker, whereas "Off the record" means the information should not be published or attributed.

What can I say instead of "off the record"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "confidentially", "in confidence" or "unofficially".

Is "off the record" hyphenated?

It is hyphenated when used as an adjective before a noun, like an "off-the-record meeting", but not when used after a verb.