Roger

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "Roger" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to acknowledge that you have received and understood a message, often in military or aviation contexts. Example: "Roger that, I will proceed with the plan." Alternative expressions include "Understood" and "Copy that."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Roger that.

The New York Times

But it does need to be said that Roger was, and is, one of journalism's forces of nature: a fount of talent, professionalism, intuition – and fun.

The Guardian

Another example was a brief, apparently inconsequential, exchange at a bar between Roger and Don some time in 1962.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

A propos of nothing in particular, Roger says: "BBDO have just hired their first negro.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The Rose and Crown was "definitely a community asset", said Roger.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Society now compels us to hold tobacco companies in utter contempt, which is fair enough, but I have to be honest and say I could never hate the Benson and Hedges brand, not when they footed the bill for appearances of the likes of Roger Harper, Abdul Qadir, Graeme LaBrooy and Mohammad Wasim.

The Guardian - Sport

Related: Stanislas Wawrinka shrugs off personal problems to win French Open The leading three of Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray remains unaltered, while Japan's Kei Nishikori rounds out the top five in the ATP rankings.

The Guardian - Sport

My favourite photo of Thorgerson was taken in 1975, and shows him deep in conversation with David Gilmour and Roger Waters while on tour with Pink Floyd, the group for whom – in partnership with Aubrey "Po" Powell - he came up with his most iconic designs.

The Guardian - Music

"Best I've seen since Roger Byrne," reckoned the Joy of Six's dad's Uncle Mick - not much of an accolade on the face of it, given a period of only ten years, but the comparison was intended as the highest compliment.

The Guardian - Sport

John McEnroe calls it "the changing of the guard" and says if Djokovic wins his ninth slam title on Sunday he has a chance to be considered "an all-time great" alongside Rafael Nadal, whom he demolished in straight sets on Wednesday, and Roger Federer, who lost in the quarters to Stan Wawrinka the same afternoon.

The Guardian - Sport

Critics have been calling on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to step down after Rice only received a two-game suspension for the attack before the video emerged.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In written dialogue, capitalize "Roger" when it refers to the male proper name to avoid confusion with the interjection.

Common error

Avoid using "Roger" if you mean to signal that you will carry out an action; use "wilco" (will comply) instead. "Roger" strictly confirms that information has been received and understood, not necessarily agreed to or acted upon.

Linguistic Context

"Roger" primarily functions as a proper noun identifying a person or as an interjection serving as a signal of acknowledgment. In its interjectional role, it operates as a discourse marker in technical communications, as highlighted in Ludwig AI examples where it replaces longer sentences like 'I have received and understood your transmission'.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Reference

10%

Social Media

5%

Less common in

Science

1%

Wiki

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

Analysis from Ludwig AI reveals that "Roger" holds two distinct but equally valid roles in contemporary English. Most commonly in literature and news, it serves as a proper noun for notable figures like "Roger Federer" or "Roger Ebert". However, its functional utility as an interjection—born from the phonetic alphabet for the letter 'R'—remains a cornerstone of efficient communication. Ludwig AI's data shows that while exact instances of the standalone interjection in print may be rare, its cultural recognition and technical necessity remain absolute. Writers should use it to convey professional clarity or character-driven brevity, while being mindful of the distinction between simply receiving information and agreeing to act upon it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Copy that

Specific to radio communication, implying the message was received clearly

Understood

A more general and formal way to acknowledge comprehension

Ten-four

Derived from 10-code radio signals, common in North American slang

Message received

A literal and unambiguous confirmation of delivery

Acknowledged

Highly formal and professional, often used in written reports

Loud and clear

Confirms both the receipt and the quality of the communication signal

Affirmative

Functions as a confirmation of 'yes' rather than just receipt

Wilco

Short for 'will comply', adding the intention to act upon the message

Noted

Brief and efficient acknowledgment, common in business contexts

Got it

An informal and conversational way to acknowledge receipt

FAQs

How to use Roger in a sentence?

You can use "Roger" as a standalone interjection to confirm acknowledgment, for example: "Pilot: Requesting landing gear check. Tower: "Roger"." It is also frequently paired with "that" as in "roger that".

What can I say instead of Roger?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "copy that", "understood" or "acknowledged".

Which is correct, Roger or Roger that?

Both are correct. "Roger" is the traditional radio communication protocol, while "roger that" is a common emphatic variation used in both military and casual speech.

What is the difference between Roger and Wilco?

The main difference is the intent: "Roger" means 'I have received your message' while "wilco" means 'I have received your message and will comply with your instructions'.