a certain someone

USAGE SUMMARY

"a certain someone" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a specific individual without mentioning their name. For example, "I heard a certain someone got a promotion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It looks like they are targeting a certain someone in particular.

The Guardian

(I don't think this will satisfy a certain someone, but everyone is listening in any case).

The Guardian

"But if this can keep a certain someone from repossessing my home and my wife — " "No one's repossessing me".

The New Yorker

And if a certain someone should greet you at the door, why, that's a special evening indeed.

The New York Times - Food

6. Start showing loved ones you care "If you really care about a certain someone, make it a habit to show it," says Christian Svanes Kolding.

Independent

But she noticed that when a certain someone called Mr. O'Donnell, "there was a different kind of warmth in his voice".

The New York Times

And the readout of the call sounds quite a bit like it was drafted by a certain someone — exclamation point and all.

The Washington Post

And he counsels folks like me driven crazy by the incessant demands of a certain someone (cough, Bernie!) who doesn't see fit to join the Democratic Party.

The Washington Post

Having shored up Chelsea's defence in his first couple of games, has now got his side – and a certain someone – scoring again, too.

The Guardian - Sport

Do you see red when a certain someone leaves knife marks on your brand new pan or uses your best olive oil to fry chips in?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When Holland talks about men, she sounds evasive: "I've been on dates, but I'm a busy girl and sometimes you just don't click with a certain someone".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a certain someone" when you want to refer to a specific person without revealing their identity. This can be useful to protect privacy, create suspense, or imply shared knowledge.

Common error

Avoid using "a certain someone" in highly formal or academic writing, as it can sound too informal. Opt for more precise or professional language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a certain someone" functions as a pronoun phrase, acting as a substitute for a specific noun (a person) that is intentionally left unnamed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to refer to an individual without explicitly mentioning their name.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a certain someone" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase employed to refer to a specific individual without explicitly revealing their identity. As Ludwig AI points out, it serves purposes such as maintaining privacy, building intrigue, or alluding to shared knowledge. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, it maintains a neutral register appropriate for broad audiences. While versatile, avoid overuse in highly formal writing to maintain professionalism. The abundance of examples provided by Ludwig underlines its common usage and confirms its acceptance in modern English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a certain individual

Replaces "someone" with the more formal "individual", maintaining the same sense of anonymity.

the person in question

Indicates that the person is relevant to the current discussion or situation.

a particular person

Emphasizes the specificity of the person being referred to, similar to "certain".

a specific person

Highlights the definiteness of the person, though unnamed, akin to "certain".

an unnamed person

Directly states that the person will not be named, maintaining secrecy.

one person in particular

Emphasizes the singularity and significance of the individual.

someone or other

Suggests a vaguer reference, implying the person is not particularly important or memorable.

a mysterious figure

Adds an element of intrigue or secrecy to the person being referenced.

a certain party

A more formal alternative, often used in legal or official contexts.

someone I know

More casual and personal way of referring to someone without revealing their identity.

FAQs

How can I use "a certain someone" in a sentence?

Use "a certain someone" when you want to refer to someone specific without saying their name. For example, "I heard "a certain someone" is planning a surprise party."

What phrases are similar to "a certain someone"?

Alternatives include "a particular person", "a specific person", or "an unnamed person", depending on the context.

Is "a certain someone" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a certain someone" is generally considered informal. For formal contexts, consider alternatives like "the individual in question" or "the aforementioned person".

When is it best to use "a certain someone" over explicitly naming the person?

Use "a certain someone" when you want to keep the person's identity private, create intrigue, or imply that the person's identity is already known to the audience. It's also useful when the specific identity isn't as important as the role the person plays.