a distinct reference to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a distinct reference to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate a clear and specific mention or allusion to something. Example: "The author makes a distinct reference to historical events that shaped the narrative of the story."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Over all, he said, the United States will keep its "decisive military edge," an oblique but distinct reference to American military superiority.

The New York Times

It may be, however, that pain and swelling in any region of the body is treated similarly and therefore that there is no distinct reference to folk or other remedies for treating oral conditions.

BMC Oral Health

West adds in a verse of his own that contains distinct references to Kim Kardashian.

HuffPost

Table 2 also shows each individual fibrate treated as a distinct reference group.

Diabetes Care

However, more distinct references to the man appear in a life of St Cadog, written by by a monk from Llancarfan in the 11th century.

BBC

The MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status is presented in a ladder format with 10 steps.There are two versions of the ladder that have distinct references to which individuals can compare themselves.

BMC Public Health

'Passing Off of the Storm' and 'Twilight After the Storm' are distinct references to the recent conflict.

The New York Times

And yet, in virtue of the possibility of seemingly limitless distinct references to matter (or 'drawings of boundaries'), the rationalisation involves embracing the daunting excesses of a mereology with a 'principle of unrestricted composition'.

SEP

Next, the evaluators independently quantified the number of distinct references to each theme in the responses.

BMC Medical Education

Expression data on four titration pools from two distinct reference RNA samples were generated at multiple test sites using a variety of microarray-based and alternative technology platforms.

Stanford University

The most conserved exons in all transcripts of a given gene were chosen to be distinct reference exons and all others were considered to be variant exons.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a distinct reference to" when you want to clearly indicate that something is being specifically mentioned or alluded to. This phrase is useful for highlighting connections and influences in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "a distinct reference to" too frequently in your writing. Overusing it can make your prose sound repetitive and detract from the impact of your message. Vary your language by using synonyms or rephrasing your sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a distinct reference to" functions as a noun phrase acting as a prepositional complement. It highlights a clear and specific connection between two entities, as determined by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a distinct reference to" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate a clear and specific mention or allusion. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English. While examples are currently limited, it serves the purpose of highlighting connections and influences within various contexts. Alternative phrases like "a clear allusion to" or "a specific mention of" can offer variety in writing. Remember to avoid overuse for stylistic clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a clear allusion to

Changes "reference" to "allusion" and "distinct" to "clear", emphasizing the indirect nature of the mention.

a specific mention of

Replaces "reference" with "mention" and "distinct" with "specific", highlighting the directness of the reference.

an explicit reference to

Substitutes "distinct" with "explicit", stressing the unambiguity of the reference.

a direct connection to

Shifts the focus to a "direct connection" rather than a "reference", implying a stronger link.

a notable allusion to

Replaces "distinct" with "notable", emphasizing the significance of the allusion.

a pointed reference to

Uses "pointed" instead of "distinct", indicating a deliberate and obvious reference.

an evident citation of

Changes "reference" to "citation" and "distinct" to "evident", highlighting the source being referenced.

an unmistakable link to

Focuses on the "unmistakable link", suggesting a very clear and obvious connection.

a tangible connection with

Uses the words "tangible connection" implying a strong evidence of the reference.

an obvious nod to

Replaces "reference" with "nod", indicating a subtle but clear acknowledgement.

FAQs

How can I use "a distinct reference to" in a sentence?

You can use "a distinct reference to" to point out a clear and specific mention of something. For example, "The author makes a distinct reference to historical events that shaped the narrative of the story."

What can I say instead of "a distinct reference to"?

You can use alternatives like "a clear allusion to", "a specific mention of", or "an explicit reference to" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "a distinct reference"?

While "distinct" can imply clarity, using "a distinct reference" emphasizes that the reference is not vague or ambiguous, making it a deliberate choice for highlighting specificity.

What's the difference between "a distinct reference to" and "a subtle reference to"?

"A distinct reference to" indicates a clear and easily noticeable mention, while "a subtle reference to" implies a more indirect or understated allusion. The choice depends on how obvious the reference is intended to be.