a friend of mine

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a friend of mine" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, you might use this phrase in a sentence such as, "My friend John is one of the kindest people I know—he's a friend of mine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He's a friend of mine.

The New York Times

A friend of mine.

The Washington Post

A friend of mine is always worried.

The New York Times

(A friend of mine does that).

The New Yorker

"You are not a friend of mine.

The New York Times

"Rick Perry's a friend of mine.

The New York Times

"This man is a friend of mine.

The New York Times

Millwood is a friend of mine.

The New York Times

He was a friend of mine".

The New Yorker

"A friend of mine lost her business.

Independent

Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context: This phrase is suitable for informal to neutral settings. In formal contexts, consider using a more specific title or name if known.

Common error

While "a friend of mine" is perfectly acceptable in everyday conversation, it might sound too casual in highly formal documents or presentations. In such cases, consider specifying the person's name and title or relationship to the topic at hand.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a friend of mine" functions as a possessive construction, specifically a partitive genitive, indicating that the person being referred to is one among a group of friends. It's a common way to introduce or mention someone without specifying their full identity immediately, as seen in many examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a friend of mine" is a grammatically sound and very common phrase used to refer to someone known in a casual or neutral context. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It's suitable for introducing someone or sharing information, but might be too informal for highly formal settings. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it's frequently found in news and media, and less so in strictly academic or scientific writing. Alternatives include "an acquaintance of mine" or "someone I know", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one of my friends

This phrase emphasizes that the person is part of a larger group of friends.

a close friend of mine

This emphasizes the intimacy and importance of the friendship.

an acquaintance of mine

This alternative replaces "friend" with "acquaintance", indicating a less close relationship.

someone I'm friends with

This alternative rephrases the sentence to focus on the act of being friends.

a pal of mine

This alternative uses "pal" instead of "friend", suggesting a more informal relationship.

a buddy of mine

Similar to "pal", this suggests a casual and friendly relationship.

a colleague of mine

This alternative specifies a professional relationship.

someone I know

This is a more general way to indicate familiarity with someone, without specifying friendship.

a companion of mine

This implies a shared activity or journey with the person.

a fellow of mine

This phrase indicates someone belonging to the same group or organization.

FAQs

How can I use "a friend of mine" in a sentence?

You can use "a friend of mine" to refer to someone you know in a casual way, such as "A friend of mine recommended this restaurant", or "This is John, "a friend of mine" from college".

What are some alternatives to "a friend of mine"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "an acquaintance of mine", "a colleague of mine", or simply "someone I know".

Is it grammatically correct to say "a friend of mine"?

Yes, "a friend of mine" is grammatically correct. The structure uses the possessive pronoun "mine" to indicate that the friend belongs to your group of friends.

What's the difference between "a friend of mine" and "my friend"?

While both phrases refer to someone you know, "a friend of mine" implies that you have other friends, whereas "my friend" can be used more generally without necessarily implying a larger social circle.