a friend of ours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a friend of ours" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone who is a mutual friend between the speaker and the listener. Example: "We should invite Sarah to the party; she's a friend of ours from college."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Gwen was a friend of ours," said Barack Obama.

The Guardian

"They were antagonizing a friend of ours," Jamar said.

The New York Times

The antenna was designed and built with the help of a friend of ours, Dana Hartsig.

Cornell University

A friend of ours, travelling in Pennsylvania, found in his hotel room a printed card.

The New Yorker

"It's based on the story of a friend of ours," she explains.

The Guardian - Film

"I just saw Santa Claus and that's a friend of ours," Mrs. Ielpi said.

The New York Times

The lead rapper, Tariq (Black Thought) Trotter, announced, "This is a friend of ours from Dallas, Texas.

The New Yorker

That's why I gave it to a friend of ours, Frank Simon, who was good at that.

The New York Times - Sports

"A friend of ours, whose mother lives next door to the camp, he's a contractor in the area.

The Guardian

He's a friend of ours and I hope and pray he will be OK.

BBC

Famed cinematographer Louie Schwartzberg had been a friend of ours for many years.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a friend of ours" when you want to indicate that someone is a mutual friend, creating a sense of shared connection and familiarity with your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "a friend of ours" in highly formal or professional settings where a more precise or neutral term like "a colleague" or "an associate" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a friend of ours" functions as a possessive determiner followed by a noun phrase. It indicates that the friend in question is shared between the speaker and at least one other person. Ludwig confirms its proper use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Formal & Business

13%

Science

7%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a friend of ours" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to someone who is a mutual friend between the speaker and the listener. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its validity and provides numerous examples of its use in diverse contexts, primarily in News & Media. While versatile, it's important to consider the context and choose a more formal term like "a colleague" or "an associate" in professional settings. Alternatives include "a mutual friend" or "a friend of both of us". Overall, "a friend of ours" is a useful phrase for establishing connection and familiarity in a variety of situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a mutual friend

Focuses on the shared nature of the friendship, omitting the possessive aspect.

a friend of both of us

Explicitly states the shared friendship, providing clarity.

one of our friends

Emphasizes that the person is part of a larger group of friends.

someone we both know

A more general way to refer to a shared acquaintance.

a close friend of ours

Highlights the intimacy and importance of the friendship.

a buddy of ours

An informal term for a friend, suggesting a casual relationship.

a pal of ours

More informal and familiar, replacing 'friend' with 'pal'.

a companion of ours

Suggests shared activities or experiences, implying camaraderie.

a colleague of ours

Implies a professional connection rather than a personal one.

an acquaintance of ours

Suggests a less close relationship than a friend.

FAQs

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

You can use "a friend of ours" to refer to someone both you and your listener know, like: "We met at the party of "a friend of ours"."

What's a more formal alternative to "a friend of ours"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "a mutual acquaintance", "a colleague of ours", or "an associate of ours".

Is it correct to say 'a friend of me' instead of "a friend of ours"?

No, "a friend of me" is grammatically incorrect. The correct possessive form is "a friend of mine" when referring to one of your own friends, or "a friend of ours" when referring to a shared friend.

What is the difference between "a friend of ours" and "a friend of mine"?

"A friend of ours" indicates a mutual friend shared by you and another person or group. "A friend of mine" refers to one of your own friends, not necessarily known by the person you're speaking to.