a reminder

USAGE SUMMARY

'a reminder' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to remind someone of something that they need to do, remember, or be aware of. For example, "Please use this as a reminder to submit your assignment by the due date."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Now a reminder.

Independent

And a reminder.

Independent

JUST a reminder.

The Economist

Just as a reminder:.

The New York Times

A reminder.

The Washington Post

It is also a reminder.

The New York Times

Her friend shouted a reminder.

The New York Times - Arts

A reminder: "You are here".

The New York Times

A reminder of his sin:….

The New Yorker

It's a reminder of home.

The New York Times

The formula also provides a reminder.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with prepositions like "of" to indicate the subject (e.g., "a reminder of the rules") or "to" followed by a verb for actions (e.g., "a reminder to call").

Common error

Avoid using redundant phrases like "a reminder to remember" or "a reminder again". The word "a reminder" already implies the act of remembering or a repeated notification, so adding these extra words makes the sentence clunky and less professional.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a reminder" functions as a count noun phrase composed of the indefinite article "a" and the noun "reminder". As verified by Ludwig, it primarily serves as a subject or object in a sentence to denote an object, message or event that causes someone to remember something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Social Media

3%

Academic

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a reminder" is an essential and versatile tool in English writing. Based on data from Ludwig AI, it is highly frequent in journalism and technical writing, where it serves to keep readers informed or focused on specific tasks. Whether used as a gentle "a nudge" in a personal email or as a formal notification in a scientific journal, it remains a standard, grammatically correct choice. Its strength lies in its simplicity and clarity, making it indispensable for effective communication across all registers and professional fields.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a prompt

Focuses on the immediate action required following the signal.

a nudge

Suggests a gentler, more informal attempt to get someone to act.

a notification

Typically used in a digital or technical context like phone alerts.

a refresher

Specifically refers to reviewing information someone has already learned.

a memory jogger

Very informal and specifically describes something that helps recall a fact.

a heads-up

Informal and often used to warn about something coming in the future.

a cue

Implies a signal that tells someone when to start a specific behavior.

a memento

Refers to a physical object kept as a reminder of a person or event.

a wake-up call

Connotes an urgent or alarming reminder that forces a change in perspective.

an admonition

A more formal and corrective type of reminder, often involving a warning.

FAQs

How to use "a reminder" in a sentence?

You can use it as a standalone noun phrase to introduce a fact, such as "Just "a reminder" that the meeting starts at noon", or as part of a longer sentence like "This gift serves as "a token" or "a reminder" of our friendship."

What can I say instead of "a reminder"?

Depending on the context, you might use "a notification", "a prompt", or more informally, "a nudge".

Is it "a reminder of" or "a reminder about"?

Both are correct but have different nuances. Use "a reminder of" when talking about things that trigger a memory (e.g., "a reminder of home"), and use "a reminder about" for specific tasks or upcoming events.

What is the difference between "a reminder" and "a memento"?

While "a reminder" is often a message or a signal to do something, "a memento" is specifically a physical object, like a souvenir, that helps you remember a past experience.