admit to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "admit to be" is not correct English.
You can use the phrase "admit to" followed by a verb to express the same idea. For example, "She refused to admit to being wrong."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

• This isn't to say that Michigan didn't have the right to want to beat Ohio State more and believe that a more contemporary offense was the way to do it, or that Rodriguez was not entitled to pursue what anyone outside Morgantown would admit to be a better job after seven fine years at West Virginia.

The New York Times - Sports

If the mother can take nine months but the father can only take two weeks, then who is going to do it?" Many young companies might worry about paying for this kind of policy, but You, co-founder Ian Hogarth and the rest of the Songkick team (who readily admit to be proud feminists) say they are lucky to be in a position to do this.

The Guardian - Tech

Provided the terrorists accept some such understanding of responsibility and liability, they kill and maim people they themselves must admit to be innocent.

SEP

They readily admit to be standing intellectually on the shoulders of giants.

Huffington Post

I admit to be taken aback by a story posted last week by Home Health Care News about a recent survey ranking the industry's top three threats.

Huffington Post

In Pride and Prejudice, Darcy has "ten thousand [pounds] a year" and such a phallically "large, handsome, stone" house at Pemberley ("standing well on rising ground") that even Elizabeth has to admit "to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!" Romney is worth two hundred fifty million dollars, owns three homes (one of which cost twelve million) and has an apparently enormous pension.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

People can admit to being optimistic.

The New Yorker

I will admit to being star-struck.

The New Yorker

And I will admit to being hooked.

The New York Times

I admit to being confused.

The Guardian - Film

Few admit to being sufferers themselves.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "admit to be". Instead, use "admit to" followed by a gerund (verb ending in -ing). For example, "admit to being mistaken".

Common error

A common error is to follow "admit to" with the base form of a verb. Ensure you use the gerund form to maintain grammatical correctness. For example, avoid saying "admit to do", say "admit to doing".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "admit to be" functions as an incorrect attempt to express acknowledgment or confession. Ludwig AI indicates the proper usage requires a gerund, not the base form of the verb.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

29%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "admit to be" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI recommends using "admit to" followed by a gerund (verb ending in -ing) such as "admit to being". While examples of "admit to be" exist, they are infrequent and often found in less formal contexts, potentially reflecting non-standard English usage. Correct alternatives include "confess to being" and "acknowledge being", with varying degrees of formality and nuance. Therefore, writers should avoid "admit to be" in favor of grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

confess to being

Replaces "admit" with "confess", emphasizing guilt or wrongdoing.

acknowledge being

Uses "acknowledge" instead of "admit", providing a more neutral tone.

concede to being

Employs "concede", implying reluctance or opposition before admitting.

own up to being

Uses the phrasal verb "own up to", indicating taking responsibility for something.

profess to being

Replaces "admit" with "profess", which can suggest a formal or public declaration.

avow to being

Uses "avow" instead of "admit", giving a stronger, more assertive tone.

declare oneself to be

Replaces "admit" with "declare oneself", making it more formal and self-assertive.

confide in being

Uses "confide", suggesting the admission is shared privately.

divulge being

Replaces "admit" with "divulge", indicating the revelation of previously unknown information.

reveal oneself to be

Uses "reveal oneself", implying the admission uncovers a hidden aspect of the person.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the phrase "admit to" in a sentence?

Always follow "admit to" with a gerund (a verb ending in -ing). For instance, instead of saying "admit to error", say "admit to making an error".

What is a grammatically correct alternative to "admit to be"?

Use alternatives like "confess to being", "acknowledge being", or "concede to being" depending on the context.

Is there a difference in formality between "admit to being" and other alternatives?

Yes, phrases like "profess to being" or "declare oneself to be" are more formal than simply "admit to being", though "admit to be" itself is grammatically incorrect.

Which is correct, "admit to be" or "admit to being"?

"Admit to being" is the grammatically correct form. "Admit to be" is generally considered incorrect in standard English.