an associate of mine

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an associate of mine" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone you know or work with, indicating a professional or personal relationship. Example: "I recently had a meeting with an associate of mine who specializes in marketing strategies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"I took an associate of mine for a ride and it really attracted attention.

The New York Times

Nor was the Poplar town hall building intentionally sold off to an associate of mine.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The brother of an associate of mine said he had a nice lady for me to meet," Mr. Zelman recalled.

The New York Times - Style

I was talking to an associate of mine on my cellphone the other day and at the conclusion of our conversation (it took me, by the way, six calls to get past her Voicemail) I said something like, "Okay, good.

Huffington Post

That, for me, is where I often find I focus my energy--just from people who care about their fellow human and who find their way to me or they are a friend of mine or an associate of mine who says, "Hey, did you know this is happening?" MR: Terrific.

Huffington Post

An associate of mine mentioned an article she once wrote about autistic students.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"Michael Cohen is not now nor has he ever been a 'business associate' of mine," Shtayner writes in a document sent to Henderson city officials and obtained by VICE News.

Vice

I just popped into a local pub and ran smack into into a variant of the just-announced (but long-rumored) Kin 2 being tested by a Microsoft associate of mine.

TechCrunch

A British associate of mine sent me the link to Archbishop Rowan Williams' message, which was distributed to honor that occasion.

Huffington Post

Referring to Triumph, he added, "I had asked them to pay fees to associates of mine".

The New York Times

You took my phone and emailed business associates of mine.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an associate of mine", ensure the context clearly indicates the nature of the relationship. If it's a business connection, consider specifying further, like "a business associate".

Common error

Avoid using "an associate of mine" in casual conversation; simpler terms like "a friend of mine" or "someone I know" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an associate of mine" functions as a possessive construction used to indicate a relationship between the speaker and another person. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Huffington Post

29%

Science

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academic

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "an associate of mine" is a grammatically correct and relatively common way to refer to someone known to the speaker, often in a professional context. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English, particularly when you want to refer someone that you work with, by showing a professional or personal relationship. As the examples show, it's more formal than "a friend of mine" and indicates a professional or business connection. While typically found in News & Media contexts, it's advisable to reserve it for professional or semi-formal settings and avoid overuse in casual conversation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a colleague of mine

Replaces "associate" with "colleague", emphasizing a professional connection.

a business contact of mine

Specifies the relationship as being within a business context.

a professional acquaintance of mine

Highlights a formal and potentially less personal relationship.

a connection of mine

A more general term to indicate a link or relationship.

a fellow member of my organization

Suggests belonging to the same group or institution.

someone I'm acquainted with

More indirect way to denote relationship.

someone I know from work

Highlights relationship from workplace.

one of my contacts

Another general expression showing relationship.

someone in my network

More formal phrase.

a person I collaborate with

Specifies a collaborative working relationship.

FAQs

How can I use "an associate of mine" in a sentence?

Use "an associate of mine" to refer to someone you know or work with, especially in a professional context. For example, "I discussed the project with "a colleague of mine"".

What's a good alternative to "an associate of mine"?

Alternatives include ""a colleague of mine"" for professional settings, or "a friend of mine" if the context is more casual.

Is "an associate of mine" formal or informal?

"An associate of mine" tends to be more formal than expressions like "a friend of mine" and is often used in business or professional contexts.

Which is correct, "associate of mine" or "my associate"?

Both are grammatically correct, but they carry slightly different connotations. "An associate of mine" emphasizes the relationship, while "my associate" is more direct and possessive, and usually reserved to be followed by a person's name.