can be refer

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can be refer" is not correct in English.
The correct form should be "can be referred." You can use it when discussing how something may be mentioned or cited in a particular context. Example: "The term 'sustainability' can be referred to in various academic disciplines, including environmental science and economics."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

For the more details, the readers can be refer to [45, 46].

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Veterans who are homeless can be referred by the Veterans Administration.

Harvard University

This effect can be referred to as permeability thickening.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

That can be referred to as the forward substructuring model updating method.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

It can be referred to, one can try to apply it, but no more".

The New York Times

Stalkers can be referred to the clinic by the courts, police, probation service or NHS.

The Guardian

Focus 12 clients can be referred by social workers or pay privately.

The Guardian

The original said that children from babies to 18-year-olds can be referred to Gids.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Complaints about maladministration of the social services agency can be referred to the independent case examiner.

The Guardian

This process can be referred to as a kind of algorithmic score sampling.

Stanford University

The new abstraction can be referred to as a refinement of the original one.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct grammatical form, "can be referred to", when indicating that something can be cited or mentioned as a reference.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "can be refer". The correct form is "can be referred". Using the incorrect form diminishes the credibility of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can be refer" is an incorrect grammatical construction. It attempts to express the possibility of something being cited or mentioned, but it fails to use the correct passive verb form. Ludwig AI flags it as incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

25%

Academia

21%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "can be refer" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "can be referred to". As Ludwig AI highlights, using "can be refer" is an error that should be avoided. While some examples of its usage exist across various sources, including science, news media, and academia, these instances are mistakes rather than established usage. Instead, consider using alternatives like "can be cited", "can be mentioned", or "can be directed to" for clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can be referred to

This is the grammatically correct form of the original phrase.

can be cited

Replaces "refer" with "cite", emphasizing formal acknowledgement of a source.

can be mentioned

Uses "mentioned" to suggest a less formal reference.

can be directed to

Replaces "refer" with "direct", focusing on guidance or instruction.

can be guided to

Replaces "refer" with "guide", suggesting direction towards a resource or information.

can be pointed to

Uses "pointed" to emphasize direct guidance.

can be consulted

Suggests seeking advice or information from a source.

can be looked up

Emphasizes finding information within a reference.

can be examined

Emphasizes a careful inspection and study of the source.

can be found in

Highlights the location of specific information or content.

FAQs

What is the correct form, "can be refer" or "can be referred to"?

The correct form is "can be referred to". "Can be refer" is grammatically incorrect.

When should I use "can be referred to" in a sentence?

Use "can be referred to" when you want to indicate that something can be cited or mentioned as a reference. For example, "This concept can be referred to in several academic papers."

What are some alternatives to "can be referred to"?

You can use alternatives like "can be cited", "can be mentioned", or "can be directed to" depending on the context.

Is "can be refer" ever acceptable in formal writing?

No, "can be refer" is not acceptable in formal writing. Always use the grammatically correct form, "can be referred to".