confer people

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "confer people" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It seems to be an attempt to express the act of granting or bestowing something to individuals, but it lacks proper context and structure. Example: "The committee will confer people with awards for their outstanding contributions."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

We shouldn't need Kevorkian's ostentation of banditry to confer on people authority over their own being, which of necessity encompasses authority over their own deaths.

The New Yorker

It also means that friends of mine who happen to love a person of the same sex can't visit their critically ill partner in certain hospitals, nor benefit from the largesse we confer on people who happen to love someone of the opposite sex.

The Economist

Thereby, the state and spatial occurrence of various fruit tree species and varieties are assessed, the services that they confer to people are evaluated, and recommendations are made on strategies aiming at enhancing their services.

Ecological Engineering

Most of us would define it as a status conferred on people of exceptional virtue; noble men and women who make spectacular sacrifices to defend others and protect principles.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's a quite tremendous number – particularly given that most of those 1,000 episodes consist of little more than endless polite conferring between people not traditionally known for their verbal charisma.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The department also suggested that the voter registration data supplied by South Carolina might instead be too low because the state did not include "several categories of existing registered voters listed as inactive voters," apparently a status conferred on people who failed to participate in several recent elections.

The New York Times

For instance, what rights should be conferred on people who spend a quarter of their time in one city?

TechCrunch

There is no obvious reason for relying on a hypothetical state of affairs lacking these features as a baseline for assessing the causal role of impairments, or the advantages conferred on people with impairments in moving to a political state.

SEP

"But think of all the lies that confer benefit to people: I love your new hat.

The New York Times

A Seton Hall spokeswoman said that the university would not rescind the degree but also that it "does not knowingly" confer degrees on people who support abortion.

The New York Times

It is true that Indonesia's notoriously vague constitution does not explicitly confer on the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) the right to remove a president.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "confer people". Instead, clarify what you intend to convey: Are you granting something to people, or consulting with them? Use more precise phrasing like "confer benefits on people" or "confer with people" for clarity.

Common error

The verb "confer" requires a direct object specifying what is being conferred. Simply saying "confer people" is incomplete and grammatically incorrect. Always include what is being given or discussed, such as "confer rights on people" or "confer with people about the issue".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "confer people" is grammatically incomplete. "Confer" is a transitive verb that requires a direct object specifying what is being conferred. Therefore, it needs a noun that specifies what is being bestowed upon the people.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "confer people" is deemed grammatically incorrect, as it lacks the necessary direct object to specify what is being bestowed. Ludwig AI highlights this incompleteness, indicating that "confer" requires further specification to form a coherent thought. To use "confer" correctly, clarify what is being granted or discussed, such as "confer benefits on people" or "confer with people". Understanding this transitive nature will help avoid errors and ensure clear communication. Remember, adding what is being 'conferred' turns the phrase into a correct sentence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

confer benefits on people

Specifies the conferral of benefits, clarifying the nature of what is given.

confer legitimacy on people

Specifies that what is being conferred is legitimacy, making the phrase more precise.

confer status on people

Specifies that a particular status is being given, making the phrase more direct and focused.

bestow upon people

Replaces "confer" with "bestow", which similarly means to grant or present, but is often used in the context of honors or gifts. This shifts the focus to a more formal type of giving.

grant to people

Substitutes "confer" with "grant", which suggests giving something formally or legally. It emphasizes the act of officially permitting or awarding something.

award to people

Replaces "confer" with "award", implying the formal presentation of something in recognition of merit. It's more specific than "confer" and suggests a competitive or achievement-based context.

entitle people

Replaces "confer" and indicates giving people a right or qualification.

empower people

Implies giving people authority or power, not just bestowing something on them.

give people

A more generic alternative, replacing "confer" with "give". It lacks the formality and specific connotations of "confer" but can be suitable in informal contexts.

confer with people

Adds "with" to "confer", changing the meaning to 'consult' or 'discuss'. This is a distinct usage of "confer", focused on dialogue rather than bestowing.

FAQs

What does it mean to "confer" something on someone?

To "confer" something on someone means to grant or bestow it. This can include titles, honors, rights, or benefits. For example, a university might "confer degrees" on its graduates.

How can I use "confer" correctly in a sentence?

Make sure to specify what is being conferred. Instead of saying "They will confer people", say "They will "confer awards" on the winners" or "They will "confer status" upon them". Consider whether you mean to bestow something or to discuss something with someone.

Is it correct to say "confer to people"?

No, "confer to people" is not the correct usage. You should use "confer on people" when you mean to bestow or grant something. However, "confer with people" is correct when you mean to discuss or consult with them.

What's the difference between "confer on" and "confer with"?

"Confer on" means to grant or bestow something, like a title or benefit. "Confer with" means to consult or discuss something with someone. For example, "The university will "confer an honorary degree on" the speaker", but "The manager will "confer with the team" about the new project".