confess to

USAGE SUMMARY

"confess to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when someone admits to doing something wrong, either verbally or in writing. For example, "Kelly confessed to her mistake and apologized for the misunderstanding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

I confess to bookspotting.

The New Yorker

Some confess to everything.

The New Yorker

Look, I confess to hypocrisy.

The New York Times

I confess to being perplexed.

The New York Times

I confess to liking newspapers.

The New Yorker

I confess to ambivalence.

The New York Times

And people tend to confess to Kevin".

The New York Times

"I confess to the shooting".

The Guardian

People will secretly confess to not finishing.

The Guardian - Books

I must confess to being lucky, too.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"He said, 'confess to me'.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "confess to", ensure the object of the preposition is clearly stated. This clarifies what is being admitted or acknowledged. For example, "I confess to feeling nervous" is more precise than "I confess."

Common error

Avoid using "confess to" when expressing positive feelings or actions. "Confess" typically implies admitting something negative or wrong. Instead of "I confess to liking the movie", consider "I admit I enjoyed the movie" or simply "I liked the movie."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "confess to" functions as a verb phrase that introduces an admission or acknowledgment of something, often implying guilt, wrongdoing, or a previously concealed truth. As Ludwig AI also confirms, it is mainly used to admit to something wrong.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "confess to" is a commonly used verb phrase that indicates the admission of a fact, often one that involves wrongdoing or something previously hidden. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's grammatically correct and primarily used to admit to something. While versatile, it’s important to use it in contexts where admitting something is appropriate. Related phrases include "admit to", "acknowledge", and "own up to". Usage is most frequent in news and media sources, reflecting its role in reporting admissions and revelations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

admit to

Replaces "confess" with "admit", maintaining the sense of acknowledging something, often something undesirable.

acknowledge

Uses a single verb to convey the act of admitting or recognizing something.

own up to

An informal way of saying to admit responsibility for something.

plead guilty to

Specifically indicates admitting guilt in a legal context.

come clean about

Implies revealing the truth after a period of concealment.

divulge

Suggests revealing something private or secret.

disclose

Formally reveal information previously kept private.

concede

Admit that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it.

avow

Assert or admit openly and frankly.

profess

Declare openly but sometimes insincerely.

FAQs

What does "confess to" mean?

"Confess to" means to admit to something, often something wrong or embarrassing. It implies acknowledging a truth that was previously hidden or denied.

What can I say instead of "confess to"?

You can use alternatives like "admit to", "acknowledge", or "own up to" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "confess to" in formal writing?

Yes, "confess to" is appropriate in formal writing, especially when admitting a mistake or wrongdoing. However, consider using synonyms like "acknowledge" or "disclose" for a more neutral tone.

How do I use "confess to" in a sentence?

Use "confess to" followed by a noun or gerund to indicate what you are admitting. For example, "I confess to the shooting" or "I confess to feeling overwhelmed."