confirm

USAGE SUMMARY

"confirm" is a correct word and can be used in written English.
It is a verb meaning to make sure that something is true or certain and is often used in a formal or professional context. For example: I will send you an email to confirm the details of our meeting.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I can subsequently confirm that there are still two unaccompanied minors on Manus, who were transferred there by the previous government.

The Guardian

Maybe get a stress test to confirm that there's no issue, but even that might be overkill.

The Economist

It's hard to confirm this but Adam Treloar seems like one of the biggest sledgers in the AFL.

The Guardian - Sport

A spokesman for Prasetyo, Tony Spontana, told Guardian Australia the executions would be after the Asian-African conference in Jakarta from 19 to 24 April, but could not confirm a timeframe beyond that.

The Guardian

A spokesperson for QUB's communications office said on Friday: "Following the completion of a comprehensive risk assessment, undertaken in line with approved protocols, the university is pleased to confirm that the Charlie Hebdo Research Symposium, organised by the Institute for Collaborative Research in the Humanities, has been approved".

The Guardian

Such a failure to legislate would be a moral hazard of such a scale as to confirm, even to many unionists, that the UK government has indeed become corrupted, and that the referendum was won on a lie.

The Guardian - Opinion

(The man, the Guardian understands, wishes to be anonymous; his current attorney declined to confirm Solowiej's account).

The Guardian

The camera trap also permits [us] to discover new species and to confirm some species as golden cats, gigantic pangolin, ratel [or honey badger]." McPhee's work, which he is currently crafting into a master's thesis, is not going unnoticed.

The Guardian

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "I can confirm that the Queen this morning attended her annual medical checkup at the King Edward VII's hospital in London.

The Guardian

I can't confirm that they're on Manus Island.

The Guardian

On Wednesday a spokesman for the Morrison said it was long-standing government practice not to confirm or comment on reports of individual acts of self-harm, but there was no basis to the claims of self-harm or attempted suicide.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "confirm" when you want to eliminate uncertainty, but choose more precise verbs like "verify" or "authenticate" for specific contexts where accuracy and validity are paramount.

Common error

While "confirm" is grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for alternatives like "check", "yes", or "okay" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The verb "confirm" primarily functions to verify or validate information. It's used to establish the truth or accuracy of a statement, fact, or event. As Ludwig AI indicates, the word is correctly used in written English. The examples demonstrate its use in news, formal and scientific contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the verb "confirm" is a versatile term that serves to verify, validate, or assure the truth of something. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness in written English. It is very common across various contexts, predominantly in news and media, formal business, and scientific domains. Its usage aims to eliminate doubt, providing assurance and accuracy. While grammatically sound, being mindful of the register and choosing synonyms like "verify" or "validate" based on the situation, can enhance the effectiveness of your communication. The examples provided through Ludwig clearly illustrate its practical applications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

verify

Focuses on establishing the truth or accuracy of something.

validate

Implies checking or proving the validity or correctness of something.

authenticate

Emphasizes proving that something is genuine.

substantiate

Highlights providing evidence to support a claim.

corroborate

Focuses on providing additional support to an existing statement or finding.

affirm

Means to state something is true assertively.

attest to

Implies bearing witness to the truth of something.

certify

Involves formally declaring something to be true or accurate.

prove

Focuses on demonstrating the truth to an absolute degree.

establish

Highlights setting something firmly or securely.

FAQs

How can I use "confirm" in a sentence?

You can use "confirm" to indicate that something has been verified or validated. For example, "I need to "confirm" my flight reservation" or "The data "confirms" the hypothesis".

What are some alternatives to "confirm"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "verify", "validate", or "authenticate". Choose the word that best fits the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to "confirm" or "verify" something?

"Confirm" generally means to make something definite or certain, while "verify" means to establish the truth or accuracy of something. Use "verify" when you need to check for correctness and "confirm" when you want to make something official or certain.

What's the difference between "confirm" and "acknowledge"?

"Confirm" implies verifying or establishing something as true, while "acknowledge" means to recognize or admit something. You "confirm" a fact, but you "acknowledge" a receipt or an issue.