confirm something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "confirm something" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to verify or validate information or a statement. For example, "I need to confirm the meeting time with my manager." Alternative expressions include "verify something," "validate something," and "affirm something."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

The latest mis-selling scandals confirm something else we already knew: that they fleece their customers.

The Guardian - Opinion

I am used to checking my facts before I speak and confirm something as true.

The New York Times

If he fails, it will confirm something important: Mr Blair had a point.

The Economist

Data from the AACSB, one of three main accreditation bodies for MBAs, confirm something of a gravitational shift towards Asia.

The Economist

In a gesture that seems a bit insecure during a long conversation, he frequently pulls out documents to confirm something he has said or done in the past.

The New York Times

So it's easier for the supplier to tell the truth when you ask it in a pessimistic way because they just have to kind of confirm something.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Brenner nodded as if her answer was confirming something.

The New York Times - Magazine

Francis jokingly calls that finding "the 'duh' effect" because it confirms something that seems obvious.

University of California, Berkeley

His roommates confirmed something that he'd read online: smugglers were now charging about five thousand dollars.

The New Yorker

And he confirmed something I had suspected but had never fully explored: I was the first.

The New York Times

"It confirms something very important, which is the divisions about the strategic conception of the organisation.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "confirm something" when you need to verify information you already suspect or have reason to believe is true. For instance, "The test results confirm something I already suspected."

Common error

Avoid using "confirm something" when you actually intend to convey new information to someone. "Confirm" implies verification of pre-existing knowledge, not initial disclosure. Instead, use "inform someone" or "notify someone" when you are the source of the information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "confirm something" functions as a verb phrase where "confirm" is the transitive verb requiring a direct object (the 'something' to be confirmed). Ludwig's examples show it used to validate information, suspicions, or pre-existing knowledge.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "confirm something" is a versatile phrase used to validate or verify information, suspicions, or pre-existing knowledge. Ludwig AI categorizes it as grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, including news, academia, and formal business. When employing this phrase, ensure that you're aiming to validate something rather than introduce it, and consider alternatives like "verify", "validate", or "substantiate" for nuanced communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

verify something

Replaces "confirm" with "verify", emphasizing the act of checking the truth or accuracy of something.

validate something

Suggests a more formal or official confirmation, implying that something is proven to be correct or legitimate.

affirm something

Suggests stating something is true or factual, often publicly or officially.

substantiate something

Implies providing evidence to support the truth or validity of something.

ascertain something

Implies finding something out for certain, often through investigation or inquiry.

corroborate something

Focuses on providing additional support or evidence to strengthen the validity of something.

authenticate something

Refers to establishing something as genuine or authentic, often in a formal or official context.

prove something

Indicates demonstrating the truth or validity of something through evidence or argument.

demonstrate something

Focuses on showing or illustrating something to be true or valid.

ratify something

Implies formal approval or validation, often used in the context of agreements or decisions.

FAQs

How can I use "confirm something" in a sentence?

You can use "confirm something" when you want to verify or validate information. For example, "I need to "confirm something" with my manager before proceeding."

What are some alternatives to "confirm something"?

Some alternatives to "confirm something" include "verify something", "validate something", or "substantiate something".

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

Both "confirm something" and "verify something" are correct, but "verify" often implies a more thorough or official investigation than "confirm".

What's the difference between "confirm something" and "assure someone"?

"Confirm something" means to verify the truth of something, while "assure someone" means to remove someone's doubts. For instance, you might "confirm something" about a meeting time, or "assure someone" that they are doing a good job.