correspond

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'correspond' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean "to take the form, position, or relation of something else; to be in agreement, harmony, or conformity," such as in the following sentence: The results of the experiment corresponded with our predictions.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Imagining that all good reform comes from the state and everything bad from outside just does not correspond to people's lived experience.

The Guardian - Opinion

The party at first rejected the TV exit poll which predicted it would face huge losses and retain only 10 of its 56 seats, saying it did not correspond to information the Lib Dems had gathered from activists.

The Guardian

Lithuania is [a] vibrant civic society, which is strongly committed to western values … the communist era is a bygone chapter in our history and does not correspond to reality any more".

The Guardian - Opinion

Then, too, they need to realize that what is on offer are teaser rates that won't last past the lifespan of the six, 12 or 24 months of the initial contract, what is available then may not correspond to their needs.

The Guardian - Money

Five years ago, the Guardian began to correspond with a number of whole-lifers about what their sentence meant to them.

The Guardian

But there is no evidence that Daniele had taken drugs, and the marks do not correspond to those left when blood is extracted in the normal way by medical staff.

The Guardian

It is thought Amazon's stake in Lovefilm will correspond to the proportion of customers it adds, at about 33%.

The Guardian - Business

Patients have both a paper and electronic prescription record which often do not correspond to one another.

The Guardian

These subtended angles correspond to a viewing distance of roughly 2.2 times the screen width at the back row of the seating, down to 1.5 times the screen width at the front.

The Economist

For some things, like retail sales, the categories into which Google classifies its search-trend data correspond closely to what people may want to predict, such as the sales of a particular brand of car (see chart).

The Economist

(Emulation involves the use of a virtual machine that executes instructions just as the Game Boy would, and the Pokémon software runs on top of that).In the chat room, viewers can type any of the commands that correspond to the Game Boy's physical controller: a, b, start, select, up, down, left and right.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "correspond", ensure the context clearly indicates the nature of the relationship between the items being compared, whether it's similarity, equivalence, or direct communication.

Common error

Avoid using "correspond" to imply direct causation. While two events might "correspond" in time or location, it doesn't necessarily mean one caused the other. Use causal connectors like "because of" or "due to" to indicate causation directly.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "correspond" is as a verb, indicating a state of agreement, similarity, or communication. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in diverse contexts, reinforcing this function. As Ludwig AI confirms, the term is grammatically sound and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "correspond" is a versatile verb frequently employed to denote agreement, similarity, or communication between entities. As Ludwig's AI analysis indicates, it's grammatically correct and widely used. Predominantly found in news, scientific, and formal business contexts, its usage extends across diverse registers, maintaining a neutral tone. To effectively use "correspond", ensure clarity in the nature of the relationship you're describing, avoiding implications of causation without direct causal connectors. Related alternatives include "align", "agree", and "match", offering nuanced ways to express connection or equivalence. The word appears to be well established in modern English writing and speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

match

Highlights similarity or equality between two things, often used in contexts where things are paired or compared.

agree

Emphasizes a state of concurrence or harmony in opinion, feeling, or action.

align

Focuses on the arrangement in a straight line or in correct relative position, implying agreement or cooperation.

coincide

Indicates events happening at the same time or places occupying the same space.

equate

Suggests establishing an equivalence or correspondence between two or more things.

tally

Implies a count or calculation that results in agreement or equivalence.

relate

Highlights a connection or association between two or more things.

harmonize

Stresses the creation of a pleasing or consistent arrangement, often in music or design.

dovetail

Implies fitting together neatly and effectively, often in a way that strengthens the overall structure.

communicate

Focuses on the exchange of information, thoughts, or feelings.

FAQs

How can I use "correspond" in a sentence?

The word "correspond" can be used to indicate agreement, similarity, or communication. For example, "The survey results "correspond" with our initial hypotheses," or "I "correspond" with my friend via email".

What are some alternatives to "correspond"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "align", "agree", or "match" instead of "correspond".

Which is correct, "correspond to" or "correspond with"?

"Correspond to" is generally used to indicate similarity or equivalence, while "correspond with" often implies communication. For example, "The key "corresponds to" the lock," versus "I "correspond with" my pen pal".

What's the difference between "correspond" and "relate"?

"Correspond" implies a direct relationship or similarity, whereas "relate" suggests a connection or association that might not be as precise or direct. Things that "correspond" are often similar in nature, while things that "relate" may simply be connected.