do not refer

USAGE SUMMARY

"do not refer" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is usually used as an instruction to not look elsewhere for more information or to not bring something up in a discussion. For example, "Please do not refer to the incident from last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Bahraini and Lebanese documents do not refer to any external references.

BMC Medical Ethics

*We do not refer to Bud Selig as the Commish.

The New York Times - Sports

Do not refer to the audience as "my public".

The New York Times

(Please do not refer to real classmates by name).

The New York Times

Do not refer others to the same expert.

The New York Times

The cables do not refer to missile parts or "kits".

The New York Times

Please do not refer to your child's baby or toddler days!

The New York Times

They mean Dragon's Bridge; they do not refer to the name of a dragon.

The New York Times - Travel

Do not refer to the surrounding space as the "mise en scène".

The New York Times

"The assurances... do not refer to data taken from American servers".

The Guardian

"And as so far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "do not refer" when you want to explicitly instruct someone to avoid mentioning a specific topic or source in their writing or speech. This ensures clarity and avoids any ambiguity about what should be omitted.

Common error

A common mistake is to confuse "do not refer" with "do not infer". "Do not refer" means to not mention or cite something, while "do not infer" means to not draw a conclusion or make an assumption. Ensure you are using the correct term based on your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "do not refer" functions as an imperative directive, instructing the listener or reader to avoid mentioning or citing something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this usage is grammatically correct. Many examples in Ludwig demonstrate this function across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "do not refer" is a grammatically correct and frequently used directive, confirmed by Ludwig AI, instructing the avoidance of specific topics or sources. It is prevalent in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. When writing, it is vital to avoid confusing it with similar-sounding phrases like "do not infer". This phrase is best used to maintain focus or exclude irrelevant or sensitive information. The examples provided by Ludwig demonstrate its varied applications, reinforcing its role in clear and controlled communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

do not mention

Focuses on avoiding the act of bringing something up in conversation or writing; emphasizes omission.

do not cite

Specifically relates to avoiding the quotation or acknowledgement of a source.

do not allude to

Implies avoiding indirect references or hints about something.

do not reference

Similar to "do not cite", but can also apply to avoiding any form of connection or link.

omit any mention of

Highlights the act of leaving something out completely.

make no reference to

Formal way to state the absence of any connection or citation.

avoid discussing

Focuses on steering clear of a topic in conversation or writing.

do not touch upon

Suggests not briefly mentioning or considering a topic.

do not touch on

Suggests not briefly mentioning or considering a topic.

steer clear of

Emphasizes deliberately avoiding a topic or issue.

FAQs

How can I use "do not refer" in a sentence?

You can use "do not refer" to instruct someone to avoid mentioning something. For example, "Please "do not refer" to the previous incident during the meeting".

What is an alternative to saying "do not refer"?

Alternatives include "do not mention", "do not cite", or "omit any mention of", depending on the specific context.

What does "do not refer" mean?

"Do not refer" means to intentionally avoid mentioning or citing something. It's a directive to exclude specific information or sources from a discussion or document.

In what situations would I use "do not refer"?

Use "do not refer" when you want to explicitly prevent someone from bringing up a specific topic, detail, or source. This might be to maintain focus, protect sensitive information, or avoid irrelevant discussions. For example: "Do not refer to confidential client data during the presentation".