he cites to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he cites to" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form is "he cites" or "he refers to." Example: "In his paper, he cites several important studies on climate change."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

But this distinction — between the intender's meaning and textual meaning — is undermined by one of the examples he cites to illustrate it.

The New York Times

Although the cases he cites to support these additional exceptions involved constitutional errors, Justice STEVENS may well be correct in asserting that they also apply to errors governed by the statutory harmless-error provisions.

Cornell University

But although he tries to soft-pedal the racism of the Empire, he cannot disguise the prejudices of the colonists, and sometimes the anecdotes he cites to illustrate a non-racist world view seem to prove the opposite.

The New Yorker

(Unfortunately, the study he cites to support this fact dates all the way back to 1990, when today's new college graduates weren't even born, though Brooks's observation is surely buttressed by his interactions with students at Yale, where he has taught a class for several years).

The New Yorker

In "Manhattan," one of the things he cites to his tape recorder among the things that make life worth living is Louis Armstrong's "Potato Head Blues," from 1927 (the trumpet break that starts at 2 06 is indeed one of the seminal moments in recorded jazz).

The New Yorker

He also ought to know that mainstream economists, including Alan Greenspan, the Federal Reserve chairman, and Kathleen Utgoff, the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, do not consider the household survey he cites to be a reliable indicator of employment.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The qualities he cited to Time to describe his campaign — "openness and transparency and participation" — were ones he said "merged perfectly" with the Internet.

The New York Times

There are no neighbourhood ghetto communities in Britain, and the 'new' research he cited to try to support his claims is neither new nor authoritative.

The Guardian

He cited to the CEO certification as an example of a situation where the responsibility of the CEO made in that certification will obviously be supported through a chain of command.

Harvard University

He also cites to the secret Fisa as judicial review – a truly laughable proposition.

The Guardian - Opinion

He cites plans to liberalise financial markets, and to open up markets to more competition.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the correct form: "he cites" or "he refers to". For example, instead of "He cites to the study", write "He cites the study" or "He refers to the study".

Common error

Do not add "to" after "cites". The verb "cite" is transitive, meaning it takes a direct object. Saying "cites to" is grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he cites to" is grammatically incorrect. The correct usage involves the transitive verb "cite" followed directly by the source being cited. The addition of "to" is superfluous and violates standard English grammar, as indicated by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he cites to" is grammatically incorrect. The correct forms are "he cites" or "he refers to", as confirmed by Ludwig AI. This error undermines the clarity and credibility of the writing, regardless of the intended register. Remember to use "he cites" followed by the source directly, or use alternatives such as "he refers to" for grammatically sound communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he refers to

Replaces "cites" with "refers", providing a more grammatically correct alternative.

he uses as evidence

Explicitly states the purpose of the cited material as providing proof or support.

he points to

Emphasizes the act of directing attention towards something as evidence or support.

he mentions

Uses a different verb to indicate a brief reference, lacking the formal connotation of "cites".

he draws upon

Highlights the use of information or ideas from a source to support an argument.

he quotes

Indicates direct verbatim repetition of someone else's words or text, rather than a general reference.

he alludes to

Suggests an indirect reference, rather than a direct citation.

he takes from

Implies borrowing or extracting information from a source, which can be a subtle difference.

he indicates

Uses indicates instead of cites, provides information.

he establishes

Uses establishes instead of cites, make solid, achievable.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use the verb "cite" in a sentence?

The verb "cite" is transitive and takes a direct object. The correct usage is "he cites" followed by the source being cited, like "He cites the research paper".

Is it ever correct to say "cite to"?

No, it is not correct to say "cite to" in standard English. The proper construction is simply "cite" followed by the source. A correct alternative, although not perfectly equivalent, would be "refers to".

What are some alternatives to "he cites"?

Alternatives include "he mentions", "he refers to", "he points to", or "he quotes", depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "he cites" and "he refers to"?

"He cites" typically implies a more formal and direct reference, often in academic or professional contexts. "He refers to" is a broader term that can encompass more general or indirect mentions. While both can be correct, using "he cites" incorrectly as "he cites to" should be avoided.