he concedes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he concedes" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when someone admits defeat or agrees to something, often reluctantly. For example: Even though he disagreed with the new policy, he conceded and decided to comply with it.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Nice putt," he concedes.

The New York Times

"He concedes it now".

The New Yorker

"It's difficult," he concedes.

The New York Times

Possibly so, he concedes.

Independent

"All right," he concedes.

The Economist

That, he concedes, is unlikely.

The New York Times

If he concedes, forgive him.

The New York Times - Magazine

"It's pretty miraculous," he concedes.

Independent

He concedes they are enormous.

The New Yorker

Indonesia, he concedes, "is harder".

The Economist

But he concedes the obvious.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he concedes" when you want to convey that someone is reluctantly admitting something or acknowledging a point, often after some resistance or debate. It adds a layer of nuance that simply saying "he admits" might miss.

Common error

Avoid using "he concedes" too frequently in casual conversations or informal writing. While grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal or stilted in everyday contexts. Opt for simpler alternatives like "he admits" or "he agrees" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he concedes" functions as a third-person singular present tense verb phrase. It describes an action performed by a male subject, indicating that he is admitting something, often reluctantly. Ludwig's examples show it frequently used in journalistic contexts to report on someone's admission.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he concedes" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, primarily found in news and media contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates that a male subject is admitting something, often reluctantly. While straightforward alternatives like "he admits" exist, "he concedes" adds a subtle layer of meaning by suggesting a yielding after some resistance. Therefore, it's best used in formal and neutral writing, such as news reporting, where this nuance is valuable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he admits

This alternative directly replaces "concedes" with a more neutral synonym, "admits", indicating a straightforward acknowledgment.

he acknowledges

This option uses "acknowledges", suggesting a formal recognition of something, which is very close to the original meaning.

he recognizes

Substituting "concedes" with "recognizes" indicates acknowledging the validity or truth of something.

he grants

Swapping "concedes" for "grants" implies yielding or reluctantly giving something, similar to admitting a point.

he accepts

Using "accepts" instead of "concedes" implies a willingness to acknowledge or agree to something, often reluctantly.

he allows

Replacing "concedes" with "allows" suggests permitting or acknowledging something, often with a hint of reluctance.

he owns up to

Using "owns up to" emphasizes taking responsibility for something, implying an admission of a mistake or fault.

he gives in

Changing to "gives in" suggests surrendering to a point or argument, which is similar to conceding.

he yields

Replacing "concedes" with "yields" implies giving way or surrendering to a position, similar to admitting defeat.

he comes to terms with

This phrase suggests accepting a difficult situation or fact, which is related to conceding a point.

FAQs

How to use "he concedes" in a sentence?

You can use "he concedes" when someone admits something, often reluctantly. For example, "After reviewing the data, "he concedes" that the initial projections were too optimistic."

What can I say instead of "he concedes"?

You can use alternatives like "he admits", "he acknowledges", or "he grants" depending on the context. These alternatives vary slightly in formality and nuance.

Which is correct, "he concedes" or "he is conceding"?

"He concedes" is the simple present tense, used for general statements or habitual actions. "He is conceding" is the present continuous tense, used for actions happening now or around now. Both are grammatically correct but convey different meanings. For example, "He concedes that the point is valid" (general statement) versus "He is conceding defeat" (happening now).

What's the difference between "he concedes" and "he admits"?

While both phrases indicate an acknowledgement, "he concedes" often implies a reluctance or yielding after some resistance. "He admits" is a more neutral and straightforward acknowledgement without the implication of prior disagreement.