he is communications

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he is communications" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely intended to convey that he works in the field of communications, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "He is communications director at the company, overseeing all public relations efforts."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

He is communications and public relations manager at the California Veterinary Medical Association.

Columbia University

While the Saatchi campaign has ground on, with a glowing puff piece in the Telegraph written by Dominic Nutt (in which he failed to point out that he is communications director for the bill) with repeated claims that only lawyers oppose the bill (not true, as we have seen), it would be easy for onlookers to gain a false impression of the bill and then support it.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Netanyahu is linked to the case because he was communications minister at that time.

The Washington Post

He said Turnbull was "very precious" about what happened to NBN Co under his watch when he was communications minister.

The Guardian

Before he joined the White House senior staff, he was communications director of the Republican National Committee from 2011 to 2017, and its chief strategist from 2015 to 2017.

Harvard University

Some of the themes of the speech expanded on the points Turnbull made when he was communications minister in Abbott's government.

The Guardian

He would probably be the leadership favourite, but for personal controversies that include allegations (which he denies) that he favoured Reliance Infocomm, a telecoms company controlled by the Mumbai-based Ambani family, when he was communications minister.

The Economist

Mr. Bisnow dropped out of the University of Wisconsin in 2007 to run the company with his father, Mark Bisnow, a longtime radio host and political insider (he was communications director for John Anderson's 1980 presidential bid), who is chief executive.

The New York Times

He was communications director of the White House Climate Change Task Force under President Bill Clinton.

HuffPost

He was communications director for Jagmeet Singh's leadership campaign and speechwriter for the NDP.

Vice

Later in the year, he was communications and meteorological officer for General Henry H. Arnold's Alaskan flight, which was to do much in shaping the trend of air communications.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always rephrase such phrases for enhanced clarity. Prefer using more conventional phrasing such as "He works in communications" or "He is a communications professional".

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "he is communications" directly. While understandable in some contexts, it deviates from standard English grammar and can sound unnatural. Use more common and clearer constructions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he is communications" functions as an attempt to describe someone's profession or role. However, it's grammatically unconventional and lacks the clarity found in standard English phrasing, as also noted by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "he is communications" aims to express someone's involvement in the communications field, it is grammatically unconventional. As indicated by Ludwig, it deviates from standard English and requires rephrasing for clarity. More appropriate alternatives include "He works in communications" or specifying the role, such as "He is a communications manager". Although sourced from reputable outlets like The Guardian and Columbia University, its infrequent and grammatically questionable usage makes it advisable to use alternative phrasings to ensure clear and effective communication. Using clearer alternatives will prevent potential misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

He works in communications

Rephrases the statement to use a more standard verb construction indicating occupation.

He is a communications professional

Uses a noun phrase to define his profession, adding specificity.

He specializes in communications

Focuses on the area of expertise or specialization.

He is responsible for communications

Highlights his responsibilities and duties in the communications field.

He manages communications

Emphasizes his role in overseeing and directing communications activities.

He leads communications efforts

Highlights a leadership role within the communications sector.

He is involved in communications

Suggests participation in communications-related tasks or projects.

He handles communications

Indicates that he takes care of communications-related tasks.

He is the communications contact

Specifies his role as the point of contact for communications-related matters.

He oversees communications

Implies that he has supervisory control over communications functions.

FAQs

How can I use "he is communications" in a sentence correctly?

While not grammatically standard, the intent can be better conveyed by saying, "He works in "communications"" or "He is a communications professional".

What's a more formal alternative to "he is communications"?

A more formal option would be "He is the director of "communications"" or "He holds a senior position in communications".

How do I clarify what someone does if I know they work in communications?

Specify their role. For example, "He is a "communications manager"", "He is a "communications director"", or "He is a communications specialist".

What is the difference between "he is in communications" and "he is communications"?

"He is in communications" is grammatically correct and means he works in the field of communications. "He is communications" is unusual and grammatically questionable; it requires rephrasing for clarity.