he recognised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he recognised" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone has identified or acknowledged someone or something they have seen or experienced before. Example: "As he walked through the crowded room, he recognised an old friend from college."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He recognised superb defending.

Independent

How was he recognised?

The Guardian

Perhaps he recognised this.

The Guardian - Books

He recognised her immediately.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He recognised me.

The Guardian - Opinion

He recognised Israel's right to exist.

The Guardian

He recognised only one illegitimate child.

The Guardian - Books

"Perhaps he recognised in Utzon another visionary".

The Guardian - Arts

That he recognised these shortcomings is encouraging.

The Guardian - Sport

He recognised her and her abilities".

The Guardian

He recognised now, he said, that the condition was unattainable.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he recognised" to clearly indicate that someone has identified or acknowledged something or someone previously known or encountered. Consider the context to ensure it's the most accurate verb for the specific situation.

Common error

Avoid using "he recognised" when referring to a first-time encounter. "Recognise" implies a prior familiarity. Instead, use verbs like "saw", "noticed", or "identified" for initial observations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he recognised" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of identifying someone or something previously known. As Ludwig confirms, it's used to express that someone has identified or acknowledged something familiar.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Books

15%

Sport

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he recognised" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb phrase indicating the act of identifying someone or something familiar. Ludwig confirms its validity and usability. It appears most commonly in News & Media, Books, and Sport contexts. While generally neutral in register, careful attention to context ensures accurate and effective communication. When writing, remember that "recognise" implies prior familiarity and should not be used for first-time encounters. Alternative phrases include "he identified" or "he acknowledged", offering nuanced ways to express the same general idea.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he identified

Focuses on pinpointing or establishing the identity of someone or something.

he acknowledged

Emphasizes an admission or recognition of something's existence or truth.

he realized

Highlights a newfound understanding or awareness.

he understood

Stresses comprehension and grasp of a concept or situation.

he discerned

Implies a careful or subtle perception.

he perceived

Focuses on the awareness through the senses or intuition.

he detected

Highlights the discovery of something not immediately obvious.

he noticed

Emphasizes a casual observation or realization.

he became aware of

Focuses on the process of gaining awareness.

it dawned on him

Suggests a sudden realization or understanding.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "he recognised"?

You can use alternatives like "he identified", "he acknowledged", or "he realized" depending on the context.

How to use "he recognised" in a sentence?

Use "he recognised" to indicate that someone identified someone or something they had known before. For example, "He recognised her immediately from her distinctive voice".

What is the difference between "he recognised" and "he knew"?

"He recognised" implies identifying something already known, while "he knew" simply indicates having knowledge of something. If he recognised the woman it means he had seen her before, if he knew the woman it means he had knowledge of her without necessarily having seen her before.

Is "he recognised" formal or informal?

"He recognised" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure.