he refuses that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he refuses that" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used to express someone's rejection of a specific idea or proposal, but it lacks clarity and specificity. Example: "When asked to compromise, he refuses that, insisting on his original terms."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Florence Rouas-Elbazis, a French lawyer, told Agence France-Presse: "It is not because he refuses that he cannot be handed over, but it could lead to an additional delay".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

He refused that".

Independent

He refused that post, but accepted an appointment as director for propaganda at the ministry of information.

The Guardian

Mr. Williams said he refused that request, as well as a later request from Dr. Murray to take him to get something to eat.

The New York Times

He was also diagnosed with hypertension and advised to start the treatment with an antihypertensive drug, but he refused at that time.

BMC Nephrology

"It looks like he refused that," Mr. Avdeev said.

The New York Times

"He doesn't want to, he refused — that lazybones does not want to work," Mr. Putin said.

The New York Times

He refused that his resignation as leader might be necessary for Labour to consider a coalition with the Lib Dems after the general election.

The Guardian

He should refuse that choice!

Huffington Post

Yet he refuses to use that excuse.

HuffPost

"Gifts from our northern neighbors," he quips, referring to refuse that has washed down from California.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and correctness, replace "he refuses that" with more grammatically sound alternatives like "he refuses this" or "he rejects that".

Common error

Avoid using "that" directly after "refuses" as a direct object. Instead, use "this" or rephrase to include a verb, such as "he refuses to do that".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he refuses that" functions as a statement of rejection or denial. However, it is grammatically questionable. Ludwig AI points out its incorrectness in standard written English. While instances appear, they do not establish correct usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while instances of the phrase "he refuses that" can be found, especially in news and media, it is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase lacks clarity and specificity. It's better to use alternatives like "he refuses this", "he rejects that", or rephrase the sentence for better clarity and grammatical accuracy. Given its incorrectness, avoiding this phrase in formal writing is advisable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he refuses this

Replaces "that" with "this" for a more direct refusal.

he rejects that

Uses "rejects" instead of "refuses", providing a synonym with similar meaning.

he declines that

Substitutes "refuses" with "declines", offering a more formal alternative.

he denies that

Employs "denies" to indicate a rejection of a statement or accusation.

he won't accept that

Uses a more explicit and emphatic way of expressing refusal.

he refuses to do that

Adds "to do" for grammatical completeness, clarifying the action being refused.

he is unwilling to do that

Expresses a lack of willingness, offering a more descriptive alternative.

he is not having that

Presents an informal way of saying no to something, typical in certain dialects.

he won't have it

A colloquial way of refusing permission or acceptance.

he is against that

Indicates opposition to something, conveying a refusal through disagreement.

FAQs

How can I use "he refuses that" correctly in a sentence?

While "he refuses that" is grammatically questionable, consider using alternatives like "he refuses this" or restructuring the sentence for clarity.

What is a more formal way to say "he refuses that"?

A more formal way to express the same idea would be to say "he declines that" or "he rejects the proposal".

Is there a difference between saying "he refuses that" and "he denies that"?

"He denies that" typically means he is disputing the truth of a statement, while "he refuses that" (though grammatically suspect) implies a rejection of something offered or proposed.

What are some common synonyms for "refuses"?

Common synonyms include "declines", "rejects", "disagrees with", and "turns down". For example, instead of "he refuses that", you could say "he rejects the idea".