indicated him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "indicated him" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express that someone pointed out or referred to a person, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "During the meeting, she indicated him as the person responsible for the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

He's not the fluffy bunny his writings might indicate him to be? "Ha! No! I can be very tough.

The Guardian - Books

The ballots in Bergen County, the center of his power base, will indicate him as the endorsed candidate of the Democratic Party.

The New York Times

The congressman said his lawyers had indicated to him that it could cost another $1 million to defend him at the ethics proceeding.

Huffington Post

Sommerfeld indicated to him that he was among the very best students who had studied with him, and these included Wolfgang Pauli and Werner Heisenberg.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But the statistics indicated to him that the corporate closet must be crowded.

The Guardian

"I indicated to him that was not sufficient," Sen Biden said.

The Guardian

"We had indicated to him that it was very difficult to postpone games," Granik said.

The New York Times - Sports

On the contrary, I have never indicated to him whether he should approve or reject it.

The Economist

"I indicated to him that the overwhelming sentiment of my house is to renew and to do it," Mr. Silver said.

The New York Times

Mr. Ward said Lieutenant Governor Rell had indicated to him that she would like to run for governor if Mr. Rowland decided not to seek re-election.

The New York Times

The record then continued with a remark attributed to Myler: "CM said that Andy Hayman and John Yates had indicated to him previously that this was probably going to be the case".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using "indicated him", opt for clearer alternatives such as "pointed him out", "referred to him", or "identified him" to ensure your writing is grammatically correct and easily understood.

Common error

Be cautious of using "indicated him" in your writing. This phrasing is not standard English and can confuse your readers. Choose more precise verbs to convey your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "indicated him" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI highlights this issue, suggesting that it does not conform to standard English usage. "Indicate" typically takes a thing or a clause as its object, not a person.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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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 "indicated him" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. Instead, opt for alternatives like "pointed him out", "referred to him", or "identified him" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. Avoiding "indicated him" will enhance the professionalism and understandability of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Referred to him

Substitutes "indicated" to specify that someone was mentioned or alluded to in speech or writing.

Mentioned him

Simplifies the phrase to a basic act of naming or referring to someone briefly.

Pointed him out

Replaces "indicated" with a more direct verb, clarifying the action of identifying someone visually or physically.

Identified him

Focuses on the act of recognizing or establishing who someone is, often in a formal or investigative context.

Designated him

Emphasizes the act of formally choosing or assigning someone for a specific role or purpose.

Notified him

Highlights a formal communication or announcement, replacing the subtle suggestion of "indicated".

Signaled to him

Highlights non-verbal communication, such as gestures or signs, rather than a direct statement.

Showed him

Suggests a demonstration or visual display, contrasting with the more informational nature of "indicated".

Alerted him

Implies warning of something, adding the urgency and specificity that is not indicated in the original phrase.

Directed him

This suggests giving someone instructions, thus offering a more defined alternative to the original phrase.

FAQs

What are some correct alternatives to "indicated him"?

Instead of "indicated him", you can use phrases like "pointed him out", "referred to him", or "identified him", depending on the context.

Why is "indicated him" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "indicated him" is not standard English because "indicate" typically requires a direct object that is a thing or a piece of information, not a person. It's more appropriate to say "indicated that..." or use an alternative verb like "identified" or "mentioned".

How can I use "indicate" correctly in a sentence?

You can use "indicate" correctly by following it with a "that" clause (e.g., "He indicated that he would be late") or by using it to show something (e.g., "The arrow indicates the exit").

Is there a situation where "indicated him" might be acceptable?

While highly unusual, "indicated him" could potentially be used in very specific, non-standard contexts where "indicate" is used to mean "single out" or "point to", but it's generally best to avoid this phrasing in favor of clearer alternatives.