is that you

USAGE SUMMARY

'is that you' can be used in written English.
It is often used as a question, for example: "Hello, is that you?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Who is that, you ask?

The New York Times

Why is that, you ask?

Vice

What is that, you ask?

Huffington Post

Is That You Mr. Reilly?

Johns Hopkins University

Song: Is That You Love.

Huffington Post

Sharon, is that you?

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

And that's that, you know?" No.

Independent

'What's that?' you ask.

The Guardian

What's that, you say?

The New York Times - Tech

"What's that?" "You know.

The Guardian - Books

What's that, you ask?

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is that you" when you are trying to confirm the identity of someone you recognize, especially in situations where recognition is uncertain or surprising.

Common error

Avoid using "is that you" in situations where you have no prior knowledge or expectation of knowing the person. It's best suited for moments of potential recognition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is that you" functions primarily as an interrogative phrase used to confirm the identity of an individual. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's frequently used in questions. Examples in the provided data include "Sharon, is that you?" and "Britney, is that you?".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "is that you" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to confirm someone's identity, often with an element of surprise or uncertainty. As Ludwig AI states, it's used as a question. It appears most frequently in news and media, as well as in more informal contexts like Wiki articles. While the phrase is generally appropriate, be mindful of the context and avoid using it when you have no reasonable basis to suspect you know the person. Consider alternatives like "is it really you" or a more formal ""are you Mr./Ms. [Name]"?" depending on the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Could that be you

Emphasizes possibility and uncertainty in identifying someone.

Is it really you

Expresses surprise or disbelief at recognizing someone.

Is that actually you

Adds emphasis to the surprise of identifying someone.

Is this really you

Similar to 'Is it really you', it emphasizes disbelief.

Are you really him/her

Replaces pronoun 'that' with a gendered pronoun, changing emphasis slightly.

Can it be you

Expresses a sense of wonder or disbelief.

Do I know you

Used when there is uncertainty about whether the person is familiar.

Is that your voice

Focuses specifically on voice recognition.

Am I seeing you right

Expresses uncertainty or disbelief in seeing someone.

I didn't expect to see you here

Highlights the unexpected nature of the encounter.

FAQs

How do I use "is that you" in a sentence?

You can use "is that you" as a question to confirm someone's identity when you suspect you know them, for example, "Hello, is that you, John?" or "Siri? "is that you"?"

What's a more formal way to ask "is that you"?

In a more formal context, you might ask "Excuse me, are you [Person's Name]?" or "Pardon me, "are you Mr./Ms. [Name]"?" These phrases are more polite and suitable for professional settings.

What can I say instead of "is that you" to express surprise?

To express surprise, you could say "Is it really you?", "I can't believe it's you!", or "What a surprise to see you here!"

Is it appropriate to use "is that you" in writing?

Yes, "is that you" is appropriate in writing, especially in dialogue or informal correspondence where you want to convey a sense of personal recognition or surprise. For example, "I received a call from an unknown number. When I answered, I heard a familiar voice. "Is that you?" I asked."