it refers with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it refers with" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly; the correct phrase would be "it refers to" when indicating what something is about or related to. Example: "In this context, it refers to the concept of sustainability in business practices."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In addition, recall may differ according to the type of event to which it refers with life events, such as a death, being less subject to bias than more incidental events.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Anyway, the operative phrase here is IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME, with "it" referring to a plan that bends over backward for the private investors.

Huffington Post

It refers to messages with photos, audio, video or other multimedia material that can be sent via cellphone.

Huffington Post

Normcore is actually a word from the fashion industry, and it refers to clothes with no real style.

Huffington Post

It refers to itself, with a hint of salaciousness, as "MoFo," and it doesn't shy from the term: "About MoFo".

Huffington Post

The new corridor leading to the Star-Spangled Banner, for example, gives the flag's historical context, but it is painfully cursory, while the corridor leading away from it refers to its symbolic importance with little more than video images.

The New York Times - Arts

Goldbely is trying to connect its customers — which it refers to as "Food Explorers" — with interesting food such as Chicago deep-dish pizza, Philadelphia cheesesteaks, Texas barbecue, New York bagels, and Maryland crab cakes, among other treats.

TechCrunch

It only makes sense if it refers to your relationship with the way society is owned and controlled, and have a common interest.

Independent

It refers to the lag with Silicon Valley when it comes to startups and innovation.

TechCrunch

It refers to work done with the TIGRIS XL model to improve the calculation of the direct benefits by applying the so-called 'logsum' method.

Research in Transportation Economics

It refers to the ease with which they can get out of town on nonstop flights to just about anywhere since they live in the hometown of Delta, the world's second largest airline after Chicago-based United Airlines. Chicago-based United Airlines

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "it refers to" instead of "it refers with" in formal writing. The preposition 'to' is essential for grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using prepositions other than "to" after "refers". Using prepositions like "with", "at", or "in" after "refers" results in ungrammatical sentences. Stick to the standard usage of "it refers to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it refers with" functions as an incorrect attempt to establish a connection or relationship between a subject and a specific concept. As noted by Ludwig AI, it violates standard English grammar.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it refers with" is grammatically incorrect in standard English; the correct form is "it refers to". As pointed out by Ludwig AI, this error appears across various contexts, including science and news, but should be avoided in formal writing. Instead, use alternatives such as "it relates to", "it pertains to", or "it concerns" to ensure accuracy and clarity. Always prioritize "it refers to" to maintain grammatical correctness and avoid miscommunication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it relates to

Substitutes 'refers' with 'relates', highlighting a connection or association.

it pertains to

Replaces 'refers' with 'pertains', indicating relevance or connection.

it alludes to

Changes the verb to 'alludes', which implies an indirect reference.

it concerns

Uses 'concerns' instead of 'refers', indicating the subject matter.

it is connected to

Emphasizes the connection or link between the subject and the reference.

it has reference to

Adds formal tone by using 'has reference to' instead of 'refers'.

it speaks to

Uses 'speaks to' to indicate that the subject addresses or relates to the reference.

it bears on

Replaces 'refers' with 'bears on', indicating relevance or influence.

it is in regard to

Indicates the subject is in relation or respect to something.

it has bearing on

Highlights that the subject has significance to the reference.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use the phrase?

The correct way to use the phrase is "it refers to", for example, "In this context, "it refers to" the concept of sustainability".

What can I say instead of "it refers with"?

Instead of "it refers with", you can use alternatives like "it relates to", "it pertains to", or "it concerns".

Which is correct, "it refers with" or "it refers to"?

"It refers to" is the grammatically correct phrase. "It refers with" is incorrect.

How does the meaning change when using "it refers to"?

Using ""it refers to"" ensures grammatical accuracy and clarity, indicating that something is directly related or applicable to a specific subject or concept.