learned colleague

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "learned colleague" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used to refer to someone who is knowledgeable and experienced in a particular field or profession. Example: "I had the pleasure of discussing the case with my learned colleague, who provided valuable insights and perspective."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

A few even made comments about how mistaken I was in my viewpoint -- how dare I disagree with an older, more learned colleague -- but I stood my ground.

Huffington Post

JEFFREY TOOBIN: Several states have adopted this proposal and my learned colleague Hendrik Hertzberg is a big fan of this idea.

The New Yorker

And the jury will agree that historic war trials constitute an exceptional case".Since my learned colleague brings the matter up, though, I would point out that the good sense shown abroad is also quite prevalent within America.

The Economist

Dutton told Sky News on Thursday that only "one cabinet minister has expressed his concerns to me, he is a learned colleague and I respect his judgment very much.

The Guardian

My learned colleague Andrew Sparrow is on the case from parliament (his Politics live blog is here) Updated at 12.42pm GMT 12.29pm GMT Osborne to face MPs Labour has got its way - George Osborne will have to answer an urgent question about Britain's downgrade, at 3.30pm.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

At his funeral she learned from colleagues that he had been asking for Tums at work.

The New York Times

While this research is moving forward, we are beginning to share what we've learned with colleagues working in Africa and other parts of the world.

Huffington Post

Danny Parker, a fire battalion chief from the nearby Chino Valley Fire Department whose son Wade Parker died with the other Granite Mountain crew members, said he learned from colleagues that his son was in trouble.

Los Angeles Times

Similarly, we learned from colleagues that IRBs were frequently bothered by the interactive researcher-participant exchange typical of CBPR, one which can change as the project develops.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

The Social and Economic Update was created as a way to share recent publications and communicate insights and lessons learned from colleagues across the organization.

Unicef

For example, if one colleague tells you about a project she's thinking about, and you learn another colleague is interested in the same thing, connecting the two could help you more easily assimilate into the group.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "learned colleague" when you want to acknowledge someone's extensive knowledge and experience in a formal or professional setting. It adds a touch of respect and formality to your communication.

Common error

Avoid using "learned colleague" in informal or casual settings. Overusing formal language can make your writing sound pretentious or unnatural. Choose more casual alternatives like "knowledgeable coworker" or "experienced colleague" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "learned colleague" functions as a noun phrase where "learned" modifies "colleague". It is used to describe a colleague who is knowledgeable and experienced in a particular field. Ludwig AI validates this usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "learned colleague" is a phrase used to respectfully acknowledge the expertise of a coworker. While grammatically sound and appropriate in formal contexts such as academic, business, and news settings, it should be used judiciously to avoid sounding pretentious. Ludwig AI shows that the phrase appears most frequently in "News & Media", "Science" and "Formal & Business" contexts. If a less formal tone is desired, consider alternatives like "knowledgeable coworker" or "experienced associate". Remember to always tailor your language to suit your audience and the context of your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

knowledgeable coworker

Replaces "learned" with a more straightforward synonym and "colleague" with a more common term.

experienced associate

Focuses on the experience aspect of being learned, using a different term for colleague.

erudite peer

Uses a more formal synonym for "learned" and a term implying equality in status.

scholarly counterpart

Emphasizes the academic nature of the learning, using a more neutral term for colleague.

wise advisor

Shifts the focus to the advice-giving role often associated with learned individuals.

esteemed mentor

Highlights the mentoring aspect, implying respect and guidance from a learned person.

accomplished professional

Focuses on the professional achievements resulting from learning and experience.

well-informed specialist

Emphasizes specialized knowledge and being up-to-date in a specific area.

qualified expert

Highlights the formal qualifications and expertise of the colleague.

seasoned veteran

Emphasizes the long-term experience and wisdom gained over time.

FAQs

How can I use "learned colleague" in a sentence?

"Learned colleague" is typically used to refer to someone with extensive knowledge in a formal setting. Example: "I consulted with my "learned colleague" on this matter."

What's a less formal way to say "learned colleague"?

Alternatives include "knowledgeable coworker", "experienced associate", or simply "expert" depending on the context.

Is "learned colleague" suitable for academic writing?

Yes, "learned colleague" is appropriate for academic writing when you want to acknowledge the expertise of a fellow researcher or academic in a respectful way.

What's the difference between "learned colleague" and "learned friend"?

"Learned colleague" refers to someone you work with, while "learned friend" is more commonly used in legal contexts to refer to a lawyer or barrister.