leave a reference

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "leave a reference" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when asking someone to provide a source or citation for information or when referring to a person who can vouch for someone's qualifications or character. Example: "When applying for the job, please leave a reference from your previous employer."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Related to punctuation is the need some people seem to have to leave a reference trail to the original newspaper/news site on Twitter; it's so unwieldy!

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Protesters labeled their rally the "day of leaving," a reference to their demand Mubarak go on Friday.

Huffington Post

One of the many marks left on the moon, the bottom left a reference to Ai Weiwei's Sunflower Seeds project.

Vice

If you'll be renting to people from another city or region, leave a local reference packet with names of area businesses, a map, local emergency information, and names of neighbors.

WikiHow

The statement adds that "the monocratic judgment on this sentence leaves us puzzled"—a reference to the fact that only one judge was involved and says the penalties are mild and "symbolic rather than anything else".

Science Magazine

Schools have hushed up complaints, bullying parents to keep quiet and, instead of calling the police, allowed dangerous paedophiles to leave with a reference.

The Guardian - Opinion

But Hamas said 'don't leave'," - a reference to allegations that Hamas is using civilians as "human shields".

BBC

Each time a sit was complete, the homeowners would leave me a reference on my Sitters profile, making it much easier to secure the next.

Vice

> In their study, Guichard et al. (2012) experimentally validated 850 SNV positions, of which 8 were not covered by sequence reads following realignment leaving a target reference set of 842.

Bioinformatics

"First they don't want to let us in, then they don't want to let us leave," a protester said in reference to the razor-wire barrier Hungary's rightwing government has built on its southern border with Serbia to keep out refugees.

The Guardian

Based on that statement, I left a comment referencing some of my past columns [See "Why Companies Need Web. 2.0"] that suggested ways Web 2.0 could be used in the enterprise.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When requesting a reference, provide context to the reference provider. This helps them tailor their reference to the specific situation, making it more effective.

Common error

Don't assume a reference will always be positive. If there's a risk of a negative reference, consider asking someone else or addressing the potential issue proactively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leave a reference" typically functions as a request or instruction, asking someone to provide a testimonial or contact information for verification. Ludwig AI suggests that the phrase is used correctly.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Reference

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "leave a reference" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that functions as a request or instruction to provide a testimonial or contact information for verification. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage across various contexts, primarily in news, wiki, and scientific domains. Alternatives include "provide a reference" or "submit a reference". When using this phrase, ensure you provide sufficient context to the reference provider to tailor their recommendation effectively. Be mindful not to assume all references will be positive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provide a reference

This alternative directly replaces "leave" with "provide", emphasizing the act of supplying a reference.

submit a reference

This alternative substitutes "leave" with "submit", highlighting the act of formally handing in a reference.

offer a reference

This alternative replaces "leave" with "offer", focusing on the act of proposing a reference.

supply a reference

Replacing "leave" with "supply" emphasizes the act of furnishing a reference.

furnish a reference

Similar to 'supply a reference', it provides a more formal nuance.

give a reference

This alternative replaces "leave" with "give", indicating the act of providing a reference.

write a reference

This alternative focuses on the creation of the reference itself.

post a reference

This alternative emphasizes sharing a reference publicly.

share a reference

Similar to post a reference, this alternative indicates making a reference known to others.

record a reference

This alternative focuses on documenting or noting down a reference.

FAQs

How can I use "leave a reference" in a sentence?

You can use "leave a reference" when requesting someone to provide a source or citation for information or to request that someone provides contact information that can vouch for you. For instance, "Could you please "leave a reference" from your previous employer?"

What are some alternatives to "leave a reference"?

You can use alternatives like "provide a reference", "submit a reference", or "offer a reference" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to ask someone to "leave a reference"?

It is appropriate to ask someone to ""leave a reference"" after they've had an experience with your service or product, or when they can vouch for your skills or character, like after a job or internship.

What information should I provide when asking someone to "leave a reference"?

When asking someone to ""leave a reference"", provide them with relevant details about the situation, such as the specific job or project you're applying for, to help them tailor their reference appropriately.