mentions to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mentions to" is not correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as "mention" does not require "to" when referring to the act of bringing something up or referring to it. Example: "She mentions her concerns about the project during the meeting."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Honourable mentions to those of Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

The Guardian - Sport

After she retires he mentions to the guests that he writes poetry.

The New Yorker

Special mentions to Shane Long and 2016's Dusan Tadic – back to the 2014 vintage.

The Guardian - Sport

Stryker mentions to Wolverine that he hasn't seen him in 15 years.

The Guardian - Film

"Our daughter started menstruating last week," Steven mentions to a colleague, at a gala dinner.

The New Yorker

She also mentions, to the mother's horror: "You've still got the other two".

The Guardian - Film

Our goal was, as Mr. Krugman mentions, to make "a gesture of faith in America".

The New York Times

Before she can escape, though, she foolishly mentions to Frau Gothel that her dress is getting tight around her belly.

The New Yorker

Still, Mr. Romney's advisers are especially sensitive about any mentions to dressage, or to Mrs. Romney and her horses.

The New York Times

Becket mentions to Henry an exciting new invention – the fork: "It's for pronging meat and carrying it to the mouth".

The Guardian - Film

Salzman mentions to a friend that he's having particular difficulty with one of the characters, a juvenile delinquent named Carlos.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you intend to express something being referred to, use "mentions" without the additional "to". For example, instead of saying "He "mentions to" his friend", say "He mentions his friend".

Common error

Avoid adding "to" after "mentions" when indicating that someone is bringing something up. It's grammatically incorrect and makes the sentence awkward. Use the verb directly with the object. Instead of 'The author "mentions to" the study', write 'The author mentions the study'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mentions to" functions incorrectly as it attempts to act as a transitive verb followed by an unnecessary preposition. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not correct in written English, as the verb "mention" does not require "to" when indicating the act of bringing something up.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "mentions to" appears frequently across various sources, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms that the usage of “to” after “mentions” is unnecessary and incorrect. Alternatives like "refers to" or simply "mentions" are more appropriate. Despite its common occurrence, especially in science and news media, it's best to avoid "mentions to" in formal writing to maintain grammatical accuracy and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refers to

Uses a different verb to express reference, eliminating the preposition 'to' after 'mentions'.

brings up

Suggests introducing a topic into a conversation or discussion.

points out

Highlights a specific detail or fact.

cites

Implies a more formal reference, like in academic writing.

makes reference to

A more formal way of saying 'refers to'.

comments on

Indicates offering an opinion or observation.

indicates

Focuses on pointing something out or being a sign of something.

touches on

Suggests briefly mentioning a topic without going into detail.

alludes to

Implies an indirect reference, often subtle.

addresses

Implies dealing with or discussing a topic directly.

FAQs

How do I properly use "mentions" in a sentence?

Use "mentions" directly followed by the object of the mention. For example, "She mentions her dog" is correct; "She "mentions to" her dog" is incorrect.

What's a grammatically sound alternative to "mentions to"?

Replace "mentions to" with "refers to", "cites", or simply "mentions".

Is it ever correct to use "mentions to"?

No, the phrase "mentions to" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. The verb "mentions" does not require the preposition "to".

What's the difference between "mentions" and "refers to"?

"Mentions" is a more direct and simple way of bringing something up, while "refers to" often indicates a more deliberate or formal connection to a specific source or topic.