nominate someone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nominate someone" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when suggesting or proposing a person for a position, award, or recognition. Example: "I would like to nominate someone for the Employee of the Month award."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The Party won't nominate someone who starts in a hole.

The New Yorker

Would you like to step forward – or nominate someone else?

The Guardian - Opinion

That's who we have to nominate, someone who can appeal to them".

The New York Times

Republicans have to nominate someone better than the person they want to defeat.

The New York Times

Does the party want to nominate someone with a history of governing?

The New York Times

Let's not nominate someone who hasn't run anything and hasn't been a leader".

The New York Times

I trust that the president will nominate someone with character as strong as John Paul Stevens's.

The New York Times

We have to not nominate someone who is for a state income tax.

The New Yorker

"Do you nominate someone who looks just like the base, or do you nominate someone who can actually win the seat?

The New York Times

To nominate someone or an organisation for The Observer Ethical Awards visit: www.observer.co.uk/ethicalawards.

The Guardian

For a shot at sustainable glory or to nominate someone deserving, go to observer.co.uk/ethicalawards.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, consider using the phrase "nominate an individual", to show respect and maintain professionalism.

Common error

Avoid using reflexive pronouns (e.g., "nominate themself") when an external party is initiating the nomination. Use "nominate someone" instead of implying self-nomination unless the context specifically calls for it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nominate someone" functions as a transitive verb phrase where "nominate" is the verb and "someone" is the direct object. It describes the action of formally proposing a person for a role, position, or award, as demonstrated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

12%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "nominate someone" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for suggesting or proposing a person for a role or award. As shown by Ludwig, it is versatile, fitting into neutral and professional contexts. While it's predominantly used in news and media, its application extends to other domains. To enhance clarity, it is recommended to include the role or award when using this phrase. Common errors include misuse of pronouns, which should be avoided for precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

propose a candidate

Focuses on the act of suggesting a candidate, emphasizing the formal aspect of the process.

put someone forward

Emphasizes the act of promoting or recommending someone for consideration.

recommend an individual

Highlights the endorsement of a specific person for a position or award.

suggest a nominee

Directly implies the proposition of someone to be considered as a nominee.

put someone's name in the hat

Informal way of saying to propose someone by including their name as a candidate.

endorse a person

Focuses on formally supporting or approving of someone for a role.

advance a candidate

Emphasizes the active promotion of a candidate.

table a nomination

Highlights the act of formally presenting a nomination for consideration.

put up for consideration

Focuses on offering someone for review and assessment.

offer as a candidate

Directly means to present someone as a possible choice.

FAQs

What does "nominate someone" mean?

To "nominate someone" means to formally propose or suggest a person as a candidate for a position, award, or other form of recognition. It indicates that the person is being put forward for consideration.

How can I use "nominate someone" in a sentence?

You can use "nominate someone" in sentences like, "I want to "propose a candidate" for class president" or "The organization is asking members to "put someone forward" for the community service award".

Are there formal alternatives to "nominate someone"?

Yes, in formal contexts, you can use phrases such as "recommend an individual" or "table a nomination" to maintain a professional tone.

What is the difference between "nominate someone" and "elect someone"?

"Nominate someone" means to propose a person as a candidate, while "elect someone" means to choose someone for a position through voting. Nomination is the first step in the process, followed by election if the nominee is chosen.