professional circles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "professional circles" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a certain group or community in the professional world, such as those in the same field or with the same interests. For example, "My acquaintance is well-known in professional circles for his work in artificial intelligence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Professional circles are convinced that the buyer is Liu Yiqian, the Shanghai billionaire.

The New York Times - Arts

This would help the attacker "identify the victim's social and professional circles".

The Guardian

The work of these almost-winners certainly merits some recognition outside of narrow professional circles.

The New York Times

In professional circles, the question is not so much inadmissable as it is irrelevant.

The New York Times

Despite programmes to Arabise school education, French continued to be the dominant language in business and professional circles.

The Economist

News of his death received only local coverage at the time but was widely discussed in professional circles.

The New York Times

Narcissistic personality disorder is the most well-known of the five, and its absence has caused the most stir in professional circles.

The New York Times - Health

Shaken baby syndrome, while identified in professional circles in the mid-1970's, remains a misunderstood, underreported and secretive form of child abuse.

The New York Times

She said then that non-executive directors, "drawn from the same, narrow social and professional circles as the executive team", had failed to provide sufficient scrutiny.

The Guardian

"The assumption is that the deceased hid his illness from his employer and his professional circles," prosecutors said, without specifying whether the illness was mental or physical.

The Guardian

He added that the white shirt was even due for a comeback, having taken a back seat in professional circles in the last decade or so to more casual-looking light blue shirts.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "professional circles" to refer to a group of people who share a common profession, industry, or field of expertise. It suggests a degree of familiarity and interaction among them.

Common error

Avoid using "professional circles" when you actually mean social groups or personal acquaintances. "Professional circles" specifically refers to work-related networks.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "professional circles" functions as a noun phrase, referring to a community or network of individuals within a specific profession or industry. Ludwig shows it is commonly used to denote groups with shared expertise or interests.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "professional circles" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe communities of individuals within specific professions or industries. According to Ludwig, it's mostly found in News & Media, Science and Business contexts. It serves to identify and categorize people based on their work and is generally considered to have a neutral to professional tone. It is important to remember that this phrase is best used in a more formal situation, and to avoid using it when you actually mean social groups. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is well-accepted and widely understood in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

industry peers

Focuses specifically on colleagues within the same industry.

occupational community

Highlights the communal aspect of a profession.

corporate environment

Emphasizes the business setting.

business networks

Focuses on the connections and relationships in a business context.

specialized fields

Refers to specific areas of expertise.

workplace environments

Highlights the physical or virtual workspace.

trade associations

Highlights formal organisations within a specific job.

career spheres

Refers to career paths or domains of profession.

employment sectors

Refers to the area of business that employs people.

vocational areas

Refers to specific fields or areas of work.

FAQs

How can I use "professional circles" in a sentence?

You can say, "News of the discovery spread quickly through academic and "professional circles"". This shows information spreading within a work-related network.

What are some alternatives to "professional circles"?

Consider using "industry peers", "business networks", or "specialized fields" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "professional circles" in formal writing?

Yes, the term "professional circles" is suitable for formal writing, as it's commonly used in business, academic, and journalistic contexts to denote networks of professionals.

What is the difference between "social circles" and "professional circles"?

"Social circles" refer to groups of friends and personal acquaintances, whereas "professional circles" specifically pertain to work-related contacts and networks.