professional contact

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "professional contact" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a person with whom one has a formal or business relationship, often in a networking or career context. Example: "I reached out to my professional contact to discuss potential job opportunities in the industry."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We have never come into professional contact, and I have made arrangements to avoid any possibility of professional contact.

The Guardian - Business

Her frequent professional contact with African-Americans made her transition to politics natural.

The New York Times

Last year, the largest British university teachers' association voted to encourage individual academics in Britain to sever professional contact with their counterparts in Israel.

The New York Times

She had professional contact with Weinstein for years after the incident, and remains a close friend of his brother and business partner, Bob Weinstein.

The New Yorker

The woman continued to have professional contact with Weinstein after the alleged rape, and acknowledged that subsequent communications between them might suggest a normal working relationship.

The New Yorker

The delegates also backed a new rule that would prohibit a lawyer from having sex with a client unless a consensual sexual relationship predated the professional contact.

The New York Times

I accepted a LinkedIn invitation from someone who looked like a good professional contact, but has just been spamming me with messages.

The New York Times

It has been mocked for the grandiosity and unworldliness of its business premises: in the stable block of Bagshot Park, Edward's vast Victorian residence in the Surrey countryside, miles from every useful professional contact.

The Guardian

But instead – presumably because I had smiled and been open, because I hadn't censored my every word in his presence, because I had treated him as friend as much as professional contact – he could very seriously hurt my career.

The Guardian

Why would anyone readily give out the name of a professional contact?

BBC

RIM also recently purchased professional contact manager Gist, and UI development team The Astonishing Tribe.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When introducing someone, specify the nature of their "professional contact" to provide context.

Common error

Avoid using "professional contact" in contexts where a simpler term like "colleague" or "acquaintance" would suffice. Overusing formal language can sound stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "professional contact" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It refers to an individual one interacts with in a professional capacity. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it is used in various contexts, such as networking and discussing career opportunities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

32%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "professional contact" is a common and grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe someone known through work or business. Ludwig AI indicates that it's used across various contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. While generally appropriate, it's best to avoid overuse in informal settings, opting for simpler terms when suitable. The provided examples and related phrases offer guidance on how to effectively incorporate "professional contact" into your writing and communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Business contact

A more general term for someone you interact with for business purposes.

Business connection

Emphasizes the commercial aspect of the relationship.

Professional relationship

Focuses on the developed relationship with someone in a professional setting.

Work-related association

Highlights the link to employment or career.

Occupational relationship

Focuses on the professional or vocational nature of the bond.

Career network

Suggests a broader set of contacts for career advancement.

Networking contact

Emphasizes the purpose of the contact as part of a networking strategy.

Professional acquaintance

Indicates a less intimate form of professional connection.

Industry colleague

Specifies that the contact is within the same field or sector.

LinkedIn connection

Specifically refers to a contact established on the LinkedIn platform.

FAQs

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

You can use "professional contact" to describe someone you know in a business or work setting. For example, "I reached out to a "business contact" for advice."

What are some alternatives to "professional contact"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "business connection", "industry colleague", or "networking contact".

Is it appropriate to use "professional contact" in casual conversation?

While grammatically correct, using "professional contact" in casual conversation might sound overly formal. Simpler terms like "colleague" or "acquaintance" might be more suitable.

How does "professional contact" differ from "friend" or "acquaintance"?

"Professional contact" specifically refers to someone you know through work or business. It emphasizes the professional nature of the relationship, whereas "friend" and "acquaintance" are more general terms that don't necessarily imply a work-related connection.