publicly acknowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "publicly acknowledge" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of recognizing or admitting something in a public setting or forum. Example: "The company decided to publicly acknowledge the contributions of its employees during the annual meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There aren't many politicians who publicly acknowledge those realities.

The New York Times

Mr. Cheney would never publicly acknowledge all this.

The New York Times

College officials will not publicly acknowledge that the problem exists.

The New York Times

State officials did not publicly acknowledge profiling until 1999.

The New York Times

Let a Democratic candidate publicly acknowledge this reality.

The New York Times

The Republicans cannot afford to publicly acknowledge these realities.

The New Yorker

President Obama should immediately and publicly acknowledge the wrong that was done to Mr.

The New York Times

The United States does not publicly acknowledge the drone strikes, which are classified.

The New York Times

That, he says, needs to be reversed.Bosses of drugs firms now publicly acknowledge the problem.

The Economist

"Corruption... is the problem everyone knows about, but no one can publicly acknowledge".

The New Yorker

But no charities have come forward to publicly acknowledge receipt of Swank's promised financial donation.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "publicly acknowledge" when you want to emphasize the open and overt nature of the recognition or admission. This phrase works well when the act of acknowledging is as important as the content being acknowledged.

Common error

Don't use "publicly acknowledge" if the setting already implies a public forum. Saying "He publicly acknowledged it at the press conference" is redundant because press conferences are inherently public.

Linguistic Context

Publicly acknowledge functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of openly recognizing or admitting something. This phrase typically involves a subject, a verb ("acknowledge"), and an adverb ("publicly") modifying the verb. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "publicly acknowledge" is a versatile verb phrase used to denote the act of openly recognizing or admitting something. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically sound and frequently used across various contexts, notably in news, formal business settings, and encyclopedias. While it’s important to use this phrase judiciously to avoid redundancy, it effectively conveys transparency and accountability. Alternatives such as "openly admit" or "officially recognize" can be considered depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

openly admit

Focuses on the act of admitting something without concealment.

officially recognize

Implies a formal acknowledgment, often by an authority.

state publicly

Highlights the act of making a public declaration.

declare openly

Emphasizes a clear and unreserved declaration.

profess in public

Indicates a formal or emphatic declaration of belief or feeling.

avow openly

Suggests a bold and unashamed declaration.

come out and say

Implies overcoming reluctance to make a statement.

make a public statement

Highlights the action of issuing an official communication.

give a public account

Focuses on providing information or explanation to the public.

testify openly

Emphasizes a formal declaration, often in a legal or solemn context.

FAQs

How can I use "publicly acknowledge" in a sentence?

You can use "publicly acknowledge" to describe the act of openly admitting something. For example: "The company decided to publicly acknowledge its mistake at the annual meeting."

What are some alternatives to "publicly acknowledge"?

You can use alternatives like "openly admit", "officially recognize", or "state publicly" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "publicly acknowledge" or "privately acknowledge"?

The choice depends on whether the information is shared openly or kept confidential. "Publicly acknowledge" means making something known to everyone, while "privately acknowledge" means recognizing it discreetly.

When should I use "publicly acknowledge" instead of just "acknowledge"?

Use "publicly acknowledge" when the act of making the acknowledgment public is significant. If the context already implies publicity, simply using "acknowledge" is sufficient.