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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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reached to

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reached to" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is typically "reached" or "reached out to." Example: "She reached out to her friend for support during tough times."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He could not be reached to elaborate.

News & Media

The New York Times

She reached to take his hand.

News & Media

The New Yorker

She reached to take Max from me.

News & Media

The New York Times

With no one covering first, Arroyo reached to tag Rodriguez.

The union could not be immediately reached to comment.

News & Media

The New York Times

She reached to answer it, lying down in the process.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Streaks of blood reached to the third floor.

News & Media

The New York Times

He could not be reached to answer further questions.

News & Media

The Guardian

Mr. Eckert could not be reached to comment today.

News & Media

The New York Times

The girls reached to make connections with their new friends.

News & Media

The New York Times

Ms. Helgenberger reached to wipe the spill and sighed.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For describing attempts to communicate, use "reached out to" (e.g., "He reached out to his former colleague for advice").

Common error

Avoid using "to" after "reached" when the intention is to indicate physical arrival or attainment. The correct form is usually "reached [destination]", not "reached to [destination]"

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

83%

Authority and reliability

3.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reached to" functions primarily as a verb phrase. However, Ludwig AI analysis indicates that its use is often grammatically questionable in standard English. It is most often seen describing a physical action, a measure of quantity/quality or an attempt to reach a physical or abstract destination.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "reached to" appears frequently across various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as often grammatically incorrect. It is crucial to consider the intended meaning and context, opting for the more standard "reached" when describing arrival or attainment, or "reached out to" when indicating an attempt to communicate. Due to its potential for grammatical ambiguity, careful consideration is advised, especially in formal writing. Always prefer grammatical correctness over commonly made errors and consider the alternative phrases.

FAQs

When is it correct to use "reached to"?

In most standard English contexts, "reached" is preferred. However, you might occasionally find "reached to" in specific technical or scientific contexts, though it's still less common and should be carefully considered.

What's the difference between "reached" and "reached out to"?

"Reached" typically indicates arrival at a location or attainment of a goal, while "reached out to" implies an attempt to communicate or offer assistance. For example, "She "reached" the summit" versus "She "reached out to" a mentor for guidance".

Is "reached to" grammatically correct?

Generally, "reached to" is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. The correct phrasing is usually "reached", as in "He "reached" his destination". However, there can be exceptions depending on context.

What are some alternatives to "reached to" for describing communication?

If you want to describe the act of trying to communicate with someone, consider alternatives such as "contacted", "got in touch with", or ""reached out to"".

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Source & Trust

83%

Authority and reliability

3.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: