recognize someone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "recognize someone" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to acknowledge or identify a person, often in the context of remembering or appreciating their presence or contributions. Example: "I was thrilled to recognize someone I had met at the conference last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

AT least the politicians are to able recognize someone else's sacrifice when they see it.

The New York Times

Still, when I walked through the door I expected to recognize someone.

The New Yorker

"Hollywood has this conception that survivors recognize someone on the street and that starts the investigation" Mr. Rosenbaum said.

The New York Times

"There has been a lot of discussion about whether the I.R.S. could recognize someone married in Massachusetts but living in Georgia," Professor Cain said.

The New York Times

Here is Rory Dawn introducing us to the folks of the Calle: "I can still recognize someone from my neighborhood by their teeth.

The New York Times - Books

"Nice to see you," total strangers said upon introduction, as if fearing the failure to recognize someone possibly met on a previous occasion.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

When he stopped, she thought perhaps it was because he'd recognized someone ahead.

The New Yorker

I recognized someone I'd never seen striding toward me — because my iPhone warned me he was coming.

The New York Times

Kinect recognizes someone it has seen before by body shape, so there's no need to log into the system each time a game is played.

The New York Times

"We use a street renaming as a way of recognizing someone's heroic actions, whether in life or death," said Councilman Eric Ulrich, a Queens Republican.

The New York Times

Seeing that familiar castle is like recognizing someone on the street, though you're unable to place quite where you know him from.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "recognize someone" in writing, ensure the context clearly indicates whether you are referring to visual recognition, acknowledgement of their presence, or recognition of their achievements.

Common error

Avoid using "recognize someone" when you specifically mean to recall details about them, such as their name or past interactions. "Recognize someone" implies a more immediate identification.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "recognize someone" primarily functions as a verb phrase. It signifies the act of identifying a person visually or acknowledging their presence or qualities. Ludwig's examples show various contexts, from literal visual recognition to metaphorical recognition of someone's efforts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "recognize someone" is a versatile and commonly used verb phrase that denotes the act of identifying a person, either visually or through acknowledgement, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically sound and appropriate for various contexts, ranging from neutral news reports to informal conversations. While it's important to differentiate it from "remember someone", understanding its function and purpose ensures effective communication. The phrase appears frequently in "News & Media", "Science" and "Wiki" sources. Remembering the best practices will ensure clear and impactful writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

identify a person

Focuses on distinguishing or establishing who a person is.

acknowledge somebody

Emphasizes the act of noticing and accepting someone's presence or importance.

remember someone's face

Highlights the act of recalling someone's appearance from memory.

place a person

Focuses on remembering where you know someone from.

make out someone

Suggests difficulty in seeing or hearing someone clearly.

spot an individual

Implies noticing someone in a crowd or from a distance.

distinguish someone

Emphasizes the act of telling someone apart from others.

greet a person

Focuses on the act of acknowledging someone with a greeting.

know who someone is

Simply refers to having knowledge of someone's identity.

perceive a person

Focuses on becoming aware of someone through the senses.

FAQs

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

You can use "recognize someone" to indicate identifying a person visually, as in "I didn't recognize someone from high school at first". Alternatively, it can mean acknowledging their contributions, like "The company should recognize someone's hard work".

What's the difference between "recognize someone" and "acknowledge someone"?

"Recognize someone" often refers to identifying them visually or understanding their identity. "Acknowledge someone" implies giving them attention or showing appreciation. For example, you might "acknowledge someone"'s presence with a nod, but "recognize someone" from a photograph.

What are some alternative ways to say "recognize someone"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "identify a person", "remember someone's face", or "make out someone" if visibility is an issue.

Is it correct to say "recognized someone" or should I always use "recognize someone"?

Both are correct, but they are used in different tenses. "Recognize someone" is the present tense, while "recognized someone" is the past tense. For example, "I always recognize someone from my neighborhood" (present) versus "I recognized someone from my neighborhood yesterday" (past).