recognized each other

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "recognized each other" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation where two or more people identify or acknowledge one another, often after a period of separation or in a new context. Example: "After years apart, they finally met at the conference and immediately recognized each other."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

We recognized each other.

The New York Times - Magazine

The two quickly recognized each other.

The New York Times - Style

Ingmar and I recognized each other as born outsiders".

The New Yorker

We recognized each other for being members of a family".

The New York Times

"We recognized each other as kindred spirits," Mr. Watkins said.

The New York Times - Arts

"We sort of recognized each other," she said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

Because of the quality assurance procedures, institutions have recognized each others' core course and advanced modules followed by the students, unlike experiences within the Erasmus program in Europe, where universities had difficulties recognizing each other's credits [ 11].

BMC Medical Education

We recognize each other.

The New Yorker

He and Ruth don't recognize each other.

The New Yorker

In the waiting room, Gordie and Eric recognize each other.

The New Yorker

But these rivals may have trouble recognizing each other.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "recognized each other" when you want to emphasize a mutual and often immediate identification, either visually or through other cues.

Common error

Avoid using "knew each other" when you specifically mean that people identified each other on sight or immediately understood who the other person was. "Knew each other" implies a prior relationship, while "recognized each other" highlights the act of identification.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "recognized each other" functions as a reciprocal action verb phrase, indicating a mutual act of identification or acknowledgement between two or more parties. Ludwig AI confirms that this construction is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "recognized each other" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe the mutual act of identifying or acknowledging someone, often after a period of separation or in a new environment. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and its widespread use across various sources like news, science, and encyclopedias makes it appropriate for both formal and informal writing. Remember to use it when you want to convey that people have identified each other on sight, rather than implying a prior relationship. Alternatives like "identified each other" or "acknowledged one another" can be used to add nuance depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

identified each other

Emphasizes the act of establishing someone's identity.

acknowledged one another

Focuses on the act of recognizing or accepting each other's presence or status.

remembered one another

Stresses the act of recalling someone from the past.

knew each other

Highlights familiarity, not necessarily immediate recognition.

recalled each other

Highlights the act of remembering someone from the past.

realized who the other was

Emphasizes the moment of understanding someone's identity.

spotted each other

Suggests a more casual or coincidental recognition.

figured out each other's identity

Focuses on understanding someone's character.

distinguished each other

Implies recognizing differences between each other.

made each other out

Suggests seeing someone with difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "recognized each other" in a sentence?

You can use "recognized each other" to describe a situation where people identify or acknowledge one another, often after separation or in a new context. For example, "After many years, they finally met and "recognized each other" immediately."

What's a good alternative to "recognized each other"?

Alternatives include "identified each other", "acknowledged one another", or "remembered one another", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say 'recognize themselves' instead of "recognized each other"?

No, "recognize themselves" has a different meaning. It implies self-awareness or understanding of one's own qualities, whereas "recognized each other" means two or more people identified each other.

What is the difference between "recognized each other" and "knew each other"?

"Recognized each other" implies an immediate identification, often visually. "Knew each other", on the other hand, suggests a prior relationship or familiarity that may not involve immediate recognition. For example, you can say "They "knew each other" from school, but didn't "recognized each other" at the reunion."