refer about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refer about" is not correct or usable in written English.
It should be replaced with the phrase "make reference to" or "refer to". For example, "I will make reference to this article in my report."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

She earns $200 to $300 for each family that signs up with the agency, which means she must successfully refer about 300 families a year to earn the $70,000 that she says she needs.

The New York Times

Non-urologic hospitalists appeared to refer more patients after an abnormal PSA test than GPs, but seem to refer about as often as PCPs.

BMC Family Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Conclusion: HPV triage is at least as sensitive as immediate colposcopy for detecting CIN grade 3 and refers about half as many women to colposcopy.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

In the past year, they have referred about 600 cases to prosecutors, but only 18 were presented to the courts.

The New York Times

Since the programme was set up in 2006, a total of 3,934 people have been referred, about 20% of whom are deemed by panels to require further action.

The Guardian

Since 2002, the financial industry's self-regulatory groups have referred about 80 instances of suspicious SAC trading activity to federal authorities for further investigation.

The New York Times

Even without subpoena power, which it should have, the office referred about a third of its inquiries to the ethics committee for further consideration.

The New York Times

In the first year, Wisconsin referred about 79,000 childless adult recipients to training and only 20,000 enrolled, according to state data.

HuffPost

He was referred about 4.5 years earlier after having total thyroidectomy that showed multifocal MTC with cervical lymph nodes metastasis.

BMC Cancer

‡Incidence rates refer to about two years since previous survey wave unless one year is stated.

British Medical Journal

Judge Story also said he would refer questions about the law to the State Supreme Court.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "refer about" in your writing. Always use "refer to" or "make reference to" for grammatical correctness. For example, instead of "I will refer about this article", say "I will refer to this article".

Common error

The common mistake is to assume that "refer" can be followed by "about" like other verbs (e.g., "talk about"). "Refer" requires the preposition "to". Always double-check your preposition choice after the word "refer".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refer about" is grammatically incorrect and does not function as a standard verb phrase in English. According to Ludwig AI, the correct form is "refer to" or "make reference to". The few examples found highlight the errors in usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "refer about" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. Ludwig AI indicates that the correct alternative is "refer to". While some instances might be found in various sources, including news and scientific articles, their presence does not validate the usage. The intended purpose is typically to direct attention or make a reference, but the incorrect grammar undermines this purpose. Always use "refer to" or "make reference to" to ensure clarity and correctness in your writing. Frequency of "refer about" is rare.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Refer to

This is the standard and grammatically correct way to express directing attention or making reference to something.

Make reference to

A more formal way of saying "refer to", implying a deliberate act of pointing something out.

Direct attention to

Focuses on the act of guiding someone's focus towards a specific subject or item.

Point to

Indicates highlighting or emphasizing something as evidence or support.

Cite

To quote or refer to (a book or author) as evidence for an argument or statement.

Allude to

Suggests mentioning something indirectly or in passing.

Touch on

To briefly mention or discuss a subject.

Mention

A simple way to say to briefly speak or write about something.

Speak of

To mention something in conversation or writing.

Address

To deal with or discuss a subject.

FAQs

Is "refer about" grammatically correct?

No, "refer about" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "refer to".

What's the difference between "refer about" and "refer to"?

"Refer about" is not a standard English construction and is considered incorrect. "Refer to" is the correct and commonly used phrase for directing attention or making reference to something.

How can I use "refer to" in a sentence?

You can use "refer to" in a sentence like this: "Please refer to the documentation for more details." or "The speaker will refer to several studies during the presentation."

What are some alternatives to "refer to"?

Alternatives to "refer to" include "make reference to", "direct attention to", or simply "mention", depending on the specific context.