refer by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refer by" is not a correct or usable phrase in written English.
You might be looking for the phrase "referred by," which can be used when referring to someone who is introducing you to someone else. For example, "She was referred by her friend to the best dentist in town."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

On Twitter, Rove did not refer by name to Wynn, though the two men are friends.

The New Yorker

But at no point did he refer by name to either of the two men, who will learn their fate at an ethics committee meeting on Sunday.

Independent

We may even refer by nickname to the informant who betrayed John Gotti: "Sammy the Bull," we say, as if that would be our greeting if we saw the man at the Olive Garden.

The New York Times - Books

In addition, the bill would impose strict limits on independent advocacy groups that underwrite so-called issue ads that refer by name to candidates and are broadcast two months before an election.

The New York Times

Miss Megawati did not refer by name to Mr Wahid, but claimed that Indonesia would become the "sickest man in Asia" if it did not resolve its political crisis.

The Economist

firstly, a dynamic model of mast mechanism based on Newton-Euler method is established, then a hydraulic system model of mast mechanism based on power bond graph is built up, a set of optimal installation position parameters are got for designers to refer by analyzing and comparing the impact of the dynamic characteristics in lifting process by changing the installation position of mast mechanism.

Procedia Engineering

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

The women were either self-referred, referred by female organizations, or referred by the Police, with the majority being referred by female organizations or self-referred.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

The women were self-referred or referred by physicians.

BMC Cancer

Private medical providers referred 92 (24.0%), 11 (2.9%) were self-referred, 8 (2.1%) were referred by friends, and 2 (0.5%) were referred by pharmacists.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Others were referred by the New York Association for New Americans.

The New York Times - Style

They are referred by frontline care professionals.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always double-check your phrasing to ensure grammatical accuracy. In most contexts, "referred by" is the correct choice when indicating a referral or recommendation.

Common error

Avoid using "refer by" when you mean "referred by". "Refer by" is rarely correct, while "referred by" indicates someone was directed or sent by another source.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refer by" is grammatically questionable and often misused. Correct usage usually requires the passive form "referred by" to indicate a recommendation or direction. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is not a correct or usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "refer by" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that it's not a standard or usable phrase in written English. The correct and widely accepted alternative is "referred by", which signifies that someone or something was directed or recommended by another source. While examples of "refer by" exist, they are infrequent and often represent a misuse of the language. For clearer and more accurate communication, it's best to use alternatives like "mentioned by", "cited by", or "recommended by" depending on the specific context you are trying to convey. Using "referred by" or these alternatives will ensure your writing is grammatically sound and easily understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

referred by

Changes the structure to a passive construction indicating someone or something was sent or directed by another.

mentioned by

Indicates something was noted or spoken about by a specific person or source.

cited by

Focuses on the act of quoting or referencing a source.

recommended by

Suggests an endorsement or positive suggestion from a source.

introduced by

Highlights the act of presenting something or someone.

designated by

Emphasizes the act of officially assigning a name or title.

identified by

Focuses on recognizing or distinguishing something using a specific characteristic.

known as

Indicates a common or familiar name or label.

called by

A more direct way of saying something is named or addressed.

termed by

Implies a formal or technical designation.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "refer by"?

The phrase "refer by" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in most contexts. A more appropriate alternative is "referred by", which indicates a recommendation or direction from one source to another.

What's the difference between "refer by" and "referred by"?

"Refer by" is typically not grammatically sound. "Referred by" is the passive form, meaning someone or something was directed or recommended by someone else.

What are some alternatives to saying "refer by"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "mentioned by", "cited by", or "recommended by" instead of "refer by".

Is "refer by" grammatically correct in English?

No, "refer by" is generally not considered grammatically correct. The correct phrase is usually "referred by", which indicates a passive action of being directed or recommended.