refer from

USAGE SUMMARY

"refer from" is not a commonly used phrase in written English, and it does not make sense in the given context.
You can use the phrase "refer to" instead, which means to mention or allude to something. For example: I referred to my notes while writing my essay.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

The writings were related, and students liked to refer from one source to another.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This spring the photographer Dominick Tyler is publishing Uncommon Ground, which pairs 100 place words with 100 photographs of the phenomena to which the words refer, from arête ("a sharp-edged mountain ridge, often between two glacier-carved corries") to zawn (a Cornish term for a "wave-smashed chasm in a cliff").

The Guardian - Books

3. The contract to which you refer from Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A) reflects DynCorp's good standing with that organization, which would be unlikely to award a contract for new work if DynCorp were performing poorly.

Huffington Post

In regard to his third point, "The contract to which you refer from Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A) reflects DynCorp's good standing with that organization, which would be unlikely to award a contract for new work if DynCorp were performing poorly".

Huffington Post

(Head nurse) It is good for high risk cases and those we have to refer from here (CHC).

BMJ Open

For that reason, we will refer from now on to Hormonal Response Elements (HREs) rather than GRE.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The majority of patients (54.9%) were referred from primary care, whereas the remainder were either self-referred (34.1%) or referred from other gastroenterologists (11.0%).

BMC Gastroenterology

Patients who were referred from other hospitals were excluded.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

The sample was referred from informed doctors and physiotherapists.

Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics

This result referred from dominant elements which is the method of assessment, teaching and learning process.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

These guidelines are referred from "Elevated Temperature Structural Design Guide for Commercialized Fast Reactor FDSS)".

Nuclear Engineering and Design

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "refer from" in formal writing. Use "refer to" instead for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

A common mistake is using "from" instead of "to" after "refer". Ensure you are using the correct preposition to maintain grammatical accuracy: "I am referring to the document", not "I am referring from the document".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refer from" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and is not standard English. It occasionally appears, as seen in Ludwig examples, but "refer to" is the accepted form for indicating a reference or allusion.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "refer from" appears in some sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The standard and recommended phrase is "refer to". Although some occurrences are found in Science, News & Media, and Encyclopedias, it's best to avoid "refer from" in formal writing. Use alternatives like "cite from" or "reference from" where appropriate, but always prioritize "refer to" for clarity and grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refer to

This is the standard and grammatically correct way to indicate that something is being mentioned or alluded to.

cite from

Emphasizes the act of quoting or extracting information from a specific source.

reference from

Highlights the action of using a specific source as a point of comparison or support.

extract from

Focuses on taking a specific portion or piece from a larger source.

be referred by

This focuses on who or what is doing the referring, shifting the agency.

draw from

Indicates that something is taken or extracted from a larger body of work or knowledge.

stem from

Implies that something arises or develops from a particular origin or cause.

derive from

Suggests that something is obtained or extracted from a source.

originate from

Focuses on the source or origin of something, rather than simply referencing it.

source from

This emphasizes the origin of materials or information.

FAQs

How should I properly use the term "refer" in a sentence?

The correct usage is "refer to", as in "I will "refer to" the guidelines for further clarification".

What is a common mistake people make when using the word "refer"?

A frequent error is using "refer from" instead of the correct "refer to". Always use "to" when you mean to mention or allude to something.

Are there alternatives to the phrase "refer to"?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "cite", "mention", or "allude to".

Is "refer from" ever correct, or should I always use "refer to"?

While "refer from" appears in some contexts, it's generally considered non-standard. It is better to always use "refer to" to maintain clarity and grammatical correctness.