refer it to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refer it to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that something should be directed or sent to a specific person or department for further action or consideration. Example: "Please refer it to the legal department for review before making a final decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It means that if he believes that all or part of a bill exceeds the assembly's powers, he can refer it to the Supreme Court for its determination.

BBC

The IAEA resolution called on Iran to clear up outstanding questions about its nuclear capabilities, but did not refer it to the UN Security Council.

BBC

On May 15, 2007 the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) decided to suspend nimesulide from the Irish market and refer it to the EU Committee for Human Medicinal Products CHMPP) for a review of its benefit/risk profile.

BMC Cancer

If a supplier ignores its decisions it has the power to refer it to Ofgem.

The Guardian - Money

People forget I did refer it to the competition authorities.

The Guardian

"They said they'll refer it to the archdiocese".

The New York Times

He may handle the case himself or refer it to the full court.

The New York Times

I decided to refer it to the Press Complaints Commission and the inquiry is ongoing.

The Guardian

She can act on her own or refer it to the entire court.

The New York Times

If they are convinced of their case, they can refer it to a higher authority.

The Economist

Why refer it to the Competition Commission and cut himself out, when there was a job to do?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "refer it to" when you want to formally suggest that something needs to be reviewed or handled by someone else, especially when specialized knowledge or authority is required.

Common error

While "refer it to" is perfectly acceptable, avoid using it in overly casual settings where simpler alternatives like "give it to" or "send it to" might sound more natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refer it to" acts as a phrasal verb, indicating the action of directing something—an issue, a document, or a case—to another person or authority for further consideration or action. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

21%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "refer it to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for directing something to another party for attention, review, or action. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, and our analysis reveals its prevalence across news, scientific, and academic domains. While versatile, remember to adjust your word choice to simpler alternatives in informal conversation. By understanding the nuances of "refer it to", you can effectively communicate delegation and responsibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

direct it to

Emphasizes the act of pointing something in a specific direction or towards a particular recipient.

send it to

Highlights the action of transmitting something to another party.

forward it to

Implies passing something along to a new recipient, suggesting a continuation of a process.

submit it to

Focuses on the act of formally presenting something for consideration or approval.

route it to

Suggests guiding something along a particular path or channel.

assign it to

Highlights the act of entrusting something to someone for a specific purpose or task.

hand it over to

Implies physically transferring something to another person.

pass it on to

Suggests the act of transferring information or an item to someone else, often implying a sequence.

give it to

A simpler, more direct way of indicating the transfer of something to someone.

delegate it to

Focuses on assigning a task or responsibility to someone else, usually within a hierarchical structure.

FAQs

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

You can use "refer it to" when you want to suggest directing something to a specific person or department for further action or consideration, like: "Please "refer it to" the legal department for review before making a final decision."

What are some alternatives to saying "refer it to"?

You can use alternatives like "direct it to", "send it to", or "forward it to" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "refer it to" in professional writing?

It's appropriate to use ""refer it to"" in professional writing when you need to formally suggest that something be passed to another person or department, especially one with specialized expertise.

Is "refer it to" too formal for casual conversation?

While grammatically correct, ""refer it to"" might sound overly formal in casual conversation. Simpler alternatives like "give it to" or "send it to" could be more appropriate.