refer that

USAGE SUMMARY

'Refer that' is not a complete sentence and it cannot be used in written English as it is.
In order to use it, you would need to add additional words to make it a complete sentence. For example, you could say: "Please refer that to the appropriate department."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

"Did you refer that complaint to the police?" asked counsel assisting the royal commission, Gail Furness.

The Guardian

Perhaps we should refer that question to Kenneth Branagh … If you really needed it confirming in 2016, stick this on the TV.

The Guardian - Opinion

If Mr. Lang is unable to arrange a pick-up for a customer, he will refer that person to companies like Tim's Pet Minivan or Tony's Canine Cab.

The New York Times

"Were we going to continue to do breast exams, and if someone has a suspicious lump, refer that person to a surgeon to determine whether they need a biopsy?" Ms. Farrell said.

The New York Times

"I would be very uncomfortable trying to decide whether, as a matter of Virginia law, anybody other than the attorney general can ever represent the commonwealth," Alito said, suggesting the court might want to refer that question to the Virginia Supreme Court.

The Washington Post

It is also important to refer that i) our model and all the above results were obtained prior to the release of the cryo-EM hABCG2 structure and ii) due to the release of the cryo-EM structure, we felt the need to rewrite some parts of this paper in order to validate our in silico approach for the development of a ABCG2 homology model.

Nature

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

Auditors referred that matter to OSSE to determine whether the money should be restored to TAG.

The Washington Post

She referred that stay request to the full court, and Thursday the justices denied the petition.

The Washington Post

Nor did Mrs. Astor identify to whom she was referring that day.

The New York Times

As you know, I referred that matter to the Department of Justice for further investigation.

Huffington Post

It includes 5 essays or passages, with a set of questions that refer to that passage.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that "refer that" is part of a complete sentence, specifying to whom or where something is being referred. For example, "Please refer that complaint to the customer service department."

Common error

Avoid using "refer that" in isolation. Always include a subject and a verb to form a complete thought. Saying just "refer that" leaves the reader wondering who is doing the referring and to whom or what the referral is being made.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refer that" functions as a transitive verb requiring a subject and an object to form a complete sentence. It's used to indicate the action of directing something (an issue, a person, a question) to a specific place or individual for further attention or action. Ludwig AI states that additional words are needed to make it a complete sentence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

31%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Academia

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "refer that" is commonly used, but it's crucial to remember that it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. As Ludwig AI points out, it requires additional context, specifically a subject and a verb, to convey a complete thought. Usage is most frequent in scientific, news, and business contexts, suggesting a neutral to professional register. To avoid grammatical errors, always ensure that "refer that" is integrated into a fully formed sentence, clearly indicating who is performing the action and to whom or what the referral is being made.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refer it

Replaces "that" with "it" to maintain brevity while indicating a specific item.

refer this

Substitutes "that" with "this" to denote immediacy or proximity to the subject at hand.

direct that

Uses "direct" instead of "refer" to convey a stronger sense of control or guidance.

pass that along

Replaces "refer" with a more conversational expression indicating the transfer of information or responsibility.

submit that

Offers a more formal alternative to "refer", often used in official or procedural contexts.

forward that

Similar to "pass that along", but implies sending something onward for further action.

address that

Shifts the focus to dealing with or resolving a particular issue or concern.

consider that

Changes the action to thinking about or evaluating something, rather than directing it elsewhere.

acknowledge that

Focuses on recognizing or admitting something, rather than taking action on it.

investigate that

Implies a more in-depth examination or inquiry into a specific matter.

FAQs

How can I use "refer that" correctly in a sentence?

Ensure that "refer that" is part of a complete sentence, specifying the subject, verb, and object. For example, "The manager will "refer that" issue to the IT department".

What are some alternatives to using "refer that"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "pass that along", "direct that", or "forward that".

Is it grammatically correct to say just "refer that"?

No, "refer that" by itself is not grammatically correct. It needs to be part of a complete sentence with a subject and a verb.

What's the difference between "refer that" and "refer this"?

"Refer that" typically refers to something previously mentioned or understood, while "refer this" usually points to something immediately present or under discussion. The choice depends on the specific context and what you're referencing.