refer to him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refer to him" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that someone should mention or talk about a specific male individual. Example: "In the report, please refer to him as the project manager to avoid confusion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Many reference works, including Wisden, refer to him as "Alim-ud-Din".

Wikipedia

The respectful refer to him as Mr. Abi.

The New York Times - Sports

Others refer to him as the heart or the pulse.

The New York Times - Sports

Hitler would refer to him in retrospect as "an imbecile".

The New York Times - Books

Most of us refer to him by his surname, Depay.

Independent

Sue him or impeach him — but refer to him properly.

The Washington Post

When people refer to him, they call him "Bobby" — contemptuously.

The New York Times

They now derisively refer to him as "Kassanova".

The New York Times

Many people here refer to him as Uncle Ted.

The New York Times

Some of Woods's opponents refer to him in otherworldly terms.

The New York Times - Sports

"My friends now refer to him as Ice Cream Boy".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing informally, remember that while the structure 'refer to him' is grammatically correct, you could use simpler language like 'mention him' to improve clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "refer to him" without a clear antecedent. Ensure the reader knows exactly who "him" refers to within the immediate context to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refer to him" functions as a verb phrase used to indicate the act of mentioning, alluding to, or addressing a specific male individual. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Wiki

11%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Science

30%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "refer to him" is a grammatically correct and versatile verb phrase used to indicate the act of mentioning or addressing a male individual. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted and frequently used across various contexts. While it maintains a neutral register, ensuring clarity by providing a clear antecedent is crucial for effective communication. Alternative phrases like "mention him" or "speak of him" can be used for slight variations in emphasis. Its high frequency across authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its reliability in both formal and informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Mention him

Focuses on the act of simply mentioning the person.

Make reference to him

A more formal way of saying "mention him".

Address him

Focuses on the way someone is formally spoken to.

Speak of him

Emphasizes the act of talking about the person.

Call him

Highlights the specific name or title used when addressing the person.

Designate him

Focuses on officially assigning a name or title.

Allude to him

Suggests an indirect reference to the person.

Acknowledge him

Implies recognizing or giving credit to the person.

Invoke him

Suggests bringing him up as an authority or example.

Cite him

Highlights quoting or referencing his work.

FAQs

How do I use "refer to him" in a sentence?

You can use "refer to him" when you want to indicate that someone should mention or talk about a specific male individual. For example: "In the report, please refer to him as the project manager to avoid confusion."

What are some alternatives to "refer to him"?

You can use alternatives like "mention him", "speak of him", or "call him" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "refer to he" instead of "refer to him"?

No, "refer to he" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "refer to him", where "him" is the objective pronoun.

What is the difference between "refer to him" and "refer him"?

"Refer to him" means to mention or speak about him. "Refer him" means to direct him to someone or something else for assistance or information.