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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
referred a request
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "referred a request" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey that someone has directed or passed on a request, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "She referred the request to her supervisor for further consideration."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Science
Alternative expressions(19)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
16 human-written examples
A spokesman for Kalanick's law firm referred a request for comment to Uber.
News & Media
Sandler's film company, Happy Madison Productions, referred a request for comment to its collaborator Brillstein Entertainment Partners.
News & Media
A spokesman for the Yale chapter of the fraternity referred a request for comment to its national parent.
News & Media
Hunter Biden, through his assistant at his law firm, Oldaker Biden & Belair, referred a request for comment to the Obama campaign.
News & Media
Hanna H. Gray, another board member, was traveling, and another, Robert E. Rubin, the Treasury secretary in the Clinton administration, referred a request for comment to Ms. McNeil.
News & Media
A spokeswoman for the Canadian Plastics Industry Association referred a request for comment to the American Chemistry Council in Arlington, Va.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
39 human-written examples
Mr. Hiatt referred an interview request to the paper's spokeswoman, who refused to comment.
News & Media
All letters referred to a request he must have made in an earlier letter which had apparently gone astray.
News & Media
But this official today seemed willing to give General Musharraf a little help -- and referred to a request from Mr. Armitage.
News & Media
What sort of factors do you feel may influence the extent of service provided by GPs? Explain your thoughts on the recent change that GPs are able to directly refer a HMR request to an accredited pharmacist rather than to a community pharmacy first?
Science
"As a government entity, R.I.O.C. was constrained by the laws that require the R.F.P. process in order to rent any space," said Leslie Torres, the president of the corporation, referring to a request for proposal.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
For clarity and grammatical correctness, avoid using "referred a request". Instead, specify where the request was referred to, like 'referred the request to [name/department]'.
Common error
Avoid using "referred a request" without a clear destination. It creates ambiguity. Always specify where the request was directed, as in 'referred the request to the appropriate department'.
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "referred a request" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of directing a request elsewhere. However, it is considered grammatically awkward without specifying the destination of the referral. Ludwig AI marks it as incorrect.
Frequent in
News & Media
80%
Science
10%
Formal & Business
5%
Less common in
Academia
2%
Encyclopedias
1%
Wiki
2%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
While "referred a request" appears in various contexts, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect. The main issue is the lack of a clear destination for the request. For effective communication, it's best to use alternatives like "forwarded a request" or "passed on a request", and always specify where the request was directed. This ensures clarity and avoids ambiguity in your writing.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
forwarded a request
Replaces 'referred' with 'forwarded', emphasizing the action of sending the request onwards.
passed on a request
Uses 'passed on' instead of 'referred', highlighting the transfer of the request.
directed the request
Employs 'directed' to indicate guidance of the request to a specific recipient.
submitted the request to
Uses 'submitted' to show the formal action of presenting the request to someone.
handed over the request
Replaces 'referred' with 'handed over', stressing the physical transfer of the request.
sent the request to
Substitutes 'referred' with 'sent', focusing on the action of dispatching the request.
redirected the request
Uses 'redirected' to show that request was sent to different destination than originally intended.
channeled the request
Employs 'channeled' to describe request being guided through a specific process or person.
delegated the request
Replaces 'referred' with 'delegated', emphasizing the assignment of the request to another party.
entrusted the request
Substitutes 'referred' with 'entrusted', focusing on the action of giving the request to someone that can take care of it.
FAQs
Is it grammatically correct to say "referred a request"?
No, "referred a request" is not considered standard English. It's better to say "referred the request to [someone/department]" for clarity.
What can I say instead of "referred a request"?
You can use alternatives like "forwarded a request", "passed on a request", or "directed the request" depending on the context.
How do I properly use "refer" in relation to a request?
Always specify where the request is being referred. For example, "The company referred the request to its legal department."
What's the difference between "referred a request" and "referred the request"?
"Referred a request" is grammatically awkward. "Referred the request" is better, but it still needs a destination (e.g., "referred the request to the manager").
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested