referred on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "referred on" is not correct and not usable in written English.
The correct expression would typically be "referred to," which is used when directing someone to a source of information or mentioning someone in a specific context. Example: "The report referred to the latest research findings on climate change."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Compared to those referred on, those not referred on tended to be more deprived (56.2%) (χ=10.539, P-value=0.014), after merging the deprivation quartiles into 'most affluent' and 'most deprived' (Table 3-wrap>).

British Journal of Cancer

Of concern, indigenous people were less likely to be referred on for further evaluation of their eating problems.

BMC Public Health

This study recruited patients completing physiotherapy care rather than those unable to complete care and subsequently referred on for further opinion, such as from a surgeon.

BioMed Research International

A police officer insisted that the case be referred on after one of many visits to a call about domestic violence.

BBC

Specialist Morlock, one of those charged with murder, was referred on Friday for court-martial proceedings.

The New York Times

In one patient, the initial stage was unknown because she was only referred on relapse.

British Journal of Cancer

Only then can the matter be referred on.

The Guardian

He said Marie Stopes professionals frequently saw the impact of women not being referred on.

The Guardian

Here's the photo to which Colin Powell referred on Meet the Press this morning.

The Guardian - Opinion

If the relationships are still not working, the case is referred on to other services.

The Guardian

She referred on Sunday to the "enormity" of the task facing her.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "referred to" when you mean to direct attention to something or someone, or when mentioning something in a particular context. For example: "The speaker "referred to" the latest research on climate change".

Common error

Do not use "referred on". The correct and widely accepted form is "referred to". Using "referred on" can confuse your reader and weaken the clarity of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "referred on" is generally used to indicate that someone or something has been directed to a subsequent stage, person, or resource. It appears in various contexts, but is flagged as grammatically incorrect by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

57%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "referred on" appears frequently across various sources, Ludwig identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The proper phrasing is "referred to", which should be used to direct attention or mention something in context. Although examples of "referred on" are very common in both science and news media, it's better to rely on grammatically correct alternatives to ensure clarity and professionalism in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

referred to

This is the correct and standard phrasing when directing attention or making reference to something.

made reference to

This alternative emphasizes the act of explicitly mentioning something.

mentioned

A simple and direct way of indicating that something was brought up in conversation or writing.

directed towards

This alternative highlights the act of guiding or pointing in a specific direction.

cited

Implies quoting or explicitly referencing a source.

alluded to

This option suggests a more indirect or subtle mention.

pointed out

Focuses on highlighting or drawing attention to a specific detail.

brought up

Similar to 'mentioned' but can also imply introducing a topic.

commented on

Focuses on offering an observation or remark about something.

gave an opinion on

This alternative specifically relates to sharing a viewpoint or assessment.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "referred on"?

The correct way to phrase this is "referred to". For example, "The study "referred to" previous research on the topic".

When should I use "referred to" instead of "referred on"?

You should always use "referred to" because "referred on" is not grammatically correct. "Referred to" is the standard and accepted way to express that something is being directed to or mentioned in relation to something else.

Are there any situations where "referred on" is appropriate?

No, the phrase "referred on" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It is always best to use "referred to" or another appropriate alternative.

What are some alternatives to "referred to"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "mentioned", "cited", "alluded to", or "made reference to".