referred that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "referred that" is not correct in written English.
It is typically used incorrectly; the correct form would be "referred to" when indicating a reference to something. Example: "The report referred to the latest research findings in the field."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

But JP Doyle referred that ruck to the TMO and Dom Barrow was caught handling the ball on the floor.

The Guardian - Sport

Ms. Quinn last month referred that matter to the city's Conflicts of Interest Board after being informed of the relationship by a reporter.

The New York Times

By any standard, what is happening in Syria is just as bad as the situation was in Libya when the [UN] security council referred that country to the ICC.

The Guardian

Still, it just so happened that Mr. Rumsfeld and the White House press secretary, Ari Fleischer, each separately but repeatedly referred that day to Iraqi forces loyal to Mr. Hussein as "death squads," willing to execute Iraqi army regulars who refused to fight.

The New York Times

Mr. Kelly referred that question to the zoning commission, where Gary Lorentson, Stratford's planning and zoning administrator, said that a previous lawyer for the town believed the case had been in the wrong court, and that more research had to be done into the legality of the flags.

The New York Times

Finally, in vivo tests on healthy volunteers have demonstrated that emulgels were able to remain on buccal mucosa for an average period of 1 h, moreover emulgels did not have bad taste and volunteers referred that were agreeable and pleasant.

International Journal of Pharmaceutics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

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

The New York Times

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

The Guardian

Reed preferred not to comment on his reaction to the offer, referring that question to Phil Tannenbaum, his agent.

The New York Times - Sports

We refer that time as the handoff decision period.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

We will refer that matter to the President.

EU Parlament

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you want to indicate that someone directed attention to something, use "referred to" followed by the object of reference. For example, "The speaker referred to the study's findings."

Common error

Avoid using "referred that" as a direct substitute for phrases like "mentioned that" or "stated that". "Referred" typically requires the preposition "to" when directing attention to something, whereas "mentioned" and "stated" can be followed directly by a clause.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "referred that" typically functions as a verb phrase attempting to introduce a reported statement. However, based on Ludwig AI analysis, this construction is often grammatically incorrect. It commonly appears where "referred to" or alternative reporting verbs would be more appropriate.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "referred that" appears in various contexts, it is often grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI analysis indicates that the correct form is typically "referred to" when directing attention to something. Alternatives such as "mentioned that", "stated that", or "indicated that" may be more appropriate depending on the intended meaning. Using "referred to" is recommended when you wish to point to a specific source or statement, ensuring clarity and grammatical accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mentioned that

Focuses on simply stating something, without the implication of consulting or directing attention elsewhere.

cited that

Emphasizes the act of quoting or referencing a specific source.

indicated that

Suggests a more subtle form of reference, implying a hint or indirect statement.

stated that

Highlights a formal or explicit declaration of information.

reported that

Implies the conveying of information, often through an official channel.

noted that

Emphasizes the act of observing and recording something of interest.

observed that

Highlights the act of noticing or perceiving something.

pointed out that

Focuses on drawing attention to a specific fact or detail.

related that

Implies the telling of a story or account.

alluded to that

Indicates an indirect reference or suggestion.

FAQs

How to correct the phrase "referred that" in a sentence?

The phrase "referred that" is often grammatically incorrect. It's best to use "referred to" when you mean to direct attention to something, or use alternatives like "mentioned that", "stated that" or "indicated that" depending on the context.

What can I say instead of "referred that"?

You can use alternatives like "mentioned that", "stated that", or "indicated that" depending on the context. Using "referred to" is also correct when you want to direct attention to something.

Which is correct, "referred that" or "referred to"?

The correct phrase is usually "referred to" when you are directing attention to something. "Referred that" is often grammatically incorrect. Consider using alternatives like "mentioned that" or "stated that" if you don't intend to direct attention to something specific.

What's the difference between "referred to" and "mentioned that"?

"Referred to" implies directing attention to something specific, like a document or statement. "Mentioned that", on the other hand, simply means stating something without necessarily directing attention elsewhere. For example: "The report referred to the study's findings" versus "He mentioned that he was tired".