referring

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "referring" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate that you are mentioning or alluding to something or someone. Example: "In this report, I am referring to the latest research findings on climate change."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Referring to the accusations that she had "played the gender card" by calling out sexism, she said her position as the first female incumbent "does not explain everything about my prime ministership and does not explain nothing about my prime ministership".

The Guardian

"If we're running a race against their most articulate guy," Steve Schmidt, John McCain's former campaign manager, told me, referring to President Obama, "we should put our most articulate guy.

The Economist

"During this depression, when the spirit of the people is lower than at any other time, it is a splendid thing that, for just 15 cents, an American can go to a movie and look at the smiling face of a baby and forget his troubles," Franklin D Roosevelt stated in 1935, referring to the world's biggest and littlest star.

The Guardian - Film

"Two Olympic victories, the hockey and Crimea," said Trifonova, referring to the Russian team's victories in the Winter Olympics and paralympics held in Sochi earlier this year, as well as in the recent ice hockey world championships, and the annexation by Moscow of the Crimea peninsula.

The Guardian

Referring to a petition signed by more than 33,000 people, Bahreini added: "Thousands of people from around the world want to see Atena Farghadani and other prisoners of conscience released.

The Guardian

He was evidently referring to Sunday night - so how could he omit our year-round commitment to Songs Of Praise?

The Guardian

Referring to Ali Atalan, the HDP's top candidate in Batman and a member of the Yazidi religious minority, conservative rightwing politicians demanded that voters not vote for "pagans".

The Guardian

"There are things already on the shelf such as anti-wrinkle creams that are created from a rooster's comb," he tells me, referring to Pfizer's penchant for white leghorns.

The Guardian - Books

Even though nothing was clear in Florida, Republicans (and Fox News) began referring to George W as the "president-elect" and branding Gore as a sore loser for refusing to accept the fact.

The Guardian - Opinion

Though DeMint was referring specifically to the Affordable Care Act, a law the Heritage Foundation is urging Congress to defund in next month's continuing resolution, his comments could also apply to existing programs that have more direct government involvement than the ACA.

The Guardian

Referring to the Israeli bombing, Johnson said: "I cannot for the life of me see why this is a sensible strategy.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When "referring" to specific information, ensure the reference is accurate and verifiable to maintain credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "referring" without a clear antecedent. Ensure it's immediately obvious what or who you are referring to, otherwise rephrase for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "referring" is that of a present participle used as a verb, often part of a participial phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usage in this form, as exemplified in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "referring" is a very common and grammatically correct verb form used to link a statement to its subject or source. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts. When using "referring", ensure the subject of the reference is clear to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "mentioning", "citing", and "alluding to", each carrying slightly different connotations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

making reference to

A more verbose and formal way of saying "referring".

mentioning

A more general term for bringing something to someone's attention, less formal than "referring".

alluding to

Focuses more on indirect mention or suggestion, less direct than "referring".

alluding

Focuses more on indirect mention or suggestion, less direct than referring.

citing

Implies quoting or specifically pointing to a source, more formal and precise.

speaking of

Often used to transition to a related topic, less direct than "referring".

concerning

Highlights relevance, indicating the subject matter at hand.

in connection with

Highlights relevance, indicating the subject matter at hand.

in regard to

Highlights relevance, indicating the subject matter at hand.

with respect to

Highlights relevance, indicating the subject matter at hand.

FAQs

How can I use "referring" in a sentence?

The word "referring" is used to indicate that you are alluding to something or someone. For example, "Referring to the report, the data suggests...".

What are some alternatives to "referring"?

You can use alternatives like "mentioning", "citing", or "alluding to" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "referring about"?

No, the correct usage is simply "referring to". The preposition "about" is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect in this context.

What's the difference between "referring to" and "in reference to"?

"Referring to" is a more direct and concise way to indicate that you are alluding to something. "In reference to" is a more formal and slightly more verbose alternative.