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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
refers about
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "refers about" is not correct and not usable in written English.
The correct expression would typically be "refers to" when indicating what something is about. Example: "The article refers to the latest research on climate change."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Alternative expressions(7)
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
3 human-written examples
Conclusion: HPV triage is at least as sensitive as immediate colposcopy for detecting CIN grade 3 and refers about half as many women to colposcopy.
The new system would replace an older version that uses less information and refers about 14percentt of ticket buyers for extra scrutiny.
News & Media
"There is a large group of consumers out there that want a dealerless transaction," said Mark W. Lorimer, chief executive of Autobytel.com, which now refers about 45,000 customers a month to dealers who sell them cars, and accounts for almost half of all online car sales referrals.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
53 human-written examples
Alarmingly, the GAO's report of all providers that referred an MR or CT examination in 2010 revealed that self-referring providers referred about twice as many of these services as providers who did not self-refer.
News & Media
In the past year, they have referred about 600 cases to prosecutors, but only 18 were presented to the courts.
News & Media
Since the programme was set up in 2006, a total of 3,934 people have been referred, about 20% of whom are deemed by panels to require further action.
News & Media
Since 2002, the financial industry's self-regulatory groups have referred about 80 instances of suspicious SAC trading activity to federal authorities for further investigation.
News & Media
He was referred about 4.5 years earlier after having total thyroidectomy that showed multifocal MTC with cervical lymph nodes metastasis.
Science
Non-urologic hospitalists appeared to refer more patients after an abnormal PSA test than GPs, but seem to refer about as often as PCPs.
Science
A study by Shipman et al. [ 9] showed that GPs working out-of-hours in a practice-based setting referred about 17% of all patients to the patient's own GP the next day.
Science
Just 34%95%5% CI = 22 50) of children with severe illness were correctly managed, and HEWs referred about one-half (54%, 95% CI = 41 67) of children needing referral to a health center.
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Avoid using the phrase "refers about" in formal writing. Instead, use "refers to" or other more grammatically correct alternatives like "mentions" or "relates to".
Common error
The common mistake is adding "about" after "refers" when "to" is the correct preposition. Always use "refers to" to indicate what something is about.
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
2.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "refers about" functions as a verb phrase, attempting to describe the act of referencing something. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, the construction is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "refers to".
Frequent in
News & Media
50%
Science
50%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Academia
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "refers about" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in both formal and informal writing. Ludwig AI confirms that "refers to" is the correct construction. While examples exist, primarily in news and scientific contexts, the incorrect grammar undermines their authority. It's best to use alternatives like ""refers to"", "mentions", or "relates to" to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy. Focus on using grammatically sound phrases to maintain credibility in your writing.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
refers to
Direct and grammatically correct alternative that indicates the subject or topic of the reference.
mentions
Simpler term indicating that something is brought up or spoken about.
relates to
Indicates a connection or association with a particular subject.
concerns
Highlights that the reference is about a specific issue or matter.
pertains to
Formal way of saying that something is relevant to a specific subject.
addresses
Indicates that something deals with or discusses a particular topic.
alludes to
Suggests an indirect or subtle reference.
directs inquiries to
Focuses on guiding questions or requests towards a specific entity.
forwards questions to
Similar to directs inquiries to, but emphasizes the act of passing on questions.
defers to
Indicates that the reference is passed on to someone else for expertise or authority.
FAQs
What is the correct way to use "refers" in a sentence?
The correct construction is "refers to", as in "The article "refers to" the latest research."
What can I say instead of "refers about"?
Use alternatives like ""refers to"", "mentions", or "relates to" depending on the context.
Which is correct, "refers about" or "refers to"?
"Refers to" is the correct and grammatically sound phrase. "Refers about" is not standard English.
Is "refers about" ever appropriate to use?
No, "refers about" is generally considered incorrect. It is best to use ""refers to"" or a similar alternative.
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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
2.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested