reflect to

USAGE SUMMARY

"reflect to" is not a phrase that would be used in written English.
Instead, you would use the phrase "reflect on," which means to think deeply about a subject, often as a form of contemplation or meditation. For example, "He had time to reflect on his mistakes during his time in prison."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Their families have now had five years to reflect, to mourn, to recover.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, Szwed rarely pauses long enough to reflect (to "meditate," as it were) on Davis's torments.

The New York Times - Books

These conflicting views of Tupac reflect, to a degree, racial and social chasms.

The New Yorker

This is a place where people come to change, to reflect, to test their mettle.

The New York Times - Books

The cool public response may reflect to some extent the split personalities of these cars.

The New York Times

That is how each crawl comes to reflect, to a degree, the character of its city.

The New York Times - Books

To him, the programs "reflect, to some degree, problems in the training of artists in this country".

The New York Times

In so doing, he brought journalists back to the basics: to see, to listen, to remain, to reflect, to report.

The New York Times

And the people the Trump Organization has chosen reflect, to some extent, Trump's apparent attitude toward conflicts of interest.

The New Yorker

Today's bonds reflect, to some degree, the solidarity of two small nations living on the edges of a rising China.

The New York Times

"We want to reflect to marketers that mobile is now a big part of the first screen.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "reflect to" in your writing. Opt for the more grammatically correct and widely accepted phrase "reflect on" when you want to convey deep thought or consideration. For expressing a representation or mirroring effect, use "reflect" without "to".

Common error

A common mistake is adding "to" after "reflect" when it's unnecessary. Remember, "reflect" can directly take an object to mean represent, without needing a preposition. Only use "reflect on" when the meaning is about thinking deeply.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reflect to" is grammatically incorrect and lacks a defined function in standard English. Ludwig AI indicates it's not a recognized phrase. The verb "reflect" typically requires the preposition "on" to indicate deep thought, or no preposition to mean representation.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "reflect to" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal and informal writing. As Ludwig AI confirms, standard English uses "reflect on" to indicate deep thought or contemplation, and "reflect" without a preposition to mean representation or mirroring. Using "reflect to" introduces grammatical errors, undermining clarity and credibility. Remember to "reflect on" your choice of words to ensure accuracy and precision in your writing, opting for established phrases like "reflect on", "mirror", or "correspond to" based on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reflect on

Changes the preposition to indicate deeper thought or consideration.

correspond to

Indicates a direct relationship or similarity between two things.

mirror

Implies a faithful representation or close resemblance.

be indicative of

Suggests that something serves as a sign or indication of something else.

be representative of

Implies that something accurately shows the qualities of a larger group or thing.

give insight into

Suggests that something provides a deeper understanding or perspective.

be a sign of

Indicates that something serves as evidence or a signal of something else.

point to

Suggests that something directs attention or indicates a particular direction or conclusion.

allude to

Means to hint at or indirectly suggest something.

contemplate

Focuses on thoughtful consideration or reflection.

FAQs

Is "reflect to" grammatically correct?

No, "reflect to" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The correct phrase to use when indicating deep thought is "reflect on".

What can I say instead of "reflect to"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "reflect on" (for contemplation), "mirror" (for representation), or "correspond to" (for direct relationships).

Which is correct, "reflect to" or "reflect on"?

"Reflect on" is the correct phrase to use when you mean to think deeply about something. "Reflect to" is not a recognized standard English phrase.

When should I use "reflect" without a preposition?

Use "reflect" without a preposition when you mean to represent or mirror something, such as "The water reflects the sky". In this case, "reflect" directly takes an object.