relative from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "relative from" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is unclear when it could be used, as it lacks context and proper grammatical structure. Example: "The relative from the other side of the family visited us last summer."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

In 1980, one of his daughters married a distant relative from Kuwait: Maan al-Sanea.

The New Yorker

'Howay man, ahh thought Armani played for Chelsea,' said Wor Colin, my relative from the north.

The Guardian - Sport

They didn't have time," Irakly Khosulev, a relative from the nearby city of Vladikavkaz, said.

The Guardian

Five days after she was arrested and charged with Tiffany's murder, Sabrina wrote to a relative from HMP Wakefield.

The Guardian

A comfortable Upper West Side couple receive an ominous visit from a wayward relative from Hollywood (2 00).

The New York Times

The Parmesan should be genuine Parmigiano-Reggiano or its close relative from the region around Milan, grana Padano.

The New York Times - Food

One cousin, Chen Dawen, worked as a farmer before landing a job two years ago at a Guangdong electronics factory run by a relative from Taiwan.

The New York Times

One of Hari's earliest memories is of trying to rouse a relative from a drug-induced stupor, and his ex-boyfriend is a crack and heroin addict.

The Guardian

Professor James Ogloff, a psychologist, told the court that Bayley claims to have been sexually abused by his father and a female relative from the age of nine.

The Guardian

The ultra-Orthodox relative from Bnei Brak doesn't eat or drink anything in our house during the shiva, refusing even a glass of water.

The New Yorker

A relative from Jerusalem who is a psychiatrist brought some solace by citing the maxim: "We are not to ask why, but what".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "relative from" when indicating family connections. Instead, use "relative of" or rephrase to provide clarity.

Common error

Don't use "relative from" to describe a family connection. "From" indicates origin, not relationship. Say "relative of" or "a relative on my mother's/father's side".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "relative from" is often intended to function as a way to identify a family member, but it does not adhere to standard grammatical rules for indicating relationships. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is not correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

27%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "relative from" appears frequently across diverse sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect when used to indicate a family relationship. Its intended use is often to identify a family member, but a more grammatically sound approach would be to use "relative of", "a relative on my mother's side", or other similar phrases. Although the expression is quite common in News & Media and science contexts, remember to prioritize clear and correct phrasing in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relative of

Replaces 'from' with 'of' to indicate a relationship or connection, providing a grammatically sound alternative.

relative from

Indicates a relative who is originally from a certain location. It correctly uses "from" to identify origin or location.

a relative on my mother's side

Specifies the side of the family the relative belongs to for clarification.

a relative on my father's side

Specifies the side of the family the relative belongs to for clarification.

distant relative

Indicates the degree of relation, specifying a less close family connection.

close relative

Indicates the degree of relation, specifying a close family connection.

family member

A simple phrase meaning the same as "relative" with a more neutral tone.

relation

Shortened term to indicate a family connection.

member of the family

Alternative phrasing to denote someone belonging to the family.

one of my relatives

Using 'one of' specifies an individual within the broader family group.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "relative from" in a sentence?

While "relative from" is generally grammatically incorrect to denote a family relationship, it can be used correctly to indicate someone from a specific place, such as "a relative from London."

What is a more appropriate way to say "relative from" when referring to family?

Use "relative of" instead. For example, say "She is a relative of mine" rather than "She is a relative from me."

Is there a difference between saying "relative of" and "relative from"?

Yes. "Relative of" is the grammatically correct way to indicate a family connection. "Relative from" is incorrect in this context but can be used to specify someone originating from a place, like "a colleague from Germany".

When is it correct to use "from" with relation to a person?

It is correct when specifying origin or source, such as "a letter from my sister" or "advice from my uncle." In these cases, "from" indicates the origin of something, not the relationship itself.