remembering someone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "remembering someone" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to the act of recalling memories or thoughts about a specific person. Example: "I find comfort in remembering my grandmother during the holidays." Alternative expressions include "thinking of someone," "reminiscing about someone," and "reflecting on someone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

What's most remarkable, however, is that when we remember Cash, we're not only remembering someone who died in his eighth decade, but someone who died at his creative peak.

The Guardian - Music

For most people, remembering someone's face is much easier than their name.

TechCrunch

Remembering someone on 9/11.

Huffington Post

Then not remembering someone you've met before.

Huffington Post

The reverie came from remembering someone the interviewer knew who had suffered abuse, offering a safe space for disclosure by the respondent [ 51, 52] and, as we provided the data for local planning processes, a series of local and regional efforts to decrease violence against women [ 50][ 106].

BMC Health Services Research

Remembering someone's name is a placeholder for knowing them and wanting to interact with them.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Or remember someone's birthday.

The Guardian

Siena remembered someone covering up windows with paper.

The Washington Post

I remember someone throwing a box of Weetabix.

The Guardian - Music

We can't remember someone's name (blocking).

The New York Times - Books

She tried to remember someone's name but couldn't.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with specific attributes like 'face', 'name', or 'birthday' when discussing cognitive limits or social skills.

Common error

Avoid using "remembering someone" when you mean you are triggering a memory in another person. Use "reminding someone" for causative actions and "remembering" for the internal act of retrieval.

Linguistic Context

In terms of grammatical function, "remembering someone" typically acts as a gerund phrase (serving as a noun) or a present participle phrase (acting as an adjective). In the examples provided by Ludwig, it frequently occupies the role of a subject or a complement, describing an ongoing cognitive state or a social phenomenon. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is standard and grammatically sound.

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "remembering someone" is a versatile and essential part of the English language, bridging the gap between clinical cognitive science and profound human emotion. Ludwig AI highlights its frequent appearance in high-quality journalism and academic research, where it is used to examine how we process identities (like faces and names) and how we honor legacies. Whether used in the context of a social blunder at a party or a national day of mourning, the phrase remains a primary way to describe the act of keeping a person present in the mind. While alternatives like "recollecting someone" or "thinking of someone" offer different shades of meaning, the original phrase remains the most balanced and widely applicable choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recollecting someone

Suggests a more deliberate effort to gather fragments of memory.

recalling someone

Often used in cognitive or clinical contexts to describe bringing a memory to the mind.

thinking of someone

A softer, more emotional alternative often used for ongoing mindfulness or affection.

reminiscing about someone

Focuses on the nostalgic and pleasant act of sharing or dwelling on past memories.

looking back on someone

Adopts a retrospective perspective, often analyzing a person's life or impact.

commemorating someone

Implies a formal or public act of memory, such as an event or a monument.

keeping someone in mind

Focuses on present awareness or situational consideration of a person.

bearing someone in mind

Highly practical, used when a person's presence or needs must be factored into a decision.

honoring someone

Shifts the focus from the mental act to the respectful treatment of a person's memory.

invoking someone

Suggests bringing up a person's name or spirit, often for authority or inspiration.

FAQs

How to use "remembering someone" in a sentence?

You can use it as a subject or object to describe the act of memory, such as "thinking of someone you lost can be a source of both pain and comfort."

What can I say instead of "remembering someone"?

Depending on the level of formality, you might use "recollecting someone" for a focused effort or "thinking of someone" for general affection.

What is the difference between "remembering someone" and "reminding someone"?

The phrase involves your own memory, whereas "reminding someone" is an action you take to help another person remember something.

Is "remembering someone" correct in formal writing?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable. In scientific or academic contexts, you might see more technical variations like "recalling someone" or 'retrieving biographical data'.