sources confirmed that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'sources confirmed that' is a perfectly acceptable and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to introduce a statement that is backed up by other reliable sources. For example, "Sources confirmed that the company had seen a dramatic increase in profits in the last quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Two sources confirmed that the account belonged to Mered.

The Guardian

However, Downing Street sources confirmed that American officials had suggested Mr Portillo as a possible candidate.

The Guardian

And he reported that his sources confirmed that Barghouti was right.

The Guardian - Opinion

Whitehall sources confirmed that the lord chancellor was acting out of consideration for his older colleagues.

The Guardian

Irish police sources confirmed that he had been interviewed about his passport.

The Guardian

Tory sources confirmed that the plans would go further than the aborted snooper's charter.

The Guardian

However sources confirmed that the water pistol was replacing the gun.

The Guardian - Tech

Sources confirmed that traces of polonium 210 had been found at the address.

The Guardian

These sources confirmed that the committee was investigating C.I.A. covert operations in Greece.

The New York Times

Conservative sources confirmed that that the Taplins emailed David Cameron after contacting the Fees Office.

Independent

Labour Party sources confirmed that Miliband was going to Ibiza to "get away from it all".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sources confirmed that", ensure your sources are credible and reliable, as this phrase implies a level of verification and accuracy. Citing specific types of sources (e.g. "police sources" or "government officials") adds more credibility.

Common error

Avoid overusing "sources confirmed that" without providing any context or detail about who these sources are or why they are reliable. Oversaturation can make the information seem less credible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sources confirmed that" functions as an introductory phrase to indicate that information has been verified by individuals or entities, whose identities are often kept confidential. This is supported by Ludwig which indicates a high confidence in the phrase's validity.

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, "sources confirmed that" is a highly prevalent phrase, particularly within news and media, used to introduce information that has been verified by unnamed but supposedly reliable sources. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and wide usage. When writing, remember to ensure the underlying sources are credible, avoid overusing the phrase to maintain audience trust, and consider alternatives for different levels of formality or directness. The phrase serves primarily to lend authority to a statement, assuring readers that the information is based on more than speculation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was confirmed by sources that

This alternative inverts the sentence structure slightly, placing "it was confirmed" at the beginning for emphasis.

insiders verified that

Replaces "sources" with "insiders", suggesting the confirmation comes from individuals within a particular group or organization.

authorities corroborated that

Uses "authorities" to specify that the confirmation originates from official or governmental bodies.

reports indicated that

Shifts the focus to "reports" as the source of confirmation, implying a written or documented verification.

it has been ascertained that

Employs more formal language, replacing "confirmed" with "ascertained" to indicate a formal determination.

evidence suggests that

Uses "evidence suggests" which shows a degree of certainty that is lower than actual confirmation.

according to sources

This alternative is less direct but still attributes the information to unnamed sources.

people familiar with the matter stated

Specifies the sources as "people familiar with the matter", implying insider knowledge.

the word is that

Uses an informal tone to indicate the information is circulating but not officially confirmed.

knowledgeable parties revealed

Uses "knowledgeable parties" to indicate that the confirmation comes from well informed sources.

FAQs

How can I make "sources confirmed that" sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "it has been ascertained that" or "authorities corroborated that", which convey a stronger sense of official verification.

What are some less direct alternatives to "sources confirmed that"?

If you want to be less direct, try phrases like "reports indicated that" or "evidence suggests that", which imply a degree of uncertainty or reliance on indirect information.

In what contexts is it best to use "sources confirmed that"?

This phrase is particularly useful in news reporting, investigative journalism, and academic writing when you need to convey that information has been verified by individuals with knowledge or authority, but their identities must remain protected.

Is "sources confirm that" grammatically correct?

While "sources confirm that" is grammatically correct, "sources confirmed that" is often preferred because it implies that the confirmation happened in the past and is now a settled fact. Using "confirm" suggests the confirmation is happening in the present, which may not always be the case.