spoke of him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spoke of him" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone discussing or mentioning another person in conversation or writing. Example: "During the meeting, she spoke of him with great admiration, highlighting his contributions to the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They never spoke of him again.

The New Yorker

They spoke of him as a brother".

The New Yorker

No one spoke of him again.

The New Yorker

Picoult spoke of him glowingly.

The New York Times - Magazine

Rumsfeld spoke of him in glowing terms.

The Guardian

Contemporaries spoke of him with great warmth.

The Guardian - Sport

Moore never met him and rarely spoke of him.

The New Yorker

Although Mr. Frohnmayer spoke of him with discretion -- "I think..

The New York Times

Bryant's teammates spoke of him on Wednesday with reverence.

The New York Times - Sports

On Tuesday, Mr. Bruno spoke of him like a sibling.

The New York Times

His two youngest sons spoke of him in awe.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "spoke of him", ensure the context clarifies whether the discussion was positive, negative, or neutral to provide a complete understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "spoke of him" without indicating the tone or context of the conversation, as it can leave the reader unsure of the sentiment being expressed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spoke of him" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a past tense transitive verb (spoke) followed by a prepositional phrase (of him). It indicates the act of someone discussing or mentioning another person.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

HuffPost

2%

BBC

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "spoke of him" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate that someone discussed or mentioned another person. According to Ludwig, it appears most commonly in news and media contexts, with a neutral register that adapts to the surrounding text. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure the context clarifies the tone and content of the discussion to provide a complete understanding. Considering alternatives like "mentioned him" or "referred to him" can also help to refine the meaning and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

talked about him

A more general and informal way of saying "spoke of him".

mentioned him

Focuses on a brief reference rather than a detailed discussion.

referred to him

Implies a more formal or specific reference.

commented on him

Suggests giving an opinion or reaction.

remarked about him

Implies a brief and often casual observation.

expressed thoughts on him

Focuses on conveying opinions or ideas.

gave his account

Refers to providing a personal version of events.

recounted details about him

Implies telling a story with specific information.

shared anecdotes of him

Focuses on sharing personal stories.

related stories about him

Suggests narrating specific instances or events.

FAQs

How can I use "spoke of him" in a sentence?

You can use "spoke of him" to describe someone discussing another person, such as, "During the interview, she "spoke of him" with admiration".

What's the difference between "spoke of him" and "mentioned him"?

"Spoke of him" implies a more detailed discussion, while "mentioned him" suggests a brief reference. For example, "She "spoke of him" at length," versus "She merely "mentioned him" in passing".

What are some alternatives to "spoke of him" that imply a negative sentiment?

Depending on the context, phrases like "criticized him", "complained about him", or "expressed concerns about him" can replace ""spoke of him"" to convey a negative tone.

Is it correct to say "speak of him" instead of "spoke of him"?

The correct tense depends on the context. "Spoke of him" is used for past events, while "speak of him" would be used in a general or hypothetical sense, as in, "We should always speak of him with respect".