these men

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "these men" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a group of people that have already been mentioned, or that can be assumed to be readily understood by the reader. For example, "The police were able to apprehend the burglars quickly. These men were promptly taken into custody."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Who killed these men?

The New Yorker

These men look young.

The New Yorker

Tells about these men.

The New Yorker

These men remained armed.

The New York Times

These men are skinny.

The New Yorker

These men weren't cowards.

The New Yorker

Were these men psychopaths?

The New Yorker

"Why were these men executed?

The New York Times

"Who brought these men here?

The New York Times

And who were these men?

The New Yorker

These men are woefully equipped.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure clarity by providing context or identifiers so the reader knows exactly who "these men" are.

Common error

Avoid using "these men" without clear context. If the reader doesn't know who you're referring to, the phrase becomes confusing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "these men" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically identifying a group of males that are salient or previously mentioned in the discourse. Ludwig AI confirms its common and grammatically sound usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Less common in

Science

0.3%

Wiki

0.3%

Reference

0.3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "these men" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to refer to a specific group of males. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is frequently found in news and media contexts. To ensure clarity, make sure the reference is unambiguous. Consider alternatives like "those men" or "the aforementioned men" depending on the context. While its register is generally neutral, pay attention to the surrounding language to maintain the desired tone. Avoid using "these men" when the reference is unclear to the reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

those men

A simple alternative, implying a slight distance or separation from the speaker.

the aforementioned men

Refers specifically to men previously mentioned in the text.

these gentlemen

A more formal and polite way to refer to a group of men.

the men involved

A general way to refer to men participating in a specific event or situation.

the men in question

Highlights that the men are under discussion or scrutiny.

the men here

Refers to a group of men present in a specific location.

these fellows

An informal and somewhat outdated term for a group of men.

these guys

A very informal and casual way to refer to a group of men.

these individuals

A neutral and impersonal way to refer to a group of men.

the implicated men

Suggests that the men are involved in something negative or illegal.

FAQs

How can I use "these men" in a sentence?

Use "these men" to refer to a specific group of males previously mentioned or easily identifiable in the context. For example, "The suspects were apprehended. These men will be arraigned tomorrow."

What phrases can I use instead of "these men"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases such as "those men", "these gentlemen", or "the aforementioned men".

Is it always clear who "these men" refers to?

Not always. Ensure that the context makes it clear who you are talking about. Avoid ambiguity by providing enough information for the reader to easily identify the group of men you are referring to.

What's the difference between "these men" and "those men"?

"These men" usually refers to men who are closer, either physically or in terms of relevance, while "those men" implies a greater distance or separation.