this letter refers

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'this letter refers' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to make clear that the contents of a letter are related to a specific topic or idea. For example, "This letter refers to the terms of your employment contract."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

To the Editor: This letter refers to Peter Hellman's excellent article "Jewish Tombs on a Venice Sandspit" (Jan . 20.

The New York Times - Travel

* * * [This letter refers to an affair Roth had with an unknown young woman.] Hotel du Cap d'Antibes Antibes 24 March [1931] Dear esteemed Stefan Zweig, I hope you're safely resettled in Salzburg, and enjoying a second spring.

The New Yorker

The lawyer, Alan Vinegrad of Covington & Burling in New York, wrote: "Because this letter refers to Mr. Lenowitz's ongoing cooperation with the government, which to my knowledge has not been publicly disclosed, I respectfully request that this letter be filed under seal".

The New York Times

This letter refers to Trump's campaign finance report covering the period from Oct. 20-Nov.

Huffington Post

This letter refers to 'Pregnancy as a cardiac stress model' by E. Chung and L.A. Leinwand, Cardiovascular Research 2014 101 561 570 We were interested to read the recent article published by Chung and Leiwand entitled Pregnancy as a Cardiac Stress Model.

Cardiovascular Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

This letter referred to a second article by Nocera, mostly questioning H.P.'s decision to hire Léo Apotheker as their new CEO.

TechCrunch

The green button the letter refers to actually activates an in-browser video recorder, which would let Jobs leave a message announcing their approval.

TechCrunch

Signed, "One pissed off mother," the letter refers to Max as a neighborhood "nuisance," "retarded" and a "dreadful" noise polluter.

HuffPost

For example: K1, C1, C2 - the letter refers to what the boat type is: Either a kayak (K); or.

WikiHow

Snopes still claims the letter referred to in this encyclopedia is a fraud, forged by Emanuel Hertz in his book Abraham Lincoln: A New Portrait.

Huffington Post

"This is deeply, deeply disturbing," read the letter, referring to the fact that only a fraction of the amendments filed to the bill had been voted on.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this letter refers" to clearly introduce the topic or subject being discussed in a formal communication.

Common error

In casual writing, consider using simpler alternatives like "this letter is about" or directly stating the topic without a formal introduction to maintain a more conversational tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this letter refers" functions as a transitive verb phrase introducing the subject or topic that the letter is about. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this letter refers" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for introducing the topic of a letter. While Ludwig identifies it as appropriate for formal and neutral contexts, suggesting its effectiveness for professional and informative communications. Although it is a correct expression, it's frequency is rare and that is why you should consider alternatives if you aim for more fluidity. Consider variations like "this letter concerns" or "this letter addresses" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this letter pertains to

Emphasizes relevance or connection to a specific subject.

this letter relates to

Highlights the connection or association with a particular subject.

this letter concerns

Focuses on the issues or matters discussed within the letter.

this letter addresses

Highlights the act of dealing with specific points or issues.

this letter discusses

Indicates a detailed examination or consideration of a topic.

this letter highlights

Emphasizes the prominent or important aspects of the content.

this letter alludes to

Suggests an indirect reference or mention of something.

the subject of this letter is

Inverts the sentence structure to place emphasis on the subject.

this letter touches on

Implies a brief or cursory mention of a subject.

this letter is about

Offers a more informal way of indicating the letter's subject.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "this letter refers to"?

You can use alternatives like "this letter pertains to", "this letter concerns", or "this letter addresses" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How to use "this letter refers" in a sentence?

Begin with "this letter refers to" followed by the subject or topic that the letter is related to. For example, "This letter refers to your outstanding balance."

Is it correct to say "this letter is referring to"?

While grammatically correct, "this letter is referring to" is less common and sounds slightly awkward. "This letter refers to" is generally a more concise and preferred construction.

What's the difference between "this letter refers to" and "this letter concerns"?

"This letter refers to" generally introduces the main topic. "This letter concerns" often implies that the topic is a matter of importance or potential worry. The choice depends on the context and the intended emphasis.