to refresh your recollection

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to refresh your recollection" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal or formal contexts when someone is trying to help another person remember something they may have forgotten. Example: "I would like to present this document to refresh your recollection about the events that took place on that day."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Previously there had only been talk of "liquidation" and "elimination". COL.AMEN: Was there any note in Canaris' diary which helped to refresh your recollection on that point also?

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

What I'm saying is, would that perhaps refresh your recollection as to the number of coffees that you attended?

The New York Times

Would it refresh your recollection if I told you that when you were interviewed by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the 24th of November, 1963, that you told them that he was aged 19 or 20 years, that he was about 6 feet tall, slender built, dark hair, and olive complexion?

The Washington Post

Reading it will refresh your recollection of just how, historically essential, has been and will be the acquisition and exercise of voting power to shaping our destiny as a people in the second decade of this 21st Century.

Huffington Post

AMEN: And you have refreshed your recollection in reference to those entries?

Yale University

COL.AMEN: And having refreshed your recollection from reference to the entries in Canaris' diary, can you tell the Tribunal the date of those conferences?

Yale University

Time to refresh your dining chairs?

Independent

If that was you, allow us to refresh your memory.

The Guardian

But you may need to refresh your browser.

The Guardian - Sport

There is also no need to refresh your screen.

BBC

Just to refresh your memory, that strikeforce consisted Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires, Freddie Ljungberg and Jose Antonio Reyes.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In legal settings, precede using a document or testimony with ""to refresh your recollection"" to formally indicate that you are aiding the witness's memory, ensuring transparency and adherence to protocol.

Common error

Avoid using ""to refresh your recollection"" in casual conversations; it sounds overly formal and can be perceived as pretentious. Opt for simpler phrases like "help you remember" or "remind you" for everyday use.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to refresh your recollection" functions as an infinitive phrase introducing the purpose of an action, typically presenting evidence or information to aid memory. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, suggesting its role in formal communication.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Academia

33%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to refresh your recollection" is a grammatically sound phrase used to introduce information intended to aid memory, as confirmed by Ludwig. While correct, it is quite formal, fitting best in legal or professional settings. Ludwig's analysis indicates the phrase serves to aid memory in situations requiring precise recall, and while examples are somewhat limited, the phrase appears across academic, news, and wiki contexts. Consider more informal alternatives like "to help you remember" in casual settings to avoid sounding overly stilted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to help you remember

A simpler, more direct alternative.

to jog your memory

More informal and direct.

to remind you of

Highlights the act of bringing something back to someone's awareness.

to prompt your memory

Slightly more formal than "to jog your memory" but less so than the original phrase.

to bring to your mind

Focuses on the act of making something present in someone's thoughts.

to aid your memory

Focuses on assistance but lacks the nuance of retrieval.

to assist your recall

Uses a more formal term, "recall", for memory.

to stimulate your memory

Emphasizes activation of memory rather than simple recollection.

to provide a reminder

Shifts the focus to the reminder itself rather than the process of recollection.

to clarify your understanding

Broader; implies improving comprehension, not just memory.

FAQs

How can I use "to refresh your recollection" in a sentence?

You can use "to refresh your recollection" to introduce a document or piece of evidence meant to aid someone's memory, as in "I'd like to present this exhibit to refresh your recollection of the events that transpired."

What's a simpler way to say "to refresh your recollection"?

If you want to be less formal, you can use phrases like "to help you remember" or "to remind you".

Is "to refresh your recollection" appropriate for everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, "to refresh your recollection" is quite formal and more suited to legal or professional settings. In casual conversation, it's better to use simpler alternatives.

What's the difference between "to refresh your recollection" and "to jog your memory"?

"To refresh your recollection" is more formal and often implies using a specific piece of information, while "to jog your memory" is less formal and suggests a more general prompting of memory.