top secret from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "top secret from" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express that something is confidential or not to be shared with a specific person or group, but the construction is awkward. Example: "The information was top secret from everyone outside the organization."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Several documents marked Top Secret from the party, the Iraqi Intelligence Service and the Ministry of Interior's Secret Police focused on men believed to be Kuwaiti and Iranian spies.

The New York Times

The US government wrote in a letter to the panel last month that a search had not revealed any documents on radio transmissions but added that other files classified as top secret from the National Security Agency would not be released.

The Guardian

The "Scrubs" scripts were kept top secret from even the main cast during the early seasons.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

A glowing red skeleton appeared on Sony computer screens, along with a message — "We've obtained all your internal data including your secrets and top secrets" — from a group that called itself Guardians of Peace.

The New Yorker

A top secret report from the Iraqi General Military Intelligence Directorate supported Mr. Hussein's assessment.

The New York Times

The top secret memo from the chairman, General Maxwell D. Taylor, dated Nov. 2, 1962, underscored the continuing danger of a nuclear conflict between the superpowers even after the Soviet Union agreed to remove nuclear missiles from the island.

The New York Times

The information comes courtesy of The Intercept, which obtained a top secret report from the NSA, issued in May and subsequently confirmed as genuine.

TechCrunch

A 28-year-old delivery man from the UK who bought a Nikon Coolpix camera for about $31 on eBay got more than he bargained for when the camera arrived with top secret information from the UK's MI6 organization.

TechCrunch

She did not explain why he claimed it was a top secret video from Iran.

Huffington Post

Apparently, he was entirely trusted by the German ambassador Eugen Ott, and was allowed access to top secret cables from Berlin in the embassy in Tokyo.

Wikipedia

Even if she didn't go to jail, she would most certainly have lost her clearance to hear such top secret briefings from that point on.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "top secret from" in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer and more grammatically correct alternatives such as "kept secret from" or "classified and withheld from".

Common error

Do not assume "from" always correctly indicates exclusion. With sensitive information, specify who the information is intended for, rather than who it is hidden "from". For example, use "confidential to senior management" instead of "top secret from junior staff".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "top secret from" functions as a descriptive element, attempting to modify a noun by indicating who the secret is concealed from. As Ludwig indicates, the construction is awkward and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "top secret from" is considered grammatically incorrect and conveys an unclear meaning in standard English. Ludwig AI highlights its awkward construction and suggests using alternatives such as "kept secret from" or "confidential to" for improved clarity. While the phrase appears in some news media, it's best to avoid it in formal writing. When conveying the idea of restricted access to information, prioritize clear and grammatically sound alternatives for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

kept secret from

A more straightforward and grammatically sound alternative.

classified and withheld from

Replaces "top secret" with "classified" and uses "withheld from" to emphasize restriction.

privileged and confidential to

Highlights the sensitive and private nature of the information, specifying authorized recipients.

confidential and restricted to

Emphasizes both the confidentiality and the limited access to the information.

strictly confidential to

Uses "strictly confidential" to highlight sensitivity and "to" to indicate authorized recipients.

not to be disclosed to

A formal way of expressing that the information should not be shared.

eyes only for

Emphasizes that the information is meant for a specific person.

off limits to

Indicates that the information is not accessible to certain individuals.

for internal use only

Indicates that the information is only for people within the organization.

sensitive information for

Highlights the nature of the information, to be carefully used by certain individuals.

FAQs

What's a better way to say something is "top secret from" someone?

Instead of "top secret from", use phrases like "kept secret from", "confidential to", or "classified and withheld from" for clarity.

Is "top secret from" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "top secret from" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to rephrase it for improved clarity.

How can I use "kept secret from" in a sentence?

Example: "The details of the project were kept secret from the public until the official launch."

What's the difference between "top secret" and "confidential"?

"Top secret" indicates the highest level of classified information, while "confidential" suggests a lower level of sensitivity. Using "confidential to" implies information should only be shared with specific people.