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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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we referred that

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we referred that" is not correct in standard written English.
It should be used in contexts where you are indicating that you have directed someone to a source or piece of information, but it needs to be rephrased for clarity. Example: "In our meeting, we referred to that report for further details."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

We referred that the anthocyanins strongly absorbing around 500 550 nm may strongly affect the chlorophyll-related compounds, including all chlorophyll biosynthesis and degradation intermediates, strongly absorbing 400 475 nm and 550 700 nm.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

We refer that time as the handoff decision period.

These truth conditions, in turn, are treated compositionally: they obtain when the entities to which we refer stand in the relations to which we refer, that is, independently of the conditions of the corresponding scenario of verification.

Science

SEP

Last week, in our article on poaching elephants in Congo, we referred to that country's "independence in 1964".

News & Media

The Economist

Perhaps we should refer that question to Kenneth Branagh … If you really needed it confirming in 2016, stick this on the TV.

We will refer that matter to the President.

The more we refer to that summer, goes the fingers-crossed thinking, the more it is likely to repeat itself.

We refer to that initial conversion process as primary analysis.

News & Media

TechCrunch

We refer to that as event-driven, active data integration.

News & Media

Forbes

We refer to that data set as POGO_corr.

We refer to that data set as POGO_mod.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to direct someone's attention to something, use phrases like "we referred to that" or "we directed attention to that" for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "we referred that" as it's grammatically incorrect. Instead, clarify your sentence by using "we referred to that" or rephrasing to specify what you referred to, such as "we cited that report".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

85%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we referred that" functions as a statement where the speaker is trying to convey that they directed attention to something. However, according to Ludwig AI, the phrase requires rephrasing for grammatical correctness. The proper construction involves the preposition "to".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "we referred that" might seem straightforward, Ludwig AI analysis reveals it is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. The correct form is "we referred to that", or you should consider alternative phrases like "we mentioned that" or "we pointed out that" for enhanced clarity and professionalism. Although the phrase appears across various source types, it's essential to prioritize grammatical accuracy, especially in academic or professional contexts. When in doubt, always opt for the grammatically sound "we referred to that" or one of its clearer alternatives.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "refer" in a sentence?

The verb "refer" requires a preposition like "to". Therefore, you should say "we "referred to"" something, not "we referred that".

What can I say instead of "we referred that" to sound more professional?

Instead of "we referred that", use alternatives like "we "mentioned that"", "we "indicated that"", or "we "pointed out that" depending on the context.

Is "we referred that" grammatically correct?

No, "we referred that" is not grammatically correct. The correct phrasing is "we "referred to that"".

What's the difference between "we referred that" and "we referred to that"?

"We referred that" is grammatically incorrect. "We "referred to that"" is the correct way to express that you directed attention to something.

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Source & Trust

85%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: