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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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were referred from

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were referred from" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly; the correct form would be "were referred to" or "were referred by." Example: "The patients were referred to the specialist for further evaluation."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Patients who were referred from other hospitals were excluded.

Fathers were referred from two home visiting programs serving low-income families.

"Two weeks ago I interviewed 29 clients and 17 of them were referred from Jobcentre Plus.

News & Media

The Guardian

Most were referred from mainstream schools for special provision before going on to other courses at further education colleges.

News & Media

The Guardian

72% of patients were referred from the emergency department.

Patients were referred from the Department of Prosthodontics.

Patients were referred from emergencies (37%) or wards, except geriatrics (39.2%, geriatrics: 1.9%).

Three nanofluid injection mechanisms were referred from previous studies [5 7].

Approximately 44% of our patients were referred from district hospitals (Table 5).

All patients were referred from the Department of Gastroenterology at the same institute.

Fifty-eight (33 %) patients were referred from medical wards or other ICU.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating a referral, use the correct preposition: "were referred to" or "were referred by", to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "were referred from". This phrasing is grammatically incorrect. Instead, use "were referred to" when indicating the recipient of the referral, or "were referred by" when indicating the source of the referral.

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

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

80%

Authority and reliability

2.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were referred from" functions as a passive verb phrase indicating that subjects received a referral originating from a specific source. However, Ludwig AI indicates this construction is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

100%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "were referred from" appears frequently, especially in scientific literature, it is considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests that the correct alternatives are "were referred to" or "were referred by", depending on whether you want to indicate the destination or the source of the referral. Always prioritize grammatical accuracy and consider rephrasing using the correct preposition to maintain clarity and professionalism in your writing.

FAQs

How to correct the phrase "were referred from"?

The correct phrasing depends on the context. Use "were referred to" to indicate where someone was sent (e.g., "The patients "were referred to" a specialist."). Use "were referred by" to indicate who sent them (e.g., "The patients "were referred by" their primary care physician.").

Is "were referred from" grammatically correct?

No, "were referred from" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct prepositions to use with "referred" are "to" or "by", depending on the context.

What is a common mistake when using the word "referred"?

A common mistake is using the incorrect preposition. The phrase "were referred from" is often used incorrectly. Remember to use "to" (recipient) or "by" (source) instead.

Which is correct, "were referred to" or "were referred from"?

"Were referred to" is the correct phrase to use when indicating the destination of the referral. "Were referred from" is grammatically incorrect.

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Source & Trust

80%

Authority and reliability

2.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: