what he acknowledged

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what he acknowledged" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that someone has recognized or admitted, often in a context of discussion or analysis. Example: "In his speech, he emphasized what he acknowledged about the challenges facing the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Exactly what, he acknowledged, is unclear.

The New York Times

Mr. Draghi said the central bank had no "silver bullets" for what he acknowledged was a worrying situation.

The New York Times

At Fox, Mr. Herzog struggled through what he acknowledged yesterday was "a challenging year".

The New York Times

Instead, the balding Daneyko hoisted the Cup in what he acknowledged could have been the final game of his career.

The New York Times - Sports

State Senator E. J. Pipkin, a Republican, began what he acknowledged would be an underdog campaign against the incumbent Democrat, Senator Barbara A. Mikulski, in 2004.

The New York Times

Yet 30 years later, when asked by the New York Philharmonic to compose a 9/11 elegy, he succumbed to what he acknowledged was his "civic duty".

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

He throws out the highest and lowest numbers and then calculates the median, arriving at what he acknowledges is often just an informed guess.

The New York Times - Books

Yet rather than quit, the mayor has begun two weeks of full-time "behaviour counselling" to address what he acknowledges to be his "intimidating conduct" with women.

The Economist

Makoni replied: "I would say yes, he knows, but he will be very selective about what he acknowledges he knows and doesn't know.

The Guardian

He wants someone who has not only the ability but also the desire to run what he acknowledges is not the most glamorous business in the world.

The Washington Post

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin has a fractured sinus as a result of what he acknowledges was the worst hit he had received in his football career.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what he acknowledged" to clearly indicate that someone has admitted or recognized a particular fact or situation, especially when the acknowledgment is significant or relevant to the discussion.

Common error

Avoid constructing sentences where the subject performing the acknowledging is unclear. Make sure it's obvious who is doing the acknowledging to maintain clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what he acknowledged" functions as a nominal clause, acting as a subject or object within a sentence. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating its role in reporting or summarizing a person's admission or recognition of a fact.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "what he acknowledged" functions as a nominal clause, commonly found in news and media contexts to report admissions or recognitions made by individuals. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used, making it a reliable choice for formal and neutral communication. Related phrases such as "what he admitted" or "what he recognized" offer nuanced alternatives, while avoiding passive voice enhances clarity. Remember, context is critical when choosing the best fit. Examples show that "what he acknowledged" serves to highlight key points of agreement, acceptance, or admission within a narrative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what he admitted

Replaces "acknowledged" with "admitted", implying a concession or acceptance of something true, often reluctantly.

what he recognized

Substitutes "acknowledged" with "recognized", highlighting the act of identifying or becoming aware of something.

what he conceded

Uses "conceded" instead of "acknowledged", suggesting a yielding or admitting defeat on a particular point.

what he affirmed

Replaces "acknowledged" with "affirmed", emphasizing a strong declaration or confirmation of something.

what he verified

Substitutes "acknowledged" with "verified", highlighting that something was confirmed or proven to be true after some scrutiny.

his admission

Replaces the entire phrase with a noun phrase, focusing on the act of admitting something.

his recognition

Uses a noun phrase emphasizing the act of recognizing or understanding something.

what he confessed

Substitutes "acknowledged" with "confessed", often implying an admission of wrongdoing or something embarrassing.

what he disclosed

Uses "disclosed" to suggest revealing information that was previously unknown or hidden.

what he divulged

Replaces "acknowledged" with "divulged", emphasizing the act of revealing private or sensitive information.

FAQs

How can I use "what he acknowledged" in a sentence?

You can use "what he acknowledged" to refer to a specific fact or situation someone has admitted. For example, "Despite the criticism, he stood by "what he acknowledged" as a necessary decision".

What's a formal alternative to "what he acknowledged"?

A more formal alternative could be "what he conceded". It suggests the person reluctantly admitted something, as in, "Despite his initial opposition, he eventually conceded "what he conceded" was a valid point".

Is there a difference between "what he acknowledged" and "what he admitted"?

While similar, "acknowledged" suggests a recognition of something's existence or truth, while "admitted" often implies accepting responsibility or fault. You can say, "He acknowledged the difficulty" or "He admitted his mistake".

What are some phrases similar to "what he acknowledged"?

Similar phrases include "what he recognized", "what he affirmed", or "what he disclosed". Each carries a slightly different nuance regarding the nature of the information being revealed.