what we refer

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what we refer" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used when introducing a term or concept that is being discussed or defined. Example: "In this paper, we will explore what we refer to as 'cognitive dissonance' and its effects on decision-making."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We're what we refer to as tactical media.

The New York Times

First, develop what we refer to as anticipatory service protocols.

Harvard Business Review

"Those are what we refer to as doneness temperatures," she said.

The New York Times - Tech

Telerehabilitation, or what we refer to as teleexercise, can help fill service gaps for underserved MS populations in this region.

Contemporary Clinical Trials

"You want to look for what we refer to as green shoots," he said.

The New York Times

So associated with the Laplace transform was what we refer to as the region of convergence.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In addition to his trick films, Méliès produced topical staged actualities – what we refer to today as docu-dramas.

The Guardian - Film

We've added electronic scanners along our factory lines to eliminate what we refer to as "rogue" labels.

The New York Times

We present two general approaches to incorporate sparsity into time frequency analysis, leading to what we refer to as sparsity-aware quadratic time frequency distributions.

Digital Signal Processing

Moreover, the proposed methodology gives rise to a new feature in the case of load application, what we refer to as Isogeometric Load Design.

Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering

Thus, to understand what we refer to as allergens from fungal sources, we must first understand how they influence these innate mechanisms.

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more direct and grammatically standard alternatives like "what we call" or "what we denote" to enhance clarity and precision in writing.

Common error

While the phrase "what we refer to" is frequently used, it can sometimes sound less polished than alternatives. Vary your phrasing to avoid repetition and enhance the sophistication of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what we refer" serves as an introductory element, functioning to introduce a term, concept, or idea that the speaker or writer intends to elaborate on. Ludwig AI suggests using more direct alternatives to avoid awkwardness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

47%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "what we refer" is frequently employed across diverse domains to introduce terms or concepts. Despite its common usage, standard English suggests alternatives like "what we call" or "what we denote" are often more appropriate. While Ludwig provides numerous examples of its use, Ludwig AI indicates that it's not considered grammatically ideal. Therefore, while widely understood, it's advisable to consider more precise alternatives to enhance the clarity and sophistication of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what we term

Replaces "refer" with "term", maintaining the formal tone and meaning.

what we call

A more common and informal alternative to "what we refer to".

what we denote

A more formal alternative, often used in academic or scientific contexts.

what we designate

Similar to "denote" but can imply a more official or specific assignment of a term.

what we identify as

Emphasizes the act of identifying or recognizing a particular concept.

what we know as

Highlights the common or accepted name of something.

the term we use for

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the terminology itself.

the expression we apply to

Focuses on the application of a specific expression or phrase.

as we define

Highlights the definition that the speaker or writer is giving.

the way we describe

Emphasizes the method of description being used.

FAQs

What's a good substitute for "what we refer to"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "what we call", "what we term", or "what we denote". These options can often provide a clearer and more concise way to introduce a term or concept.

Is "what we refer to" grammatically incorrect?

While widely used, "what we refer to" isn't considered the most grammatically sound choice. Alternatives like "what we call" are generally preferred in standard English.

When is it appropriate to use "what we refer to"?

It's generally acceptable in informal contexts, but in formal writing, it's best to opt for more precise alternatives such as "what we define as" or "what we designate as".

How can I make my writing sound more professional than using "what we refer to"?

Using phrases like "the term we use" or "the expression we apply" instead of "what we refer to" can make your writing sound more refined and sophisticated. Varying your sentence structure also helps.