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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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whether we refer

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "whether we refer" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing different contexts or perspectives regarding a subject or topic. Example: "Whether we refer to the data from last year or the projections for this year, the trends remain consistent."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The notion of causality is relevant whether we refer to everyday decisions made by people or landmark decisions made by large corporations.

Science

Futures

So whether we refer to Manning as 'he or she' is only the tip of the iceberg as we continue the fight for full equality.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Considering that γ1 +  γ2 = 1 and γ1 α1 +  γ2 α2 = 1, and that γ1 ≡  γ and α1 ≡  α, we obtain R 0 ' = γα R 0 + 1 − αγ R 0, or simply R 0 ' = R 0. From now on the basic reproduction number is represented by R0 irrespective of whether we refer to the homogeneous or heterogeneous model.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Moral judgments (at least judgments about goodness) reduce to "statements of a psychological state" since to say something is good is to say that "we" desire to desire it, a statement well within the frontiers of psychology (whether "we" refers to the community at large or the to speaker whoever he or she may be).

Science

SEP

This was true whether we referred to attitudes, perceptions of gay rights, or prejudiced behaviour.

She describes this as "the reason we're doing all of it," and it wasn't until later, listening back to our conversation, that I realized I was unsure whether that "we" refers to her and her band and the record they made together, or to all of us, alive on Earth, trying desperately to find and maintain joy.

News & Media

The New Yorker

AMs will want to know whether the "we" referred a shared aim between his team and the government, or his research team alone.

News & Media

BBC

The only debate is about how far this process has gone, and whether we should refer to it as oligarchy or as something else.

News & Media

The New Yorker

There has been a little confusion as to whether we should refer to the style as the generic-sounding "Modern Design" or the even more generic "Windows 8-style UI," perhaps.

News & Media

TechCrunch

(There is no serious danger if one were to forget that 'SQML' refers to the logic and 'SQML' refers to the proof theory, for given the completeness of SQML, in most contexts it doesn't much matter whether we are referring to the entire logic or its proof theory).

Science

SEP

Then we can ask whether we are referring twice to one thing, or once to each of two things.

Science

SEP
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "whether we refer" to introduce alternative perspectives or contexts relevant to your argument. This clarifies that your point holds true across different considerations.

Common error

Avoid using "if" in place of "whether" when presenting alternatives. "Whether" is the correct choice to introduce two or more possibilities, while "if" introduces a condition.

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

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whether we refer" functions as a conjunctive phrase, introducing alternative perspectives or contexts within an argument or discussion. It sets up a comparison to show that the main point remains consistent across different considerations. As noted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

5%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "whether we refer" is a grammatically correct conjunctive phrase used to introduce alternative perspectives or contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While not extremely common, it is found in a variety of sources, particularly in science and news media. When writing, remember to use "whether" (not "if") to correctly indicate options, and consider using alternatives like "regardless of whether we mention" to vary your phrasing.

FAQs

How can I use "whether we refer" in a sentence?

You can use "whether we refer" to introduce different perspectives or contexts, for example, "Whether we refer to the short-term or long-term data, the trend is clear".

What's a more formal alternative to "whether we refer"?

A more formal alternative is "irrespective of whether we consider", which emphasizes that a particular point remains valid regardless of the aspect being considered.

Is it correct to use "if we refer" instead of "whether we refer"?

No, it's generally more appropriate to use "whether we refer" when you're presenting alternatives. "If" introduces a conditional clause, while "whether" introduces options.

What is the difference between "whether we refer" and "regardless of whether we mention"?

"Whether we refer" introduces alternatives, while "regardless of whether we mention" emphasizes that mentioning something is not essential to the main point.

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Source & Trust

85%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: