you must concede

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "you must concede" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to express that someone should acknowledge or accept a point or argument that has been made. Example: "After reviewing all the evidence, you must concede that the other side has a valid point."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Whatever your opinion of the European commission you must concede its literature makes consoling holiday reading.

The Guardian - Money

You must concede that you will never get what you want from the other person, and you must stop punishing them for that.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Whether you're a friend, foe ("You are an insensitive bastard and I wish that I'd never met you," reads a sample of his fan mail. "Also you are extremely cruel and thoughtless") or of no opinion, you must concede he's a one of a kind.

The Guardian - Music

It is common to encounter formulations of rules of consequence in obligational terms, for example: if you have conceded the consequence and its antecedent, then you must concede the consequent.

SEP

Oh yeah, here's a list of requirements you must concede to".

Vice

Surely, you must concede that the answer is a resounding "no".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Reluctantly, sadly, I must concede that this is the case….

The New Yorker

But I must concede it's inspired engineering.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

What are the points that we must concede?

The Guardian

Even the anti-Stratfordians must concede this point.

The Guardian

But these people must concede that he failed on his own terms as a businessman.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "you must concede" to politely, but firmly, suggest that someone should acknowledge a valid point, especially when they are resistant to doing so.

Common error

Avoid using "you must concede" in very casual conversations. It can sound overly formal or even slightly confrontational in informal settings; consider alternatives like "you have to admit" or "I think you'll agree".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "you must concede" functions as a directive speech act, urging the listener or reader to acknowledge or admit a particular point. Ludwig examples show it often appears when emphasizing an undeniable truth.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "you must concede" is a directive phrase used to urge acknowledgment of a point, often when there's underlying resistance. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It is most frequently found in news and scientific contexts, with a neutral to formal tone. For more casual scenarios, consider alternatives like "you have to admit" to avoid sounding overly assertive. While grammatically sound, overuse in informal settings can come across as confrontational. The phrase is effective for reasoned persuasion, particularly when the point is difficult to dispute.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

you have to admit

Changes the phrasing to a more direct and less formal tone, emphasizing obligation.

you should acknowledge

Replaces "concede" with a more neutral term, suggesting a moral or intellectual obligation.

you need to recognize

Focuses on recognizing the validity or truth of something.

it must be admitted

Shifts the focus to a general admission, rather than a direct address.

it is undeniable that

Emphasizes the incontrovertible nature of the point being made.

one must acknowledge

Uses a more formal tone, implying a general obligation to recognize something.

you cannot deny

Highlights the impossibility of refuting the point.

it is necessary to concede

Emphasizes the necessity of the concession.

you are bound to admit

Suggests an inescapable admission based on evidence or logic.

it's hard to argue against

Indicates that the point is difficult to dispute due to its strength.

FAQs

What does "you must concede" mean?

It means that the person being addressed should acknowledge or admit a certain point, often because it's difficult to argue against.

How to use "you must concede" in a sentence?

You can use it when you want to gently push someone to admit something. For instance, "After seeing the data, "you must concede" that our strategy needs adjustments".

What can I say instead of "you must concede"?

You can use alternatives like "you have to admit", "you should acknowledge", or "you need to recognize" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "you must concede"?

It's suitable in formal or semi-formal settings when presenting an argument or evidence and expecting the other party to acknowledge the validity of your point.