Meaning
to mention or direct attention to something, especially a source or piece of information
Primary Function
Citing or directing attention to sources
Communicative Purpose
citing sources, directing attention, implying connection
Pattern
refer to
Core Structure
refer to
Função primária
Citing or directing attention to sources
Propósito comunicativo
citing sources, directing attention, implying connection
Situações de gatilho
presentations, emails, dictionaries, definitions
Contextos
academic, professional, everyday
Padrão
refer to
Estrutura central
refer to
Slots de substituição
noun phrase (e.g., a document, a section, a person, a website)
Colocados típicos
- often
- frequently
- please refer to
Substituições comuns
- mention
- allude to
- look up
- apply to
Erros comuns
'*refer about'; '*refer something' (transitive without ‘to’)
Similar / contraste
allude to, mention, cite
Interferências
Learners may confuse 'refer to' with 'mention' or use it transitively without 'to', as in '*refer the book' instead of '*refer to the book'.
Família do chunk
- reference
Nuance
precise and scholastic; conveys authoritative citation or reference.
Efeito pragmático
establishes authority, directs attention to external information.
Dica de memória
Refer to manual
Nota
The prepositional verb 'refer to' is always followed by a noun phrase or pronoun, never by a verb or clause.
Upgrade path
refer back to earlier discussion
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