When describing what a person, place, thing, or idea is called, many English learners wonder whether to say “referred to as” or “referred as.”
The correct expression in standard English is “referred to as.”
For example, you can say, “This period is referred to as the Renaissance.”
The phrase means that something is known, described, or called by a particular name or term.
“Referred as” is generally incorrect when you mean “called” or “known as.
” The confusion happens because the verb refer can be used in several different structures, including “refer to,” “refer someone to,” and “refer back to.” Understanding the role of to makes the difference much easier to remember.
This guide explains the grammar, meaning, examples, common mistakes, and differences between related expressions so that you can use “referred to as” naturally and confidently.
Quick Answer
“Referred to as” is the correct standard expression when you mean “called,” “known as,” or “described as.” For example: “New York is often referred to as the Big Apple.” “Referred as” is normally incorrect in this meaning because the verb refer requires the preposition to in this construction.
Why Do People Confuse It?
The confusion mainly comes from the fact that refer has several meanings and grammatical patterns.
The basic structure is:
refer + to + something/someone
When you add as to explain what something is called, the structure becomes:
refer + to + something/someone + as + name/description
For example:
- The city is referred to as the Big Apple.
- She is referred to as an expert.
- This process is referred to as evaporation.
The word to belongs to the verb phrase “refer to.” The word as introduces the name, label, role, or description.
First Word: “Referred”
Referred is the past tense and past participle of refer.
The verb refer can mean to mention, direct someone to a source or person, or use a particular name or description for something.
Examples:
- The teacher referred to the textbook.
- The doctor referred the patient to a specialist.
- The article referred to several studies.
- The area is referred to as the old town.
When the meaning is “called” or “known as,” refer to … as is the standard construction.
What does “referred to as” mean?
Referred to as means called, known as, described as, or identified as.
For example:
The Nile is often referred to as one of the world’s great rivers.
Here, “referred to as” means that the Nile is described or commonly called that.
Second Word: “Referred as”
“Referred as” is generally not correct when you want to say that someone or something is called or known by a particular name.
Incorrect:
He is referred as a leader.
Correct:
He is referred to as a leader.
The reason is grammatical: refer normally takes the preposition to before the person or thing being mentioned or identified.
However, do not assume that every sentence containing refer must contain “to as.” The correct structure depends on what you are trying to say.
For example:
- I referred to the report.
- She referred to him as a specialist.
- The teacher referred me to a counselor.
Referred to as vs. Referred as
| Expression | Correct? | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| referred to as | Yes | Called or known as | He is referred to as an expert. |
| referred as | Usually no | Not standard for this meaning | He is referred as an expert. |
| referred to | Yes | Mentioned or directed toward | She referred to the report. |
| referred someone to | Yes | Sent or directed someone to another person/place | The doctor referred him to a specialist. |
The key distinction is simple: use “referred to as” when you are saying what someone or something is called or described as.
When Should You Use “Referred to as”?
Use “referred to as” when a person, place, object, concept, event, or group is known by a particular name, title, label, or description.
1. For names and nicknames
Chicago is often referred to as the Windy City.
2. For descriptions
The period is sometimes referred to as a golden age.
3. For professional titles
She is frequently referred to as a leading researcher.
4. For scientific terms
The process is referred to as photosynthesis.
5. For historical periods
This era is commonly referred to as the Industrial Revolution.
6. For places
The region is sometimes referred to as the heart of the country.
7. For people
He was referred to as a great teacher by his students.
8. For concepts
This principle is referred to as supply and demand.
10+ Examples of “Referred to as”
Here are practical examples showing how the phrase works in different situations:
- London is often referred to as a global city.
- The Big Apple is a nickname often referred to when discussing New York.
- This process is referred to as evaporation.
- She is widely referred to as an experienced teacher.
- The period is commonly referred to as the Renaissance.
- The animal is sometimes referred to as a desert fox.
- This condition is medically referred to as insomnia.
- The area is locally referred to as the old quarter.
- His first book is often referred to as his most influential work.
- The agreement is referred to as a landmark decision.
- This type of sentence is referred to as a conditional sentence.
- The northern region is commonly referred to as the highlands.
Notice the common pattern:
Subject + is/was + referred to as + name/description
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Leaving out “to”
❌ She is referred as an expert.
✅ She is referred to as an expert.
Mistake 2: Confusing “refer to” with “refer to as”
These expressions are related but have different meanings.
The article refers to climate change.
This means the article mentions climate change.
Climate change is referred to as a major global issue.
This means climate change is described or called a major global issue.
Mistake 3: Using “referred to as” when “called” is simpler
“Referred to as” is correct, but sometimes called sounds more natural.
He is called Sam.
He is referred to as Sam.
Both can be grammatical, although the second can sound more formal or contextual.
Mistake 4: Confusing “referred to” with “referred someone to”
Compare:
The report referred to the problem.
The report mentioned the problem.
The doctor referred the patient to a specialist.
The doctor directed the patient to another professional.
Memory Trick
Remember:
Refer TO → call AS
So the complete pattern is:
referred TO someone/something AS a name or description
Think of it as:
TO = the thing being mentioned
AS = the name or description
For example:
She is referred TO AS a specialist.
A simple shortcut is:
“Referred as” sounds incomplete. “Referred to as” is the phrase to remember.
American vs. British English
There is no major American-versus-British difference in the basic grammar of “referred to as.”
Both American and British English use:
He is referred to as a specialist.
The area is referred to as the old town.
The same grammatical structure is standard in both varieties.
Differences between American and British English may appear in vocabulary, spelling, pronunciation, and certain usage preferences, but “referred to as” is standard in both.
Similar Words and Expressions
Several expressions can have a similar meaning to “referred to as.”
Called
She is called a pioneer.
This is usually the simplest alternative.
Known as
The city is known as the Pearl of the East.
This emphasizes the name or reputation by which something is known.
Described as
The book was described as a modern classic.
This emphasizes someone’s description or characterization.
Considered
He is considered an expert.
This emphasizes an opinion or judgment rather than simply a name.
Identified as
The substance was identified as a chemical compound.
This often has a more technical or formal meaning.
Named
The building was named after its founder.
This usually concerns the act of giving something a name rather than describing what people call it.
Final Verdict
When you mean “called,” “known as,” or “described as,” use “referred to as.”
Correct:
She is referred to as a specialist.
Incorrect in standard usage:
She is referred as a specialist.
Also remember that “refer to” has a different function from “refer to as.” “Refer to” generally means to mention or direct attention to something, while “refer to something as” means to call or describe it by a particular name or term.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “referred to as” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Referred to as” is the standard grammatical expression used when saying that someone or something is called, known, or described by a particular name or term.
Is “referred as” correct English?
Generally, no, when you mean “called” or “known as.” The standard expression is “referred to as.”
Which is correct: “referred to as” or “referred as”?
“Referred to as” is correct for the meaning “called” or “known as.”
What is the difference between “referred to” and “referred to as”?
“Referred to” usually means mentioned or directed toward something.
The article referred to the study.
“Referred to as” means called or described as something.
The study is referred to as groundbreaking.
Can I replace “referred to as” with “called”?
Often, yes. For example:
He is referred to as a leader.
can become:
He is called a leader.
However, the exact nuance can vary depending on context.
Is “referred to as” formal?
It can sound somewhat formal, especially compared with “called.” It is common in academic, professional, scientific, legal, and general writing.
What comes after “referred to as”?
A name, title, label, role, or description usually follows “referred to as.”
Examples:
- referred to as a hero
- referred to as the capital
- referred to as the Renaissance
- referred to as a major breakthrough
Can “referred to as” be used for people?
Yes.
She is often referred to as an expert in the field.
It can also be used for places, objects, ideas, events, processes, and other things.
Remember This
Use “referred to as” when you mean “called,” “known as,” or “described as.”
The pattern is:
refer to + something/someone + as + name or description
For example:
The city is referred to as the cultural capital.
Do not normally remove to:
❌ The city is referred as the cultural capital.
✅ The city is referred to as the cultural capital.
Conclusion
The correct expression is “referred to as,” not “referred as,” when you want to say that a person, place, thing, or idea is called or described by a particular name or term. The word to is an essential part of the construction “refer to,” while as introduces the name or description.
Once you remember the pattern “refer to something as something,” the distinction becomes straightforward. Use “referred to” when you mean “mentioned,” and use “referred to as” when you mean “called” or “described as.” This simple distinction will help you avoid one of the most common errors involving the verb refer.
