Concur with vs. Concur to – Which is Correct?
Use “concur with,” not “concur to,” when you mean “agree with” a person, opinion, or decision. The verb concur is normally followed by with or, in some contexts, in: “I concur with your assessment.” “Concur to” is generally nonstandard in American English and should be avoided in formal writing and speech.
Concur with or Concur to – Which is Correct?
Concur with is the standard expression when you mean “agree with” someone, an opinion, a conclusion, or a decision. For example, “I concur with the committee’s recommendation.”
Concur to is generally incorrect in modern American English when used to mean “agree to” or “agree with.” The confusion often occurs because the verb agree can be followed by either with or to: you can agree with a person but agree to a proposal. However, concur does not normally follow that same pattern. Use concur with or, in certain contexts, concur in instead.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the swap test: if you would say “agree with,” use concur with. If you would say “agree to,” do not automatically replace agree with concur. Write consent to, approve, or agree to instead.
Remember this simple formula: concur with a person or viewpoint; consent to a plan or request.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| concur with | Verb phrase | To agree with someone or something | I concur with your analysis. |
| concur to | Nonstandard usage | Usually an incorrect substitute for “concur with” or “consent to” | Avoid: “I concur to the proposal.” |
How to Use Concur With
Concur with is a formal verb phrase meaning “agree with.” It can refer to agreement with a person, an argument, an opinion, a report, a decision, or a conclusion. The expression is especially common in academic, legal, professional, and business writing. In casual conversation, agree with is usually more natural, while concur with can sound deliberate or authoritative.
When the object is a person, use concur with to say that you share that person’s view. When the object is an idea or conclusion, the same construction applies.
Example 1: I concur with the chairperson’s recommendation.
Example 2: The researchers concur with the report’s findings.
Example 3: After reviewing the evidence, the judge concurred with the majority opinion.
Etymology of the Word Concur
Concur comes from the Latin verb concurrere, meaning “to run together” or “to come together.” It entered English through Anglo-French and Latin-influenced usage in the fifteenth century. Its modern meaning developed from the idea of thoughts, opinions, or people coming together in agreement.
Related Concepts
Understanding verb patterns and prepositions makes it easier to choose the correct expression with concur.
- Verb complementation: Verb complementation refers to the words that can properly follow a verb. Concur commonly takes with when it introduces the person or idea receiving agreement.
- Preposition choice: Prepositions cannot always be exchanged freely. Although agree can appear in both agree with and agree to, concur with is the standard construction for expressing agreement.
- Synonyms with different patterns: Similar verbs may require different prepositions. You consent to a request, approve of a plan, and concur with an opinion.
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples reflect the kinds of contexts in which concur with commonly appears in news reporting, legal writing, academic discussion, and dramatic dialogue:
- News reporting: “The independent investigators concurred with the commission’s conclusion.”
- Legal writing: “The concurring judge stated that she concurred with the court’s reasoning.”
- Academic discussion: “Several scholars concur with the author’s interpretation of the historical evidence.”
- Business communication: “The finance director concurred with the proposed budget adjustments.”
- Film and television dialogue: “I concur with your assessment, although we should examine the risks further.”
Concur With Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| agree with | To share the same opinion or judgment as someone |
| share the view of | To hold the same perspective as another person |
| assent to | To formally express agreement with a proposal or decision |
| endorse | To publicly or officially support an idea, action, or decision |
| support | To approve of or favor a person, position, or plan |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “concur with” correct?
Yes. Concur with is the standard expression for saying that you agree with a person, opinion, argument, report, or decision.
Question 2: Is “concur to” grammatically correct?
Generally, no. Concur to is usually a nonstandard construction when it means “agree to” or “agree with.” Use concur with, agree to, or consent to, depending on your meaning.
Question 3: Can I say “concur in” instead of “concur with”?
Sometimes. Concur in is used in formal contexts to identify an action, opinion, or decision shared by someone, as in “The judges concurred in the decision.” However, concur with is the more direct choice when naming the person or viewpoint you agree with.
Conclusion
Choose concur with when you mean “agree with” someone or something. Avoid concur to in standard American English because it combines the verb concur with a preposition it does not normally take in this meaning. Use agree to or consent to for accepting a proposal or request. Pro tip: Using the correct verb-preposition combination strengthens your clarity and professional reputation.
