Confirm to You vs. Confirm with You – Which is Correct?
Both “confirm to you” and “confirm with you” are grammatically correct, but they express different ideas. Use “confirm to you” to communicate that something is verified or official. Use “confirm with you” to check information, plans, or agreement together. In everyday business English, “confirm with you” is usually more natural.
Confirm to You or Confirm with You: Which Is Correct?
“Confirm to you” and “confirm with you” are both valid American English phrases, but they are not interchangeable. Confirm to you means to state or communicate that something is true, accurate, or official. Confirm with you means to check something by discussing it with another person.
Use confirm to you when the emphasis is on delivering verified information:
“I can confirm to you that your application was approved.”
Use confirm with you when the emphasis is on checking details or reaching mutual agreement:
“I want to confirm with you that Thursday’s meeting still works.”
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the preposition to when information travels in one direction: you are confirming something to another person. Use with when two people are checking something together. A useful swap test is this: if you could replace the phrase with “tell you,” choose confirm to you; if you could replace it with “check with you,” choose confirm with you.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confirm to you | Verb phrase | Communicate that something is verified or true | “We confirm to you that the payment was received.” |
| Confirm with you | Verb phrase | Check information, arrangements, or agreement together | “I am calling to confirm with you that the appointment is tomorrow.” |
How to Use “Confirm to You”
Confirm to you is used when a speaker or writer gives another person an official verification, assurance, or statement. The phrase often appears in formal, institutional, legal, customer-service, and business contexts. It is usually followed by that and a complete clause.
Although the phrase is grammatically correct, it can sound somewhat formal or bureaucratic. In many everyday situations, speakers prefer “confirm that” or “confirm with you,” depending on the intended meaning.
Example 1: “I am pleased to confirm to you that your membership has been renewed.”
Example 2: “The records confirm to you that all required documents were submitted.”
Example 3: “We can confirm to you that the refund will be processed within five business days.”
Etymology of “Confirm to You”
The central verb confirm comes from the Latin confirmare, meaning “to strengthen,” “make firm,” or “establish.” It entered English through Old French and developed the sense of verifying, ratifying, or assuring someone that something is true. The phrase confirm to you combines that verb with the directional preposition to, emphasizing the delivery of information to another person.
How to Use “Confirm with You”
Confirm with you is used when someone wants to verify details, coordinate plans, or make sure that another person agrees. It is common in professional emails, scheduling conversations, customer service, and everyday speech. The tone can be formal or casual, depending on the surrounding language.
The phrase is especially natural when referring to dates, times, arrangements, instructions, or shared decisions. It may be followed by a noun phrase, a question word, or a clause beginning with that.
Example 1: “I wanted to confirm with you that the presentation begins at 10 a.m.”
Example 2: “Could I confirm with you which version of the contract we should use?”
Example 3: “Before I make the reservation, I need to confirm with you that everyone can attend.”
Etymology of “Confirm with You”
Confirm derives from the Latin confirmare, meaning “to make firm” or “establish.” The preposition with comes from an Old English word associated with being together or in the company of another person. In modern English, confirm with you therefore suggests a shared process of checking or establishing that something is correct.
Related Concepts
Understanding the difference between directional and collaborative expressions makes it easier to choose the right preposition after confirm.
- Transitive verbs: A transitive verb takes a direct object. For example, “Please confirm the address” uses the address as the object, without requiring to or with.
- Prepositions: Prepositions show relationships between words. In these phrases, to highlights the recipient of information, while with highlights the person involved in checking it.
- Communication verbs: Verbs such as tell, inform, check, and verify can clarify the intended meaning of confirm.
- Business English: Professional writing often uses “confirm that” for concise statements and “confirm with you” for coordination or follow-up questions.
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples reflect the kinds of contexts in which these phrases commonly appear in journalism, fiction, business reporting, and public communications.
- News reporting: A reporter might write, “Officials confirmed to the public that the investigation was continuing,” because the authorities are communicating verified information.
- Business correspondence: An account manager might write, “I am writing to confirm with you that the delivery is scheduled for Friday,” because the sender is checking an arrangement with the recipient.
- Historical fiction: A character speaking formally to a superior might say, “I confirm to you that the letter was delivered,” emphasizing an official assurance.
- Film or television dialogue: A coordinator might ask, “Can I confirm with you that we are meeting at the station?” because the character wants to verify shared plans.
- Public notices: An organization might state, “We confirm to you that your complaint has been recorded,” using formal language to acknowledge an official action.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct phrase to complete each sentence: confirm to you or confirm with you.
- I am writing to ______ that your order has been dispatched.
- Before we publish the schedule, I would like to ______ that the proposed date is acceptable.
- We can ______ that your insurance claim has been received.
- May I ______ which address you would like us to use?
- The organization is pleased to ______ that the scholarship was awarded.
Answer Key
- confirm to you — The sentence communicates verified information to the recipient.
- confirm with you — The writer is checking an arrangement with another person.
- confirm to you — The organization is formally communicating a fact.
- confirm with you — The speaker is checking a detail collaboratively.
- confirm to you — The organization is making an official announcement or assurance.
“Confirm to You” Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Assure you | Give someone confidence that something is true or reliable. |
| Inform you | Give someone information or an official notification. |
| Verify to you | State or demonstrate that something has been checked and found accurate. |
| Establish for you | Make a fact or conclusion clear and certain. |
“Confirm with You” Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Check with you | Ask you to verify information or approve an arrangement. |
| Verify with you | Compare information with what you know or agree to be correct. |
| Clarify with you | Discuss something with you to remove uncertainty or confusion. |
| Coordinate with you | Organize plans or actions together. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “confirm to you” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Confirm to you” is grammatically correct when you mean that you are communicating or assuring someone that something is true. However, “confirm that” is often more concise and natural.
Question 2: Is “confirm with you” more natural than “confirm to you”?
Often, yes. “Confirm with you” is the more natural choice when you are checking plans, details, or agreement with another person. “Confirm to you” is more formal and focuses on delivering verified information.
Question 3: Can I say “confirm you” without “to” or “with”?
Usually, yes, but the meaning changes slightly. For example, “I confirm your appointment” means that I verify the appointment. “I confirm you as the winner” means that I officially recognize you as the winner. For personal communication, “confirm with you” or “confirm that” is often clearer.
Conclusion
Both “confirm to you” and “confirm with you” are correct. Choose confirm to you when formally communicating verified information, and choose confirm with you when checking details or plans together. In most workplace conversations, “confirm with you” or simply “confirm that” will sound more natural. Pro tip: Selecting the precise phrase makes your professional writing clearer and more credible.
