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Is "alluded to previously" unfitting here?

English Language & Usage Asked by anonuser01 on March 31, 2021

I am in a personal situation where I’m discussing a request that I’m making to an entity, and the reasons for that request. I discuss my reasons somewhat at length. (note all of this is in writing). A couple of sentences after this, I discuss a separate request, that I’m making for the same reasons as the previous one. I’m tempted to say "I’m making the same request for the same reasons alluded to previously."

But I am unsure if "alluded to" is appropriate here because I feel like typically when you use "alluded" it’s in a situation where the thing you’re "alluding" to wasn’t discussed at length. In my situation, I do discuss the thing I’m "alluding" to somewhat at length. So because of that, would "alluded" to be inappropriate word choice here?

There’s plenty of other words I could use such as "for the same reason that I discussed previously," but I am curious what others think about using "alluded" in this situation. I can see it going either way, and I’ve heard it used either way.

One Answer

For “allude”, the OED gives

2.a. intransitive. With to, †at, †unto, etc. Of a person: to make an oblique, covert, or indirect reference to, to refer indirectly or in passing to. Also (esp. in later use): to refer in any manner to.

1957 P. Wernberg-Møller Manual Discipline 135 This translation appears to suggest that the expression alludes to other members of the community of lower rank.

2003 T. Litt Finding Myself 143 This evening, when I alluded to our midnight meeting, Cecile blanked me.

Whilst your use of "allude" apparently fits the later/current use, it is very hard to escape the nuance that the allusion is an "oblique, covert, or indirect reference", or, at least, only briefly mentioned or mentioned as a matter of secondary interest at the time.

In your case, if the matter has been discussed in some detail and/or depth, “allude” would not be the best choice.

Answered by Greybeard on March 31, 2021

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