Meaning & use
acknowledge sample
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To confirm in writing or speech that you have received a sample of something.
Grammar: Takes an object: acknowledge the sample; often followed by 'receipt of'.
Patterns
- acknowledge a sample
- acknowledge receipt of a sample
- acknowledge the sample by email
Please acknowledge the sample within two days of receiving it.
We acknowledge receipt of the sample you sent on Monday.
The lab acknowledged the sample and began testing it immediately.
verbtransitiveformal
To state that a sample exists or is valid, for example in a research report.
Grammar: Takes an object; common in academic writing about data or specimens.
Patterns
- acknowledge a sample in a report
- acknowledge the sample as valid
The authors acknowledge the small sample as a limitation of the study.
She acknowledged the sample in the methods section of her paper.
Word forms
| third person singular | acknowledges a sample |
|---|---|
| past tense | acknowledged a sample |
| past participle | acknowledged a sample |
| -ing form | acknowledging a sample |
Common combinations
- acknowledge receipt of a sample
- We will acknowledge receipt of the sample by email.
- acknowledge a sample in writing
- The company asked us to acknowledge the sample in writing.
- acknowledge the sample promptly
- Please acknowledge the sample promptly so testing can start.
- acknowledge a sample as valid
- The report acknowledges the sample as valid for the study.
Synonyms and how they differ
- confirm receipt
- This focuses only on saying you got something, while 'acknowledge a sample' can also mean accepting it as valid.
- recognize
- Closer to admitting that something exists or is true, not to confirming delivery.
Opposites
Word family
- acknowledgment noun
- A statement that something has been received or accepted.
- acknowledged adjective
- Recognized or accepted as true or valid.
Commonly confused: acknowledge sample or sample?
acknowledge sample vs sample
A sample is the small amount you test; 'acknowledge' is the action of confirming you received it. Do not confuse the two parts of the phrase.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'acknowledge a sample' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Acknowledge' is transitive, so it takes a direct object: acknowledge the sample. Option 0 changes the meaning to returning it, option 2 wrongly adds 'to', and option 3 wrongly adds 'of'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “acknowledge sample”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.