Acknowledge receipt

USAGE SUMMARY

"acknowledge receipt" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used in formal or business communication to confirm that a message, document, or item has been received. For example: Thank you for your email. Please acknowledge receipt of this message by replying to confirm that you have received it. I am writing to acknowledge receipt of the shipment that we received yesterday. Everything arrived in good condition and we appreciate your prompt delivery.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

Acknowledge receipt of Notice of Reduction in Salary.

The New Yorker

Please acknowledge receipt of Notice of Suspension of Health Insurance.

The New Yorker

Grade's letter read: "Dear John, I acknowledge receipt of your letter.

The Guardian

Please say "Return" to acknowledge receipt of Notice of Termination of Employment.

The New Yorker

Unfortunately, plenty of other MPs were not even courteous enough to acknowledge receipt.

The Guardian

But no charities have come forward to publicly acknowledge receipt of Swank's promised financial donation.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

Laurin acknowledged receipt of the message.

The New Yorker

Another sent a letter acknowledging receipt of his package.

The New Yorker

HomeServe acknowledged receipt of the letter but took the money from his credit card anyway.

The Guardian - Money

Once we've received your complaint, you should receive an automated reply acknowledging receipt.

The Guardian

The company removed the product names from its website after acknowledging receipt of the letter.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In professional communications, always promptly "acknowledge receipt" of important documents or emails to ensure the sender knows their message has been received. This sets a professional tone and allows for timely follow-up.

Common error

Avoid using "acknowledge receipt" in casual conversations. Phrases like "Got it" or "Thanks, I received it" are more appropriate and sound less stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acknowledge receipt" functions primarily as a performative utterance, where the act of saying it performs the action of acknowledging. Ludwig confirms that it is correct and commonly used. It is most often used in formal communication.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "acknowledge receipt" is a correct and commonly used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig, in formal communication to confirm that a message, document, or item has been received. While predominantly found in news, media, scientific, and business contexts, it's advisable to use more informal alternatives like "Got it" in casual settings. Remember that while alternatives exist, such as "confirm reception", this specific phrase maintains a level of professionalism. As such, mastering its usage ensures clear and courteous interactions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Confirm reception

Focuses on the act of confirming that something has been received, without explicitly mentioning the acknowledgment.

Verify reception

Emphasizes the verification aspect of receiving something.

Confirm delivery

Highlights that the item or message was delivered.

Affirm reception

Uses a more formal tone to state reception.

Give confirmation of receiving

Specifies the action of providing confirmation.

Send an acknowledgment

Focuses on the action of sending the acknowledgment rather than the receipt itself.

Inform of reception

Emphasizes the act of informing someone that something was received.

Certify reception

Indicates a formal certification of receipt.

Reply to confirm

Highlights the action of replying to verify reception.

Note reception

Indicates a simple noting of reception.

FAQs

How can I use "acknowledge receipt" in a sentence?

You can use "acknowledge receipt" to confirm that you have received something, such as "Please "acknowledge receipt" of this email at your earliest convenience" or "I am writing to "acknowledge receipt" of your application".

What's a more informal way to say "acknowledge receipt"?

Instead of "acknowledge receipt", you could say "Got it", "Received", or "Thanks for sending" in less formal contexts.

Is it necessary to always "acknowledge receipt"?

While not always necessary, "acknowledging receipt" is considered courteous and professional, especially for important documents, emails, or packages. It ensures the sender knows their item has been received.

What's the difference between "acknowledge receipt" and "confirm receipt"?

While similar, "confirm receipt" ("confirm reception") is a slightly more direct way of saying you've received something. "Acknowledge receipt" implies a formal recognition, while "confirm receipt" simply verifies the item arrived.