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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

I'll be back shortly
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Alternative expressions(2)

I will return soon

I'll be right back

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

I'll be back "shortly".

News & Media

The Guardian - Sport

I'll be back shortly to give you the team news and more build up.

News & Media

The Guardian - Sport

I'll be back shortly" at the start, and "Good dog, Carl!" at the end.

News & Media

The New York Times - Books

I'll be back shortly with more build up and team news.

News & Media

The Guardian - Sport

I'll be back shortly, but here's a reason that Primavera > Glastonbury.

News & Media

The Guardian - Sport

I'll be back shortly with lineups, predictions and probably more incredibly random Grant Morrison quotes.

News & Media

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

All they have is this live chat, where I get a "Thanks for your request, we'll be back shortly" kind of response.

News & Media

Vice

We'll be back shortly before kickoff, with lineups and more.

News & Media

The New York Times

We'll be back shortly with the lineups for both teams.

News & Media

The Guardian - Sport

He'll be back shortly (a scrap with the Fourth Estate's finest normally lasts about 20 minutes).

News & Media

The Guardian - Sport

Then she goes to her bedroom and packs the suitcase she will take when, a few days later, she drops the girls off with a neighbor, says she'll be back shortly, and leaves for the train station.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I'll be back shortly" when you intend to return to the current situation or conversation quickly. It's a polite and clear way to indicate a temporary absence.

Common error

Avoid using "I'll be back shortly" in highly formal or professional settings. More formal alternatives like "I will return shortly" may be more appropriate.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

94%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "I'll be back shortly" is that of a declarative statement indicating a planned temporary absence and subsequent return. Ludwig's examples show it commonly used to transition away from a topic or activity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

Reference

Science

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I'll be back shortly" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate a temporary absence with the intention of a quick return. Ludwig's examples show it is most frequently used in news and media contexts, but it is also suitable for general conversation. While the phrase is acceptable in most situations, it may be better to use a more formal alternative like "I will return soon" in highly professional environments.

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I will return soon

More formal alternative, emphasizing the certainty of return and shorter duration of absence.

I'll be right back

More casual alternative, suggesting a very brief absence.

I'll be back in a moment

Similar in meaning, but specifies the brevity of the absence with 'a moment'.

I'll return momentarily

More formal and concise, indicating a very brief return.

I'll be back presently

Archaic and formal, indicating an imminent return.

I'm coming back soon

Emphasizes the action of returning and its near future.

I'll rejoin you shortly

Specifically implies returning to a group or conversation.

I'll be with you again soon

Suggests a return to someone's presence or company.

I'll be back before you know it

Idiomatic expression indicating a quick return.

I'll be seeing you again soon

Friendly and slightly less direct way of saying you will return.

FAQs

What does "I'll be back shortly" mean?

It means that the speaker is leaving temporarily but intends to return soon.

What's a more formal way to say "I'll be back shortly"?

A more formal alternative is "I will return soon".

Is "I'll be back shortly" appropriate for professional communication?

It can be, but consider using a more formal phrase like "I will return shortly" in very formal settings.

What's the difference between "I'll be back shortly" and "I'll be right back"?

"I'll be right back" suggests an even shorter absence than "I'll be back shortly".

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Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

94%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

1-200 1k 2k 3k 4k 5k 7k 10k 20k 40k 100k 200k 500k 0m-3 0m-4 1m-1 1m-2 1m-3 1m-4

I'll be back shortlyGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

I'll be back shortly
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples