Used and loved by millions

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 respond shortly
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The voice now gives you the option of sending a canned e-mail message back to the sender (either "I am in transit and will respond shortly" or "Call me if it is important") or recording a 15-second MP3 audio message that gets sent to your correspondent as an e-mail attachment.

News & Media

The New York Times - Tech

I've contacted Facebook, and have been told they will respond shortly.

News & Media

TechCrunch

11.54am: News Corporation has issued a holding statement: "News Corporation is carefully reviewing the Select Committee's report and will respond shortly.

News & Media

The Guardian

We will respond shortly after we receive your draft review request, usually within 24 hours.

Academia

University of Chicago

News Corp. initially issued a statement saying that it was "carefully reviewing the Select Committee's report and will respond shortly".

News & Media

Huffington Post

"If you insist," I'll respond.

News & Media

The New Yorker

I'll respond'," he said.

News & Media

The Guardian - Film

Today I will respond!

News & Media

The New Yorker

I will respond.

News & Media

The New York Times

I will respond to all comments.

News & Media

Forbes

"He will urgently consider the select committee's recommendation and respond shortly," she said.

News & Media

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with a specific context if the delay is due to a specific event, such as 'I am in a meeting and 'I'll respond shortly'.'

Common error

Do not use 'shortly' if you intend to reply in several days. This creates a false sense of urgency and can lead to frustration from the recipient. Use 'in a few days' or 'by the end of the week' instead.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

How to use

Learn how to use "I'll respond shortly" with practical examples and tips.

How to use

Linguistic Context

The phrase 'I'll respond shortly' functions as a future-tense indicative clause. It combines the first-person subject with a contracted auxiliary verb ('ll) and a temporal adverb to form a promise or statement of intent. According to Ludwig, it is an essential component of transactional communication.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

Wiki

Social Media

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase 'I'll respond shortly' is a robust and reliable tool for modern communication. While Ludwig AI notes a lack of exact string matches in this specific dataset for the contraction, the high frequency of near-identical variants like 'will respond shortly' in prestigious outlets like The New Yorker and The New York Times confirms its status as a standard linguistic convention. It is an ideal choice for professionals who need to maintain responsiveness while managing a high volume of correspondence. It balances brevity with politeness and effectively bridges the gap between receipt and resolution.

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I will respond shortly

Removes the contraction for a more formal and emphatic tone.

I'll reply shortly

Uses 'reply' instead of 'respond' which is slightly more common in email threads.

I'll get back to you shortly

A more idiomatic and conversational business phrase.

I will answer soon

Uses 'answer' which is more direct and 'soon' which is slightly less immediate than 'shortly'.

I'll be in touch momentarily

Suggests a more immediate timeframe than 'shortly'.

I'll follow up in a moment

Focuses on the action of following up rather than just replying.

I'll provide an answer shortly

Specifies that the response will contain a definitive answer.

I'll circle back soon

Uses business jargon that implies a return to the current topic.

I'll respond as soon as I can

Introduces a condition based on the sender's availability.

I'll get right back to you

Much more informal and suited for instant messaging or close colleagues.

FAQs

How to use 'I'll respond shortly' in a sentence?

You can use it as a standalone sentence or part of a larger explanation, for example: 'Thank you for your email; 'I'll respond shortly'.' It is also common in formal statements like "the company will respond shortly".

What can I say instead of 'I'll respond shortly'?

Depending on the formality, you can use "I'll get back to you soon", "I'll reply briefly" or "I'll be in touch shortly".

Is it correct to say 'I'll respond shortly'?

Yes, it is grammatically correct and very common. Ludwig AI shows that while exact string matches for the contraction may vary, the phrase "will respond shortly" is a staple in news and business English.

What is the difference between 'I'll respond shortly' and 'I'll respond soon'?

'Shortly' often implies a more immediate timeframe (minutes or a few hours) compared to "soon", which can sometimes extend to a day or more depending on the context.