acknowledge receiving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acknowledge receiving" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in formal communication, such as emails or letters, to confirm that something has been received. Example: "Please acknowledge receiving this document at your earliest convenience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

He said he filed a complaint electronically, "but they didn't even acknowledge receiving it".

The New York Times

That is the second European group to acknowledge receiving money from the suspected attacker.

The Washington Post

The companies vehemently deny joining any program but acknowledge receiving requests, albeit not "bulk" requests.

The Guardian

White House officials did not apologize, but did acknowledge receiving an Afghanistan review from the Bush administration last year.

The New York Times

A White House spokesman acknowledge receiving Cummings's letter Thursday and said the chairman's requests would be reviewed.

The Washington Post

Meanwhile, Georgian and Western diplomatic officials said Georgia had offered a cease-fire proposal to Russia, though Russian officials did not acknowledge receiving such an offer.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Additionally, each RTU will acknowledge received commands, i.e., each SCADA server will be slightly dependent on each RTU.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

A few Chinese companies have acknowledged receiving substantial government assistance.

The New York Times

The American military has acknowledged receiving one detainee from him, and the Pentagon has acknowledged receiving phone calls from him.

The New York Times

A Fed spokeswoman acknowledged receiving the letter on Tuesday evening but she declined to comment further.

The New York Times

In February, BATS Global Markets acknowledged receiving a request from the S.E.C.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "acknowledge receiving" in formal correspondence, ensure you also specify what exactly was received to avoid ambiguity. For example, "I acknowledge receiving your email of July 29, 2025."

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses with "acknowledge receiving". For example, do not say "I acknowledge to receive" or "I am acknowledging receiving" when a simple "I acknowledge receiving" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acknowledge receiving" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to express the action of confirming or recognizing the receipt of something. Ludwig AI shows numerous examples where this phrase is used in formal communication to ensure clarity and confirmation. It falls under the category of verbs related to communication and confirmation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "acknowledge receiving" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to confirm the receipt of something, especially in formal contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its suitability for professional communication and indicates a neutral to formal register. While it is a common phrase, consider alternatives like "confirm receipt of" or "attest to receiving" depending on the desired nuance. The most frequent contexts for its use are News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. Remember to clearly specify what was received to avoid any ambiguity, and avoid incorrect tense usages. This analysis, combined with Ludwig's examples, provides a solid understanding of how to effectively use this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

confirm receipt of

Replaces "acknowledge" with "confirm" and restructures the sentence to emphasize the receipt.

attest to receiving

Uses "attest to" to convey a more formal confirmation of having received something.

recognize reception of

Employs "recognize reception" for a slightly different emphasis on the act of receiving.

affirm having received

Replaces "acknowledge" with "affirm" and uses a perfect participle to describe the action.

validate the receipt of

Uses "validate" to emphasize the legitimacy of the receipt.

certify reception

Indicates an official confirmation of the reception of something.

declare that I received

A more direct statement, replacing "acknowledge" with "declare".

agree that I have received

Uses "agree" to indicate acknowledgment, emphasizing consensus.

admit to getting

A less formal alternative using "admit" and "getting".

note the receipt of

Emphasizes the act of noting or recording the receipt.

FAQs

What does "acknowledge receiving" mean?

The phrase "acknowledge receiving" means to confirm that you have received something. It is often used in formal settings to ensure that the sender knows their message or item has been successfully delivered.

How to use "acknowledge receiving" in a sentence?

You can use "acknowledge receiving" in a sentence like: "I "acknowledge receiving" your application" or "Please "acknowledge receiving" this email at your earliest convenience."

What can I say instead of "acknowledge receiving"?

You can use alternatives like "confirm receipt of", "attest to receiving", or "recognize reception of" depending on the context.

Is "acknowledge receiving" formal or informal?

"Acknowledge receiving" is generally considered a formal phrase, suitable for professional or official communication. In more informal settings, you might use phrases like "got it" or "received".