be responded to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be responded to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about an action that is or should be reciprocated. For example, "Any questions should be responded to promptly."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Public feedback must be responded to in real time.

The Economist

Please note that letters cannot be responded to individually.

The Guardian - Money

"This talk can be responded to and disproved.

The New York Times

The use of those weapons must be responded to".

The Guardian

Registrations received over the weekend will be responded to on Monday.

Cornell University

Requests will be responded to within 3-5 business days of receipt.

Columbia University

Incomplete forms will not be considered and will not be responded to.

Cornell University

Such moves will never hide that great crime, criticism should not be responded to with beheading".

Independent

"Their work will be responded to with more hostility, open to more scrutiny.

The New York Times - Sports

The violation is clear and it has to be responded to," Carney says.

The Guardian

"There are legitimate criticisms and they need to be responded to by the government".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase in contexts where clarity and directness are valued such as official correspondence, academic papers, or public announcements.

Common error

Avoid using "be responded to" when an active voice construction is more appropriate. For example, instead of "The email should be responded to by John," use "John should respond to the email."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be responded to" functions as a passive construction, indicating that an action or communication is the recipient of a response. This structure shifts the focus from the responder to the stimulus requiring a response. Ludwig AI confirms the usability of this construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

31%

Science

21%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be responded to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction that emphasizes the need for a response. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. This phrase is common in news, academic, and scientific contexts, indicating its suitability for formal and neutral communication. When writing, remember to use it when you want to downplay the importance of the responder and emphasize the importance of reacting to the action, and avoid overusing it in situations where active voice constructions would be more appropriate. Consider alternatives like "receive a response" or "get a reply" for nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

receive a response

Focuses on the act of getting a response, regardless of who gives it.

get a reply

Implies a direct communication back, often in writing.

be answered

Suitable when referring to questions or inquiries that need clarification.

be addressed

Suggests a more formal or serious handling of an issue or concern.

be acknowledged

Highlights the recognition of something, even if not fully resolved.

elicit a response

Focuses on provoking or drawing out a response from someone.

draw a reaction

Emphasizes the emotional or behavioral response triggered.

meet with a reaction

Implies that something will get a certain response when presented

be attended to

Focuses on giving assistance or dealing with something, not necessarily a direct reply.

be taken care of

Implies that something will be handled or resolved completely.

FAQs

How can I use "be responded to" in a sentence?

Use "be responded to" to indicate that something requires a reaction or answer. For example, "All inquiries must "be responded to" within 24 hours".

What are some alternatives to "be responded to"?

Alternatives include "receive a response", "get a reply", or "be answered", depending on the specific context.

Is "be responded to" formal or informal?

"Be responded to" is generally considered neutral to formal. It's suitable for professional and academic settings, while other alternatives may be more appropriate for informal conversations.

What is the difference between "be responded to" and "respond to"?

"Be responded to" is in the passive voice, emphasizing the action being received. "Respond to" is in the active voice, emphasizing the actor performing the response. For example, "The letter will "be responded to" (passive)" versus "Please "respond to" the letter (active)".