bother to respond

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bother to respond" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used when one expresses frustration or irritation with another person or organization for not responding quickly or adequately to a request or inquiry. Example: "I sent an email to the customer service department two weeks ago and they still haven't bothered to respond."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Would anyone bother to respond?

The Guardian

Jewish organizations didn't bother to respond.

The New Yorker

They didn't even bother to respond.

The New York Times

"If I were the government, I wouldn't even bother to respond".

The New York Times

What should I say to get my point across that it is rude when people don't bother to respond at all, or respond at the last minute?

The New York Times

His agent has said that the Jets' contract offer was so low -- the minimum for a player of his experience -- that he did not bother to respond to it.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Most never bothered to respond.

The New Yorker

In the 1983 survey barely half of the presidents approached bothered to respond.

The Economist

Only 4% of the national retailers asked for more information even bothered to respond.

The Guardian

The public are now anaesthetised to the pain, barely bothering to respond, let alone take to the streets.

The Guardian - Business

Mr Bradley barely bothered to respond when Mr Gore attacked his plans for health-care reform on the ground that they would eat up the whole budget surplus.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "bother to respond", ensure the context clearly indicates a sense of annoyance or frustration at the lack of response. This phrase implies that a response was expected or warranted.

Common error

Avoid using "bother to respond" in highly formal or professional communications. While grammatically correct, it carries a slightly informal and potentially impolite tone. Opt for a more neutral expression, such as "did not reply", when corresponding with superiors or in official contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bother to respond" functions as a verb phrase expressing a lack of effort or willingness to engage in communication. It carries a negative connotation, implying that responding was expected or necessary, as seen in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bother to respond" is a common verb phrase used to express annoyance or frustration when someone fails to reply. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and highlights its prevalence in News & Media. While generally acceptable, it should be used cautiously in formal settings. Related phrases include "trouble to reply" and "can't be bothered to reply", offering nuanced expressions of reluctance. When writing, be mindful of the potentially informal tone and consider more neutral alternatives for professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

trouble to reply

Indicates the action of responding is perceived as causing some amount of difficulty or inconvenience.

can't be bothered to reply

Expresses a stronger disinclination to respond, often due to perceived lack of importance or effort required.

couldn't be bothered to answer

Similar to 'can't be bothered', highlighting unwillingness to answer.

not care to respond

Emphasizes a lack of interest or concern in providing a response.

decline to answer

A more formal way of refusing to respond, often used in professional settings.

refuse to reply

Directly states an unwillingness to reply.

disregard a response

Suggests a deliberate ignoring of the need to respond.

omit a response

Highlights the absence of a response, whether intentional or not.

ignore to respond

Expresses the action of consciously ignoring a question.

shirk a response

Suggests avoiding the responsibility to answer.

FAQs

How can I use "bother to respond" in a sentence?

You can use "bother to respond" to express frustration when someone doesn't reply to a message or request. For example, "I sent them an email last week, but they didn't "bother to respond"."

What does it mean when someone doesn't "bother to respond"?

It often suggests they are either uninterested, dismissive, or consider the matter unimportant. It implies a lack of courtesy or responsibility on their part.

Are there more formal alternatives to "bother to respond"?

Yes, in formal contexts, consider using phrases like "did not reply", "failed to acknowledge", or "did not deem it necessary to respond". These alternatives convey the same meaning without the implication of annoyance.

What's the difference between "bother to respond" and "bothered to respond"?

"Bother to respond" suggests a general tendency or habit, while "bothered to respond" usually refers to a specific instance in the past. For example, "He never seems to bother to respond to my emails" versus "He never bothered to respond to my email yesterday."