duly obliged

USAGE SUMMARY

"duly obliged" is a correct and acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express your appreciation or gratitude that someone has done something for you. For example, "Thank you for helping me out. I am duly obliged."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Books

Politics

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He duly obliged.

Independent

They duly obliged.

The Guardian

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Russia duly obliged.

The Guardian - Opinion

To his delight, the Brazilian duly obliged.

The Guardian - Sport

Garcia duly obliged with a birdie at the seventh.

Independent

Seeing the humour in the situation I duly obliged.

The Guardian - Sport

My writer friends (yes, I have some) duly obliged.

The Guardian - Books

Tarantino duly obliged and sent him Pulp Fiction.

The Guardian - Film

He duly obliged, and the resulting snapshot will do his electoral fortunes nothing but good.

The Economist

Two days later Mr Lenihan's government duly obliged, and the package was agreed.

The Economist

It presented Martin with the chance to complete his hat-trick - he duly obliged.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "duly obliged" to formally acknowledge that you are grateful for someone's assistance or that you have fulfilled a request. It adds a touch of formality and politeness to your writing or speech.

Common error

Avoid using "duly obliged" in very informal or casual contexts. It can sound overly formal or even sarcastic if used inappropriately. Stick to more casual expressions of gratitude in everyday conversation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "duly obliged" serves as an adverbial phrase modifying an implied verb of action. It conveys a sense of formal acknowledgement or gratitude for a service rendered or a request fulfilled. Ludwig indicates that this is a correct and acceptable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Sport

12%

Books

4%

Less common in

Politics

2%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "duly obliged" is a correct and acceptable phrase that conveys gratitude or acknowledgment in a formal manner. As shown by Ludwig, it frequently appears in news and media, with a lower frequency in books, sports and business contexts. It is most suitable for neutral-to-formal registers and should be used cautiously in informal settings to avoid sounding sarcastic or out of place. Alternatives like "happily complied" or "complied as requested" offer ways to express the same sentiment with varying degrees of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Obliged readily

Similar in meaning, but changes the emphasis to the promptness of the compliance.

Complied as requested

States compliance more directly, suitable for formal contexts.

Fulfilled the request

Focuses on completing the request or task, a more formal alternative.

Happily complied

Focuses on the positive attitude in completing the action, differing from a neutral acknowledgment.

Was happy to oblige

Highlights the speaker's positive sentiment about fulfilling the request.

Willingly agreed

Emphasizes the willingness to perform the requested action, which is less formal.

Gladly assisted

Highlights the pleasure taken in helping, adding a personal touch.

Followed through

Emphasizes the completion of a task or promise, with a focus on reliability.

I am in your debt

Expresses deep gratitude, implying a sense of indebtedness.

I owe you one

An informal way of expressing gratitude and acknowledging a favor.

FAQs

How can I use "duly obliged" in a sentence?

You can use "duly obliged" to express gratitude or acknowledgment after someone has done something for you. For example, "Thank you for your help; I am "duly obliged"."

What's a more casual way to say "duly obliged"?

If you're looking for a less formal alternative, you could say "thanks", "I appreciate it", or "I owe you one" depending on the context.

Is "duly obliged" appropriate for business communication?

Yes, "duly obliged" is suitable for certain business contexts where a degree of formality is desired. However, be mindful of your audience and the overall tone of the communication. It may be better to use a more common phrase like "thank you" or "I appreciate your help" in most situations.

When would it be inappropriate to use "duly obliged"?

It's generally inappropriate to use "duly obliged" in very casual or informal settings. It can also sound sarcastic if you're not genuinely grateful or if the situation doesn't warrant such formality.