forgot to reply

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "forgot to reply" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you need to explain why you didn't respond to something. For example, "I apologize for not replying to your email, I completely forgot to reply."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The handsome lawyer wined, dined and escorted me home – but forgot to reply to my text.

The New York Times

Of the 249 GPs who did not fill in the questionnaire, 33 (13.3%) answered by e-mail and gave their reasons for non-participation (more than one answer allowed): 25 reported that they were too busy, or forgot to reply, eight stated that they did not like web based questionnaires, and eight indicated that the questionnaire was too long.

BMC Palliative Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

(Please don't forget to reply all).

The New Yorker

Forgetting to reply to WhatsApp messages could be a thing of the past.

Independent

I forget to reply to an email, and my friend remarks: "Oh, it didn't really matter anyway".

The Guardian - Opinion

Burnout is not just feeling a bit knackered in the mornings, missing a few deadlines, or an inbox full of emails you forget to reply to.

The Guardian

(By contrast, negligent emailers often discover that forgetting to reply brings certain advantages: people find alternative solutions to the problems they were nagging you to solve, or the looming crisis they were emailing about never occurs).

The Guardian - Tech

RelateIQ cleans your contact info and merges it from across address books to give companies one reliable source of contact info, along with offering features of a digital personal assistant, like email tracking and prompts when you forget to reply to important contacts.

TechCrunch

Either way, I give these two three whole days upon leaving the villa, the last of which Ellie will meet a fit northern Scorpio and dump Charlie over Whatsapp, and he will leave her on read because he literally forgets to reply.

Vice

Do not forget to reply to everything he said.

WikiHow

David Cameron was asked a question about the NHS in England and forgot to mention Wales in his reply.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When explaining why you "forgot to reply", be sincere and offer a brief explanation. Acknowledging the oversight shows respect for the other person's time.

Common error

Don't assume that others know you "forgot to reply". Always acknowledge the missed communication, even if it's brief, to avoid misunderstandings or hurt feelings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "forgot to reply" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past failure to respond. It expresses a lack of action regarding a communication. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "forgot to reply" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed verb phrase that communicates a failure to respond. Ludwig AI highlights its correctness and usability. Its communicative purpose centers on explaining or apologizing for this lapse in communication. While applicable across various registers, it commonly appears in news and media, scientific, and wiki contexts. When using this phrase, sincerity and a brief explanation are advisable to maintain positive communication. Related alternatives include "didn't get back to" and "failed to answer".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

neglected to respond

Replaces "forgot" with "neglected", implying a conscious decision to not reply.

failed to answer

Substitutes "forgot to reply" with "failed to answer", indicating a lack of response.

didn't get back to

Uses a more informal phrasing to express not responding.

omitted a response

Replaces 'forgot' with 'omitted', indicating a deliberate or unintentional exclusion of a reply.

overlooked replying

Implies that the act of replying was missed or not considered.

didn't bother to reply

Indicates a lack of effort or willingness to reply.

never responded

Emphasizes the complete absence of a response.

left unanswered

Focuses on the state of the message or query being without a response.

ignored the message

Suggests a deliberate act of not replying.

didn't acknowledge

Implies a failure to recognize or respond to a communication.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone "forgot to reply"?

It means that someone intended to respond to a message or communication but failed to do so, often unintentionally. It implies an oversight rather than a deliberate decision to ignore the message.

What are some alternative ways to say "I forgot to reply"?

You can use alternatives like "didn't get back to", "failed to answer", or "neglected to respond" depending on the context.

Is it rude to "forget to reply" to a message?

It can be perceived as rude, especially in professional settings or when dealing with important matters. Prompt communication is generally expected, so forgetting can imply a lack of consideration or importance placed on the communication.

How can I avoid "forgetting to reply" to messages?

Use tools like email reminders, set aside specific times for responding to messages, and mark unread messages as unread until you've addressed them. Prioritize urgent communications to prevent them from being overlooked.