gently remind

USAGE SUMMARY

'gently remind' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to be polite but make sure someone remembers something. For example, "I wanted to gently remind you that you have a report due tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

May I gently remind these people that my daughter is waiting for their gifts?

The New York Times

I like to gently remind people that the NHS is not just doctors and nurses.

The Guardian

And they must gently remind some of their fainthearted supporters of the lesson of 1997.

The Guardian

But researchers "called them frequently," he says, to gently remind them to remain couch-bound.

The New York Times - Health

The Tongans gently remind him he had been advised to sleep with his feet covered.

The New York Times

Why, then, does the President gently remind us that if he had a son he'd look like Trayvon Martin?

The New Yorker

Later, in her early 80s, she would forget that her husband had died, and her daughter would gently remind her.

The Washington Post

At times, the announcer had to gently remind the Brazilians that the athletes were about to resume play.

The New York Times - Sports

Hence the title of his new release, "Drukqs," which (as publicists gently remind us) is to be pronounced "Drugs".

The New York Times - Arts

Photos of golfers, racing sloops and water skiers gently remind us of who we are, and where we live.

The New York Times

We communicate with our contact within 24 hours of issue to confirm receipt and gently remind about payment terms.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gently remind" when you want to prompt someone's memory without being harsh or accusatory. This approach is particularly effective in professional or personal settings where maintaining positive relationships is important.

Common error

While "gently remind" is useful, overusing it can make your communication sound repetitive or passive-aggressive. Vary your language by using alternatives like "casually mention" or "lightly suggest" depending on the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gently remind" functions as a verb phrase, where "gently" modifies the verb "remind", indicating the manner in which the reminding is done. As supported by Ludwig, this construction is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Wiki

21%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "gently remind" is a versatile and frequently used phrase for prompting someone's memory in a considerate way. Grammatically correct and widely accepted, as supported by Ludwig, it is best used in situations where politeness is valued. While it appears most often in News & Media contexts, it's suitable for various settings, from personal to professional. However, be mindful of overuse and consider alternatives like "nicely remind" or "politely remind" to maintain engaging communication. Remember to balance gentleness with directness depending on the specific situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nicely remind

Replaces "gently" with "nicely", emphasizing the pleasantness of the reminder.

politely remind

Substitutes "gently" with "politely", stressing the courteousness of the reminder.

kindly remind

Replaces "gently" with "kindly", highlighting the benevolent aspect of the reminder.

delicately remind

Substitutes "gently" with "delicately", underscoring the sensitive approach in reminding.

softly remind

Uses "softly" instead of "gently", focusing on the mild and subtle nature of the reminder.

subtly jog someone's memory

Emphasizes the subtlety of the reminder's effect on memory.

promptly bring to mind

Uses more formal language to indicate a quick act of reminding.

casually mention

Replaces the entire phrase with a more indirect way of bringing something to someone's attention.

discreetly bring up

Highlights the inconspicuous nature of the reminder.

lightly suggest

Instead of reminding, it proposes an idea in a non-forceful manner.

FAQs

How can I use "gently remind" in a sentence?

You can use "gently remind" to prompt someone to remember something, such as, "I wanted to "gently remind" you about the meeting tomorrow" or "Could you "gently remind" him to submit his report?".

What phrases are similar to "gently remind"?

Similar phrases include "nicely remind", "politely remind", "softly remind", or "kindly remind". The best alternative depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever inappropriate to use "gently remind"?

While generally polite, "gently remind" might be inappropriate if the situation calls for directness or urgency. In those cases, a more straightforward approach may be necessary.

What's the difference between "gently remind" and "remind"?

The addition of "gently" softens the reminder, making it less confrontational. Using just "remind" is more direct and can be perceived as less considerate, but more appropriate depending on the situation.