give a written answer

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "give a written answer" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when requesting someone to respond in writing rather than verbally. Example: "Please give a written answer to the questions provided in the survey."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Reference

Social Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Let's see what the morning's coverage brings | See the email | See the text messages Metropolitan Police officially re-open NOW phone-hacking inquiry – Operation Weeting Jeremy Hunt gives a written answer to the Commons: "As set out in the Enterprise Act I have to make the decision about the News Corporation BSkyB bid in a quasi-judicial role".

The Guardian

"What I will do on that one is I'll give you a written answer.

The Guardian - Opinion

His reply did not inspire confidence: "What I will do on that one is I'll give you a written answer.

The Guardian - Opinion

Each item also had space for a written answer and an opportunity to give an example of the mistreatment.

BMC Medical Education

Students can turn in a written answer or submit their answer using a classroom response system.

International Journal of STEM Education

Q: And they say he has not given any written answers.

The New York Times

Howard Strauss, of Princeton, gave me written answers to a series of questions about the possible rigging of United States elections by tampering with computer-tabulated election systems.

The New Yorker

As shown in Table 3, most of the teachers who gave written answers appeared able to consider the three bioethical issues in terms of personal effects of the biotechnologies.

Asia-Pacific Science Education

All refused to be interviewed by the IPCC, only giving written answers to the questions posed to them.

Vice

In this climactic scene Segel smartly doesn't play Wallace as an angry man but as someone exasperated that his peer wouldn't give him time to craft the beautifully written answer he needs for his story.

Los Angeles Times

I assigned four or five pages from the book as homework, and the next day, as soon as the kids were seated, I'd give them a written, five-question, short-answer quiz.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When requesting information, specify the required format clearly. For instance, say, "Please give a written answer to each question" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid vagueness in your requests. Instead of simply asking for feedback, be specific: "Please give a written answer outlining the pros and cons" ensures you receive a detailed response, which is easier to analyze and implement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "give a written answer" functions as a directive or request. It is used to instruct someone to provide a response in written form. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "give a written answer" is a grammatically sound and functionally clear request for a response in written form. While the usage examples are limited, Ludwig confirms its general correctness and usability. Alternative phrases like "provide a written response" or "submit a written reply" offer similar meanings with varying degrees of formality. This phrase ensures clarity and allows for detailed, documented responses, suitable across diverse contexts ranging from professional to informal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provide a written response

Replaces "give" with "provide" offering a more formal tone while maintaining the same meaning.

submit a written answer

Substitutes "give" with "submit", implying a more formal submission process.

supply a written answer

Similar to "provide", but slightly less formal; "supply" suggests making something available.

respond in writing

Emphasizes the method of response rather than the act of giving an answer.

furnish a written reply

Uses "furnish" instead of "give" and "reply" instead of "answer", resulting in a more formal and somewhat archaic tone.

deliver a written response

Uses "deliver" instead of "give", suggesting a formal presentation of the answer.

offer a written explanation

Replaces "answer" with "explanation", focusing on providing a detailed reason in writing.

present a written solution

Replaces "answer" with "solution", implying the response solves a specific problem.

draft a written answer

Focuses on the process of creating the written answer, emphasizing the drafting stage.

pen a written answer

Replaces "give" with "pen", a more figurative and literary way of saying "write".

FAQs

How can I request a response in writing instead of verbally?

Instead of asking for a verbal response, you can ask someone to "give a written answer". Other alternatives include "provide a written response" or "submit a written reply".

What's a more formal way to ask for a written answer?

For a more formal tone, you might use phrases like "furnish a written reply" or "supply a written answer" instead of "give a written answer".

In what situations should I request a written response?

Requesting a "give a written answer" is useful when you need a record of the response, require detailed explanations, or want to ensure clarity and avoid misinterpretations. This is particularly important in formal or official contexts.

Is it redundant to say "written answer" since answers are usually written?

While many answers are indeed written, specifying "give a written answer" emphasizes the desired format, especially when a verbal response might also be possible. This clarification prevents ambiguity and ensures you receive the response in the format you need.