had no comment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had no comment" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used when someone chooses not to provide a statement or opinion on a particular issue or question. Example: "When asked about the ongoing investigation, the spokesperson had no comment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Cinemark had no comment.

The New York Times

NYRA had no comment.

The New York Times - Sports

Amazon had no comment.

The New York Times - Tech

Prosecutors had no comment.

The New York Times

Toyota had no comment.

The New York Times

The C.I.A. had no comment.

The New Yorker

Israeli officials had no comment.

The New York Times

Pentagon officials had no comment.

The New York Times

Defense lawyers had no comment.

The New York Times

(The academy had no comment).

The New York Times

American officials had no comment.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had no comment" when you want to indicate a neutral stance or when someone deliberately avoids giving an opinion. It's commonly used in journalistic reporting to show that a party chose not to respond to a query.

Common error

Avoid using "had no comment" in casual conversations. It sounds overly formal or evasive in everyday scenarios. Instead, opt for simpler phrases like "I don't know" or "I'd rather not say."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had no comment" functions as a declarative statement indicating a refusal or choice not to provide an opinion or information. It's a common way to express silence on a matter, as seen in Ludwig's examples across various news and media sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

93%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

2%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had no comment" is a grammatically sound and very common expression used to indicate a refusal to provide a statement or opinion. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves the purpose of maintaining neutrality or controlling information dissemination. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Alternatives such as "declined to comment" offer similar meanings, but "had no comment" remains a direct and frequently employed choice in professional and journalistic communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made no comment

A more direct synonym, simply stating that there was no comment.

declined to comment

Indicates a polite refusal to provide a statement.

offered no statement

Suggests a complete absence of any comment or remark.

gave no response

Indicates the absence of any reaction or answer.

refused to respond

Highlights the act of not answering a question or request.

no comment was available

Focuses on the unavailability of a statement.

remained silent

Emphasizes a complete lack of verbal communication.

chose not to say

Highlights a deliberate decision not to speak.

did not elaborate

Implies a lack of further details or explanation.

would not disclose

Suggests a withholding of information.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone "had no comment"?

It means they chose not to provide a statement or opinion on a particular matter. This can be due to various reasons, such as legal constraints, strategic communication, or simply a desire to remain neutral.

What can I say instead of "had no comment"?

You can use alternatives like "declined to comment", "offered no statement", or "refused to respond" depending on the context.

Is "had no comment" formal or informal?

The phrase "had no comment" is generally considered neutral to formal. It is frequently used in professional and journalistic settings, so it could be misplaced in informal contexts.

How to use "had no comment" in a sentence?

You can use it to report someone's refusal to comment on a topic. For example: "When asked about the allegations, the company spokesperson "had no comment"".