has not heard back

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has not heard back" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a situation where someone is waiting for a response or reply from another person or entity. Example: "I sent an email last week regarding the job application, but I have not heard back yet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

He says he has not heard back.

The New York Times

Robbins said he has not heard back.

The Washington Post

Ms. Lonegan said she has not heard back.

The New York Times

But the company has not heard back from the city.

The New York Times

He has not heard back from the N.C.A.A.

The New York Times - Sports

Ms. Nance says she filed an online complaint but has not heard back from the agency.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

He hasn't heard back.

The New York Times

Berchem contacted the FBI but hasn't heard back.

The Washington Post

Mr. Ashraf hasn't heard back from the Iranian rights campaigner who disappeared from his screen.

The New York Times

She even offered him a painting of himself, but she hasn't heard back yet.

Forbes

Kritzman hasn't heard back from us.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has not heard back" when you want to indicate that someone is still waiting for a response to a query, application, or message. It implies a lack of communication from the other party.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses with "has not heard back". For instance, using "had not heard back" might imply the waiting period is over, while "will not hear back" suggests a future expectation of no response.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has not heard back" functions as a stative verb phrase indicating a lack of response to a communication. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's a correct and usable phrase. Examples show its use in various contexts, reflecting its versatility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Formal & Business

7%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has not heard back" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that someone is awaiting a response. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for use in written English across a spectrum of contexts. As seen in the Ludwig examples, its usage is particularly frequent in News & Media. For more formal or nuanced communication, alternatives like "has not received a reply" or "is still awaiting a response" can be considered. When using the phrase, it's important to pay attention to tense consistency to accurately reflect the timeline of the expected communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has not received a reply

Replaces 'heard back' with a more formal 'received a reply'.

has not gotten a response

Substitutes 'heard back' with 'gotten a response', offering a slightly more informal tone.

is still awaiting a response

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of waiting with 'is still awaiting'.

is waiting for a reply

Uses a simpler structure, focusing on the action of waiting.

has not been contacted

Indicates a lack of communication initiation.

remains unanswered

Shifts the focus to the lack of an answer, rather than the act of hearing back.

no response has been received

A more passive and formal way of expressing the lack of a reply.

a response is pending

Indicates that a response is expected but not yet received.

has yet to receive confirmation

Specifies that the expected communication is a confirmation.

the matter is still pending

Focuses on the unresolved status of an issue requiring feedback.

FAQs

What does "has not heard back" mean?

The phrase "has not heard back" means that someone is waiting for a response or reply from another person or entity but has not yet received one. It indicates a lack of communication in response to an inquiry or request.

What can I say instead of "has not heard back"?

You can use alternatives like "has not received a reply", "has not gotten a response", or "is still awaiting a response" depending on the context.

How to use "has not heard back" in a sentence?

You can use "has not heard back" in a sentence like: "I sent the application last week, but I "have not heard back" yet." This indicates that you are still waiting for a response regarding your application.

Which is correct, "has not heard back" or "didn't hear back"?

"Has not heard back" implies a continuing state of waiting, while "didn't hear back" suggests a specific instance where a response was expected but not received. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the ongoing wait or a past event.