he replied without delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he replied without delay" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone responded promptly or immediately to a question or request. Example: "When asked about the project status, he replied without delay, providing all the necessary details."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Julius Rudel," he replied, without hesitation.

The New York Times

Yes, he replied without hesitation.

The New York Times - Health

"Yes I do," he replied without blinking.

Independent

"Forty-five minutes' drive," he replied without hesitation.

The Guardian - Travel

"Friendship," he replied without a pause.

The Guardian - Film

"I want to replace a significant portion of the American electrical grid," he replied, without hesitation.

The New Yorker

"I knew that I had a wheelchair, obviously," he replied, without missing a beat.

The New York Times

Yes, he replied, without hesitation.

Los Angeles Times

"No," he replied, without hesitation.

HuffPost

"Because it's 2015," he replied, without hesitation.

Huffington Post

No, he replied, without dismissing the possibility outright.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he replied without delay" to emphasize the speed and certainty of a response, showing the person answered quickly and confidently. It adds a sense of decisiveness.

Common error

Avoid using "he replied without delay" repeatedly in a single text. Vary your language by using alternatives like "he responded immediately" or "he answered promptly" to maintain reader engagement and prevent monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he replied without delay" functions as a narrative device, primarily serving to emphasize the immediacy and decisiveness of a character's response. It indicates a lack of hesitation and swift delivery of information.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

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Wiki

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he replied without delay" is a grammatically correct phrase used to emphasize the promptness and lack of hesitation in someone's response. While the phrase is valid and easily understood, Ludwig AI suggests that its use is limited due to the absence of supporting examples in the search data. Alternative expressions like "he responded immediately" or "he answered promptly" can add variety to writing. Overusing the phrase should be avoided to maintain reader engagement. The phrase is suitable for neutral registers, such as news reports and narrative texts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he responded immediately

Focuses on the immediacy of the response, using "responded" instead of "replied".

he answered promptly

Highlights the quickness of the answer, replacing "replied" with "answered" and "without delay" with "promptly".

he gave an immediate response

Uses a more formal structure, emphasizing the immediacy of the response as a noun phrase.

he was quick to reply

Indicates the speed of the reply, changing the structure to focus on his readiness to respond.

he didn't hesitate to reply

Highlights the lack of hesitation in replying, using a negative construction.

his reply was instantaneous

Emphasizes the very short time frame between the question and the answer.

he offered an immediate answer

Uses "offered" to describe the delivery of the answer, focusing on the act of providing information.

he returned the answer swiftly

Emphasizes the promptness with which the answer was given, using a more descriptive adverb.

his response came right away

Emphasizes the response's quick arrival, using a more casual phrasing.

he answered without a moment's pause

Highlights the absence of any delay before answering, using a longer, more descriptive phrase.

FAQs

What does "he replied without delay" mean?

It means someone answered a question or responded to a request quickly and immediately, without any hesitation or waiting.

What can I say instead of "he replied without delay"?

You can use alternatives like "he responded immediately", "he answered promptly", or "he didn't hesitate to reply".

Is "he replied without delay" formal or informal?

It's generally considered neutral to slightly formal. Depending on the context, consider alternatives for a more casual tone.

How can I use "he replied without delay" in a sentence?

Example: When asked about the project's progress, he replied without delay, providing a detailed update on the current status.