how they responded

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "how they responded" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the reactions or replies of individuals or groups to a specific situation or question. Example: "The survey aimed to understand how they responded to the new policy changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

How they responded in the playoffs did.

The New York Times - Sports

"I wanted to see how they responded to Ashley".

The New York Times - Tech

I'd ask them what their role was, and how they responded.

The New York Times

How they responded to those circumstances couldn't have been more different.

The New York Times - Arts

"The genes people had clearly affected how they responded to sleep deprivation," Pack said.

The New Yorker

Government officials came under fire, too, for how they responded to the disaster.

The New York Times

The program tracks who has been contacted and how they responded.

The New York Times

Today, here in this valley, what are you fighting for?" Here's how they responded: Their faces became pale.

The New York Times

They also underwent cognitive and physiological tests to measure how they responded to loud noises and other startling stimuli.

Stanford University

The team started by building and inflating 36 individual segments with water, and measuring how they responded.

Harvard University

I started testing different digital assistants, like Siri, to see how they responded to sensitive health questions.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "how they responded", ensure the context clearly identifies who 'they' refers to, to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "how they responded" if the subject (who 'they' are) is not explicitly stated or easily understood from the preceding context. Always ensure clarity to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how they responded" functions as a relative clause, providing information about the manner of response. Ludwig shows examples in news articles, scientific publications, and academic papers.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

25%

Science

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "how they responded" functions as a relative clause to describe reactions or behaviors in a variety of situations. Ludwig's AI analysis confirms it as grammatically correct and frequently used. The phrase is versatile, appearing in neutral contexts such as news, academia, and science, and demonstrates no register constraints. Considering these points allows for correct and effective usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

their response

Focuses on the response as a thing, rather than the manner of responding.

their reaction

Highlights the emotional or immediate response.

the way they reacted

Emphasizes the manner of reaction or behavior.

how they reacted

Synonymous, with a slightly different sentence structure.

their reply

Emphasizes a verbal or written answer.

the manner in which they replied

More formal and elaborate way of describing how they responded.

their course of action

Highlights the specific steps or measures taken in response.

their behavior in response

Focuses on observable actions taken as a reaction.

the measures they took

Concentrates on concrete steps or strategies adopted.

what they did in response

A general way of describing actions taken as a result of something.

FAQs

What are some alternative ways to phrase "how they responded"?

You can use alternatives like "their reaction", "the way they reacted", or "their reply" depending on the specific context.

In what contexts is it most appropriate to use "how they responded"?

The phrase "how they responded" is suitable for various contexts, especially when describing reactions to events, policies, or questions, as seen in news, academic, and scientific sources.

Is "how they responded" formal or informal?

The phrase "how they responded" is considered neutral in formality and can be used in both professional and informal settings.

What is the grammatical function of "how they responded" in a sentence?

Grammatically, "how they responded" often functions as a relative clause, providing additional information about a subject or event.