in the absence of a reply

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in the absence of a reply" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a situation where no response has been received from someone after a request or inquiry. Example: "In the absence of a reply, I will assume that you agree with the proposed changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

He complained (in print and at length) about the absence of a right of reply for the subjects of such memoirs).

The Guardian - Opinion

The replies come quickly but read awkwardly: condolences are inappropriate in the absence of a corpse, and there aren't any So Sorry Your Offspring Has Turned Out Autistic e-cards.

The Guardian

Especially in the absence of a growing crime rate.

Vice

The inconsistent replies regarding the prevalence of global health courses might also be a result of the absence of a definition of 'education' in our questionnaire when asking students about 'education in global health' at their medical school.

BMC Medical Education

Occasionally in such cases I have written explaining the absence of a published correction to any readers who complained; and occasionally a reply has come back along these lines: "Of course, I do understand.

The Guardian - Opinion

Asked if he felt Warner had "a short fuse", Bailey - who is skippering the side in the absence of the injured Michael Clarke - replied "not at all".

BBC

I asked whether the library will have to upgrade fire suppression in the stacks even if they're empty of books, and Marx replied that, in the absence of combustible material, the current sprinkler system is thought to be adequate.

The New Yorker

Responding to the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, who asked "What's the endgame?", Clinton replied: "The endgame in the absence of us acting together as the international community, I fear, is civil war".

The Guardian

Responding to the Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, who asked, "What's the endgame?" Mrs. Clinton replied: "The endgame in the absence of us acting together as the international community, I fear, is civil war".

The New York Times

(When asked to confirm the speculation, a Twitter spokesperson replied with an emoji of a monkey with its hand over its mouth. In the absence of any actual words, we're guessing that means yes).

Independent

In the absence of other N.Y.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in the absence of a reply", ensure the context clearly establishes what the expected or requested reply pertains to. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid constructing overly complex sentences around "in the absence of a reply". Simpler alternatives like "without a response" often improve readability and maintain the same meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the absence of a reply" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or clause, indicating a condition or circumstance. According to Ludwig AI, it indicates a condition where a response is missing.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in the absence of a reply" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate that a response was expected but not received, setting a condition for an alternative action or outcome. While grammatically correct, Ludwig AI highlights that examples of its use are limited, although "in the absence of a reply" appears more frequently in News & Media and Scientific contexts. Alternatives like "without a response" may offer greater conciseness, yet the original phrase remains useful for formal or emphatic articulations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without a response

Replaces the full phrase with a simpler and more direct alternative.

if no response is received

Expresses the condition of not receiving a response.

should there be no reply

A more formal and conditional way of saying the same thing.

lacking a response

Focuses on the state of not having a response.

in default of a reply

A formal alternative, using 'default' to indicate the lack of response.

if there's no answer

More informal; suitable for casual contexts.

no feedback having been provided

A passive construction emphasizing the lack of feedback.

without any feedback

A very direct and simple way of stating the lack of response.

if communication isn't forthcoming

Implies the expectation of communication which has not happened.

failing a response

Similar to "in default of", but slightly less formal.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "in the absence of a reply"?

You can use alternatives such as "without a response", "if no response is received", or "lacking a response" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "in the absence of a reply" or "without a reply"?

"Without a reply" is generally more concise and suitable for most situations. "In the absence of a reply" is more formal and can be used when a more emphatic or official tone is desired.

How do I use "in the absence of a reply" in a formal context?

In a formal context, use "in the absence of a reply" when you want to clearly state the condition of not receiving a response and the implications of that lack of response. For instance: "In the absence of a reply by the deadline, we will proceed with the proposed changes".

What does "in the absence of a reply" imply?

The phrase "in the absence of a reply" implies that a response was expected or requested, and the lack of that response has consequences or necessitates a different course of action.