instead of replying

USAGE SUMMARY

"instead of replying" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used when you want to express that someone has done something other than what was expected of them. For example: "He just shrugged his shoulders instead of replying."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Instead of replying, Kendall opened the refrigerator and stared in.

The New Yorker

Instead of replying, the girl to whom the question is directed bursts into tears.

The Guardian - Books

Instead of replying or supplying any sort of personal information, forward the message to your wireless carrier's number for spam reporting — many carriers use the number 7726.

The New York Times - Tech

Instead of replying, he asked one of his aides for a quotation from Vladimir Jabotinsky, the right-wing, Revisionist leader, and then he read it aloud: We have never seen a settlement as an end in and of itself.

The New Yorker

Instead of replying, she exhaled as if she were getting rid of something, and threw her head back, staring up through the dark at the felt lining of the roof.

The New Yorker

If she had, Dickinson said, she would have bristled, instead of replying, as the interview had it, "I always found the entertainment value came more from the questions than the answers".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

"You invented a time machine to come back and hit Reply instead of Reply All?" January 28 , 2015

The New Yorker

Absentmindedly clicking on "reply to all' instead of "reply to author," is all it takes, he said.

The New York Times

“You invented a time machine to come back and hit Reply instead of Reply All?” December 15 , 2014

The New Yorker

Instead of simply replying to an email and attaching the file, he has to go through a multi-step process that involves opening a picture in another app and sending it from there.

Huffington Post

Instead of immediately replying "I didn't mean to" or using other defensive language, first acknowledge that s/he felt the way s/he says.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a sequence of events, use "instead of replying" to clearly indicate an alternative action taken, adding detail and contrast to your narrative.

Common error

While "instead of replying" is versatile, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. Consider more sophisticated alternatives like "in lieu of a response" or rephrasing the sentence for greater elegance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "instead of replying" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate an alternative action or state. It highlights that a reply was not given, and something else occurred in its place. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

32%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "instead of replying" is a grammatically correct and commonly used prepositional phrase that functions to contrast a missed reply with an alternative action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a standard phrase used across different contexts. Its frequency is common, especially in news, media, and wiki sources. When writing, use this phrase to add clarity and detail by highlighting the alternative action. While versatile, avoid overuse in formal writing where more sophisticated phrasing might be more appropriate. Consider alternatives like "rather than responding" or "in lieu of a response" to vary your language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rather than responding

Emphasizes a preference or choice against providing a response.

instead of answering

Focuses specifically on not providing an answer to a question.

as opposed to replying

Highlights a direct contrast in actions, setting one against the other.

in lieu of a response

Formal expression, indicating that a response is substituted with another action or silence.

without a reply

Focuses on the absence of a reply, putting emphasis on the lack of response.

ignoring the question

Highlights the act of disregarding or overlooking a question or prompt.

choosing not to respond

Emphasizes a deliberate decision to avoid giving a response.

opting for silence

Highlights the choice of remaining silent over providing a reply.

remaining mute

Stresses the complete absence of verbal response or communication.

bypassing a direct answer

Suggests avoiding a direct answer, perhaps providing an indirect response instead.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "instead of replying"?

You can use alternatives like "rather than responding", "instead of answering", or "in lieu of a response" depending on the context.

How to use "instead of replying" in a sentence?

Use "instead of replying" to show that someone did something different than answering. For example, "Instead of replying, she stared out the window".

Is it grammatically correct to say "instead of replying"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Instead of replying" is a prepositional phrase that is commonly used in English.

What's the difference between "instead of replying" and "instead of responding"?

The phrases "instead of replying" and "instead of responding" are very similar. "Replying" typically refers to answering a direct question, while "responding" can refer to a broader range of reactions. In most contexts, they are interchangeable.