lack of reply

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lack of reply" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a situation where someone has not responded to a message or inquiry. Example: "Due to the lack of reply from the client, we have decided to move forward with the project without their input."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Who cares?" Based on the lack of reply, "Who cares?" carried the day.

The New Yorker

A new version appears on "War & Leisure," featuring a guest verse by the pensive rapper J. Cole, who apologizes for not calling a woman back: "In case my lack of reply had you catchin' them feelins / Know that you been on my mind like Kaepernick kneelin' / Or police killins / Or Trump sayin' slick shit, manipulatin' poor white folks because they ignant".

The New Yorker

For the sender, you don't know whether the lack of reply is really a 'no', a never got read, or a just wait some more time for an answer.

TechCrunch

After Irene ignores Clare's letter, her former "friend" visits in person, concerned at the lack of reply.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

This option is for when the mute button and your suspicious lack of replies somehow does not send a clear signal.

Vice

Lack of referral reply, delay in receiving the consultant's reply letter, and insufficient detail in reply letters are common concerns expressed by surgeons elsewhere [ 51].

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

A large percentage of toll takers on the turnpike must be incapable of speaking, for how else can one explain the complete lack of any reply to the motorist who dares to say "Good morning," "Good evening" or even "Thank you" to the person in the tollbooth?

The New York Times

Nicholas convinced Jefferson that Kentucky should adopt a second set of resolutions affirming the first, lest the lack of a reply be seen acquiescence.

Wikipedia

Indeed, some studies have correlated a lack of a reply to such a question with a low economic status [ 37, 38].

BMC Public Health

Zinke, rebuking Barragán for her lack of "courtesy," replied by waving a copy of a reply that he said had been addressed to the top Democrat on the committee.

The Washington Post

Their community seems welcoming to people of all skill levels (I was really blown away at the lack of troll replies to threads that were obviously started by someone that had no experience in marketing whatsoever) and seems to have no problem answering the same questions over and over again.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lack of reply", ensure the context clearly indicates what the reply was expected for. For example, "The project stalled due to the lack of reply from the stakeholders regarding the proposed changes."

Common error

Avoid assuming the reason for a "lack of reply" without further investigation. There could be various reasons, such as the message not being received, the recipient being busy, or a deliberate decision not to respond. Don't jump to conclusions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lack of reply" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the absence of a response, as shown in the Ludwig examples where a "lack of reply" caused concern or indicated a negative outcome. The Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lack of reply" is a grammatically sound and generally accepted way to describe the absence of a response. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in written English. While relatively rare, the phrase appears across various contexts, including news, wiki articles, and scientific publications. When employing "lack of reply", ensure clarity about the expected response and avoid assumptions about the reasons for the silence. Consider alternatives such as "absence of response" or "failure to respond" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absence of a response

Replaces "lack" with "absence" and "reply" with "response", maintaining the core meaning.

no answer received

Indicates that no answer was obtained, focusing on the result of not receiving a response.

failure to respond

Highlights the failure to provide a response, emphasizing the action that was not taken.

non-responsiveness

Uses a single word to describe the state of not being responsive.

silence in response

Emphasizes the silence as the form of non-communication.

no acknowledgment

Focuses on the absence of acknowledgment of a message or request.

unanswered communication

Highlights that the communication was not answered.

deafening silence

Uses figurative language to describe the absence of a response as loud and noticeable.

without a retort

Focuses on the absence of a sharp or witty reply.

no feedback provided

Specific to situations where feedback was expected but not given.

FAQs

How can I use "lack of reply" in a sentence?

You can use "lack of reply" to indicate that someone did not respond. For example, "The deal fell through due to the "lack of reply" from the investor".

What are some alternatives to saying "lack of reply"?

Alternatives to "lack of reply" include "absence of a response", "no answer received", or "failure to respond", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "lack of response" or "lack of reply"?

"Lack of response" and ""lack of reply"" are often interchangeable, but "response" might be more general, while "reply" suggests a direct answer to a specific question or message.

What does it imply when there is a "lack of reply"?

A "lack of reply" can imply various things, such as disinterest, disagreement, oversight, or the message not being received. Context is essential to interpret the "lack of reply" accurately.