late reply

USAGE SUMMARY

"late reply" is correct and commonly used in written English.
You can use this phrase when you are responding to someone after a long period of time has passed and you want to acknowledge that your response is not prompt. For example: "I apologize for the late reply, I was away on vacation and had limited access to my emails."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

A double from Isco secured victory for the 19-times Copa del Rey winners, with Kike Márquez scoring a late reply for the hosts.

The Guardian - Sport

Toni Kroos, Mario Götze, Hector and Mesut Özil scored the goals in Germany's 4-1 win before a late reply by Stephan El Shaarawy.

The Guardian - Sport

The Tottenham midfielder quickly struck again from close range when he latched on to a cross from the right by Luka Modric, which proved enough for Croatia despite Shechter's late reply.

The Guardian - Sport

Jack Payne's angled drive made it three after fine work by Washington, but, while irritated that Jordan Slew's late reply took something of the shine off the result, Ferguson was happy enough.

The Guardian - Sport

Alexander Hleb, Nikola Zigic and Craig Gardner all scored in rapid succession, although the Dons, lying fourth in League One and making their first visit to a Premier League ground, were a credit to the English game's youngest manager, 30-year-old Karl Robinson, and deserved their late reply by Aaron Wilbraham.

Independent

He got back to me the next day saying sorry for his late reply and to let me know that after our last date, he started to talk to his ex and they were going to try and work things out.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Asked to comment on the Miliband energy-price freeze by Sarah Montague on Radio 4's Today, one minister who has  not visited an Austrian fat farm of late replied: "I came on to talk about parking".

Independent

But by classifying and dividing our peers into good and bad, even if we place ourselves in the failing camp, with its stained jumpers and late replies, we're doing ourselves a disservice.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Over 20 years as a journalist I've witnessed taxes "buried" in complicated budgets; incomplete or late replies to basic questions; elementary information apparently not being gathered; data series changed or terminated, often at convenient points; baselines, assumptions and inputs altered with no obvious signposts.

The Guardian - Opinion

Tomas Leonardi and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe managed late replies.

BBC

England number eight Ben Morgan secured the five-point win before two late replies for the Italians.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "late reply", acknowledge the delay and briefly explain the reason if appropriate. This shows respect for the recipient's time and helps maintain a positive relationship.

Common error

Don't assume the recipient knows why your reply is late. A brief explanation, even if it's just 'I was swamped with other tasks', can prevent misunderstandings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "late reply" functions as an adjectival modifier describing the noun "reply". It specifies the temporal aspect of the reply, indicating that it was given after a considerable delay. Ludwig provides several examples of its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Lifestyle

19%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "late reply" is a common and grammatically sound way to acknowledge a delayed response, as affirmed by Ludwig. It functions as an adjectival modifier and is typically used to express regret or offer an explanation for the tardiness. While suitable for a variety of contexts, it's important to consider the level of formality and choose more appropriate alternatives when needed. As Ludwig illustrates, the phrase appears frequently in News & Media and Lifestyle content, suggesting its widespread acceptance and utility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

delayed response

Focuses on the delay itself, rather than the act of replying.

tardy response

Emphasizes the slowness and lateness of the response.

belated answer

Highlights that the answer is late.

response after a delay

More descriptive, specifying the delay.

apologies for the delay in responding

A more formal expression with an apology included.

sorry for the delayed response

Similar to the previous one, this includes the apology.

response was delayed

Passive form, emphasizing the state of being delayed.

I should have responded sooner

Focuses on the speaker's regret about the delay.

excuse the delayed response

A polite way to address the lateness of the reply.

response is overdue

Highlights that the response was expected earlier.

FAQs

How can I apologize for a "late reply"?

You can use phrases like "I apologize for the "late reply"", "Sorry for the delay in responding", or "Please excuse the "delayed response"".

What's a more formal way to say "late reply"?

In a formal context, you might say "apologies for the "delay in responding"" or "please accept my apologies for the delayed response".

Is it always necessary to apologize for a "late reply"?

While not always necessary, it's generally good practice to acknowledge a significant delay, especially in professional settings. A simple "Sorry for the "late reply"" is often sufficient.

What are some alternatives to "late reply" that emphasize the reason for the delay?

You could say "I was unable to respond sooner due to...", or "I apologize for the "delay in responding"; I was out of office".