made no response

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made no response" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when describing something that someone said or did not say in response to something else. For example: "The teacher asked the student if he had done his homework, but the student made no response."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

She made no response.

The New York Times

Mr. McNally made no response.

The New York Times - Style

He made no response to this.

The New Yorker

She made no response to this idea.

The New Yorker

"You kind of have to, don't you, eventually?" Graham made no response to this.

The New Yorker

The company made no response when emailed the question again on Wednesday.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

In contrast, fifth-grade children showed no difference when making "no" responses to these 2 types of stimuli.

Cerebral Cortex

These target-related regressors were contrasted with regressors representing the periods during which subjects made no responses.

Plosone

In addition, 17% of our survey respondents reported making no response even if they did notice.

Harvard Business Review

Pockmarked & pustular with haki-haki, these wretches watched the punishment, making no response but that bizarre, bee-like 'hum'hum

The Guardian - Books

What's going on here?" The young man raises his eyebrows but makes no response, waiting for some clue as to how he can assist them.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "made no response" when you want to emphasize the complete absence of any reaction, whether verbal or non-verbal, to a specific stimulus like a question, request, or statement.

Common error

Avoid constructing overly passive sentences with "made no response". Instead of "No response was made by him", opt for the active voice: "He "made no response"", which is clearer and more direct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made no response" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a lack of reaction or answer to a stimulus, question, or situation. Ludwig confirms it's grammatically correct. Examples show it describing a conscious decision not to react.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

38%

Academia

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "made no response" is a grammatically correct and commonly used way to describe the absence of a reaction, whether verbal or otherwise. According to Ludwig, its usage spans various contexts, most notably News & Media and Science, suggesting a neutral register appropriate for objective reporting. While alternatives like "remained silent" or "offered no reply" exist, "made no response" directly conveys the lack of any answer or acknowledgement. When using this phrase, consider the potential implications of silence and whether a more direct or nuanced expression would be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remained silent

Focuses on the silence aspect of not responding, omitting the action of making a response.

offered no reply

Replaces "response" with "reply", and "made" with "offered", slightly more formal.

did not answer

A more direct and simpler way of saying that someone didn't provide an answer.

gave no indication

Shifts the focus from a direct answer to any kind of indication or acknowledgement.

stayed mute

Emphasizes the inability or unwillingness to speak, focusing on the condition of being silent.

was unresponsive

Highlights the lack of any reaction, not necessarily just verbal.

failed to acknowledge

Focuses on the lack of acknowledgement, which could be verbal or non-verbal.

ignored the question

Indicates a deliberate choice to not respond.

passed over in silence

Focuses on something not being discussed or acknowledged, often deliberately.

evaded the question

Implies an attempt to avoid answering directly, perhaps by changing the subject.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "made no response" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "offered no reply" or "remained silent". These options often fit better in professional or academic writing.

Is it always appropriate to use "made no response" in writing?

While grammatically correct, "made no response" can sometimes sound slightly stilted. Consider the context and whether a more direct phrase like "did not answer" would be more effective.

What's the difference between "made no response" and "did not react"?

"Made no response" typically refers to a lack of verbal or written answer, while "did not react" is broader and can encompass any kind of response, including emotional or physical. For example, someone might "make no response" to a question but still show surprise, meaning they reacted but "made no response".

Can "made no response" imply something about the person's attitude?

Yes, depending on the context, "made no response" can suggest indifference, disagreement, or a deliberate choice to avoid engagement. The surrounding information will usually provide clues to their intent.