neglected to respond

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "neglected to respond" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone failed to reply or answer a communication, often implying a lack of attention or care. Example: "I reached out to the client last week, but they neglected to respond to my email."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But on Sept. 10, Joe neglected to respond with an "I love you, too," he said.

The New York Times

The commission also found that at least one of three laboratory tests was given to BP, the operator of the drilling site, but it neglected to respond.

The New York Times

Benito Juarez borough chief Jorge Romero neglected to respond to their requests, and now residents are taking the issue to court.

Vice

I tried to get a sense of the reason for the cultural gap, but the only three Icelandic culture academicians that don't focus on medieval Nordic civilization neglected to respond to my emails.  .

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Should the pilot neglect to respond, the air force pilot is then supposed to fire warning shots.

The New York Times

People may have simply neglected to attend and respond to the detection task on some occasions (a form of "goal neglect"; see, e.g., Duncan, Emslie, Williams, Johnson, & Freer, 1996), and this would be more likely to occur when the search task was more demanding, as in the conditions of high perceptual load.

Attention, Perception & Psychophysics

When confronted with conflicting facts, he responded that he had neglected to mention that he also used "...the advice of another 'stock picker' you may know to help keep my fundamentals sound; his name is Warren Buffett and he seems to do ok".

Huffington Post

I've contacted AT&T to learn more about why it neglected to mention the $199.99 16G Galaxy S4 option in its original post, and will update if they respond.

TechCrunch

But she neglected to take careful measurements.

The New York Times

She neglected to cool the mark out.

The New Yorker

He neglected to mention Dryden.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "neglected to respond", consider the implication that there was an expectation or duty to respond. If no such expectation existed, "did not respond" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "neglected to respond" when it's unclear whether the lack of response was intentional or due to an oversight. "Did not respond" is a more neutral alternative that avoids implying blame or carelessness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "neglected to respond" functions as a verb phrase indicating a failure or omission in providing a reply or reaction. According to Ludwig, this phrase is considered correct and usable in written English. The examples show its use in describing a failure to answer or react to something expected.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "neglected to respond" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a failure to provide a response, often implying a missed expectation or duty. According to Ludwig, the phrase is usable in written English. While considered appropriate for formal writing, it's crucial to ensure the implication of neglect is accurate; otherwise, a more neutral alternative like "did not respond" may be better suited. The phrase is found most commonly in news media, science, and formal business contexts. When using the phrase, consider the intent and avoid implying carelessness when it's unclear if the lack of response was an oversight.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed to respond

Uses 'failed' instead of 'neglected', indicating a lack of response.

did not respond

A simpler, more direct way of saying someone didn't reply.

omitted to respond

Replaces 'neglected' with 'omitted', suggesting an oversight.

ignored the response

Focuses on the act of ignoring, rather than simply not responding.

overlooked the response

Suggests the response was missed unintentionally.

declined to respond

Indicates a deliberate refusal to answer.

refused to respond

Emphasizes a stronger unwillingness to reply.

bypassed responding

Implies actively avoiding the need to answer.

disregarded the response

Suggests a lack of importance given to the need to respond.

passed up responding

Indicates an opportunity to respond was missed.

FAQs

What does "neglected to respond" mean?

The phrase "neglected to respond" means that someone failed to answer or react to something, often implying a lack of attention or care. It suggests there was an expectation or need for a response that was not met.

What can I say instead of "neglected to respond"?

You can use alternatives like "failed to respond", "did not respond", or "declined to respond" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "neglected to respond" in formal writing?

Yes, "neglected to respond" is appropriate for formal writing, but ensure the implication of a missed expectation or duty is accurate. If a more neutral tone is needed, "did not respond" may be preferred.

How to use "neglected to respond" in a sentence?

You can use "neglected to respond" in a sentence like this: "The company "neglected to respond" to repeated requests for comment." or "The student "neglected to respond" to the professor's email about the assignment."