promptly return

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "promptly return" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when requesting someone to return something quickly or without delay. Example: "Please promptly return the signed documents to ensure we meet the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Harry pretends to bump into Sandy in a cafe, and their old school days promptly return.

The New York Times - Books

And of course, as soon as the economy expands sufficiently, we will promptly return to price stability.

The New York Times

The officer executing the warrant must promptly return it together with a copy of the inventory to the magistrate judge designated on the warrant.

Cornell University

If it failed to initiate a forfeiture case within that window, it would be required to promptly return the money to the claimants.

The Washington Post

"Our primary interest was to promptly return to these towns and cities the investment monies they placed with UBS," Ms. Coakley said in the statement.

The New York Times

You respect the laws of the sea, and understand that your top priority is to promptly return to your kingdom and rule with a gentle but decisive hand.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

It was promptly returned.

The New Yorker

President Hamid Karzai promptly returned home from the UN General Assembly meeting in New York.

The Economist

"Yes, my lady," he said and promptly returned with a jelly doughnut.

The New York Times

All this was an exquisite example of art imitating life, and life promptly returning the compliment.

Independent

Unused funds, and funds that are no longer needed, must be promptly returned to the University.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "promptly return" when you need to emphasize the importance of a quick turnaround. Consider alternatives like "quickly return" for less formal situations.

Common error

While "promptly return" is correct, it can sound overly formal in casual settings. Opt for more relaxed alternatives like "give it back soon" or "return it quickly" when communicating with friends or family.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "promptly return" functions as an imperative, typically used to issue a direct command or request. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely recognized.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "promptly return" is a grammatically correct and common phrase used to strongly request the quick return of something. Ludwig AI validates its correctness. It finds its place in formal contexts like news, academia, and business communications, where conveying urgency is key. While versatile, it can sound too formal in casual conversations. Therefore, remember to choose alternative phrases like "quickly return" or "return soon" for less formal situations. The phrase conveys urgency across authoritative sources like The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immediately return

Highlights the lack of delay in returning.

instantly return

Stresses the return happening without any delay.

rapidly return

Focuses on the quickness of the action.

speedily return

Highlights the promptness and efficiency of the return.

swiftly return

Indicates the return is done quickly and smoothly.

return without delay

Explicitly states the absence of any delay in the action of returning.

readily return

Emphasizes willingness and ease in the act of returning.

expeditiously return

Emphasizes the efficiency and speed of the action.

forthwith return

A more formal way of saying immediately return.

soon return

Indicates that the return will happen in the near future.

FAQs

How can I use "promptly return" in a sentence?

You can use "promptly return" to emphasize the urgency of returning something. For example, "Please promptly return the signed documents to ensure we meet the deadline."

What can I say instead of "promptly return"?

You can use alternatives like "immediately return", "quickly return", or "swiftly return" depending on the context.

Is "promptly return" suitable for all types of writing?

While grammatically correct, "promptly return" is more appropriate for formal or professional contexts. In casual settings, consider using simpler alternatives.

What's the difference between "promptly return" and "return soon"?

"Promptly return" emphasizes the urgency and speed of the return, while "return soon" simply indicates that the return will happen in the near future without stressing immediacy.