reply as follows

USAGE SUMMARY

"reply as follows" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in instructions to indicate that someone should give a particular response. For example, "If you are asked for your name, reply as follows: 'My name is John Smith.'".

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The great reformer Susan B. Anthony saw fit to reply as follows: If you will not give the whole loaf of suffrage to the entire people, give it to the most intelligent first.

The New Yorker

A contractualist can reply as follows.

SEP

But since, as they say, one person's modus ponens is another's modus tollens,[9] a critic of Edwards will simply reply as follows: No fair-minded person would find satisfaction in someone's experiencing eternal torment as punishment for even the worst of sins; therefore, such torment is not what justice requires.

SEP

Thus, the paradox from incompleteness does not arise in MOTne.[27] To Russell's objection that the existent golden mountain infringes the law of contradiction (since it is both existent and nonexistent), advocates of MOTne may reply as follows: Existence is an extranuclear property, but only nuclear properties can be constitutive properties of an object.

SEP

Professors Hardell and Mild ask about several design features of the study, to which we reply as follows.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

To this clear challenge some leading rationalists have replied as follows: (1) positivists have confused real with verbal definition.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He replied as follows: "These Democrats who are telling Gore to be the martyr -- that's their own craziness.

The New York Times

When asked, in 1988, by John Mortimer how her idea of God could justify the Holocaust, Muriel Spark replied as follows: "It means God is a) good, or b) evil, or c) indifferent...".

The Guardian

For if thou hast gone astray, thou hast done no more than many a woman; and the Spartans remark it as strange, if I am Ariston's son, that he had no children by his other wives". Thus spake Demaratus; and his mother replied as follows: "Dear son, since thou entreatest so earnestly for the truth, it shall indeed be fully told to thee.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

It replied as follows:"The OECD publishes broadband prices in both USD and PPP terms but uses the PPP data for graphs because they give a better view of the actual prices faced by households relative to local prices for goods and services.

The Economist

Mr Cummings replied as follows: "the social media ninjas are based in canada – they are extremely good.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "reply as follows", ensure the subsequent response is clearly formatted and easily distinguishable from the surrounding text, such as using quotation marks or bullet points.

Common error

Avoid using "replied as follows" when giving instructions for a future action; "reply as follows" is more appropriate in such cases. For example, say "If asked, reply as follows: 'Yes, I agree'" instead of "replied".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reply as follows" functions as an instructional expression. It is used to introduce a specific response or answer that should be provided in a particular context. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is a correct and usable phrase, often found in instructions or reported speech.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

17%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reply as follows" serves as an instructional tool, designed to clearly indicate a specific answer or response. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and appropriate for various contexts. While its usage isn't extremely common, it appears most frequently in science, news, and academic sources. When employing this phrase, ensure that the subsequent response is formatted for clarity. Related alternatives include "respond in the following manner" or "answer in this way". Remember to use "reply as follows" for instructions and "replied as follows" when referring to past actions. With this advice, you're well-equipped to use this phrase effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

respond in the following manner

Changes the verb from "reply" to "respond" and rephrases "as follows" to "in the following manner".

answer in this way

Uses simpler vocabulary by substituting "reply" with "answer" and "as follows" with "in this way".

here is the response

Provides a more direct approach by stating "here is the response" instead of a direction.

the answer is as such

Replaces "follows" with "as such", providing a slightly more formal tone.

state the following

Shifts the focus to stating information directly, replacing "reply" with "state".

the appropriate response is

Specifies that the given response is appropriate, adding a level of instruction.

provide the subsequent answer

Substitutes "reply" with "answer" and "as follows" with "subsequent", changing the phrase structure.

the expected answer is given below

Adds clarity by indicating that the answer is provided below, useful in written instructions.

the answer should be

Offers a directive by telling someone what the answer should be, instead of how to reply.

answer according to these instructions

Provides a detailed instruction for answering, which is broader than a simple reply.

FAQs

How can I use "reply as follows" in a sentence?

Use "reply as follows" to introduce a specific answer or response that should be given in a particular situation. For example, "If they ask about your experience, reply as follows: 'I have over five years of experience in the field'". You can find more examples in the usage examples above.

What's a more formal alternative to "reply as follows"?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "respond in the following manner" or "the appropriate response is". These alternatives maintain a professional tone suitable for formal communication.

Is it correct to say "replied as follows"?

While grammatically sound when describing a past event, "replied as follows" is less common for giving instructions. It's generally better to use "reply as follows" when providing instructions for a future response. For example, "He "responded as follows": 'I am not sure'" (past), versus "If asked, reply as follows: 'I am not sure'" (instruction).

What is the difference between "reply as follows" and "respond as follows"?

The phrases "reply as follows" and "respond as follows" are largely interchangeable. "Respond" may sound slightly more formal or comprehensive than "reply", but both serve to introduce a subsequent answer or reaction.