reply expected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reply expected" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in contexts where you are indicating that a response is anticipated, such as in emails or formal communications. Example: "Please find the attached document; a reply expected by Friday." Alternative expressions include "response required," "reply needed," and "feedback anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

To which you can only reply: expected bullshit in the management area.

The Guardian - Opinion

The court ordered Microsoft to file its first written brief by Nov. 27, with the government's reply expected Jan . 12

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Yes," Iniesta replied, expecting the next line to be the usual request for an autograph or a photo.

The Guardian - Sport

Boris Johnson's written reply is expected by early next week.

The Guardian

Microsoft filed its brief to the Washington appeal court on November 27th, and the Justice Department's reply is expected on January 12th.

The Economist

We aim to conclude the optimization to establish final designs in a few years, to finish detector TDR and proposal in reply to expected "green sign" of the ILC project.

Nuclear and Particle Physics Proceedings

It is possible to conclude from the several peaks in time to test curve that the process 0 very frequently takes longer to reply than expected.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

If a reply is expected, send it in a timely manner.

Huffington Post

Phips' council of war was extremely vexed by the reply, having expected to fall upon a defenseless and panicked city.

Wikipedia

After hearing a translation of the letter, Mr. Hanieh says, Mr. Clinton replied, "I expected this answer".

The New York Times

Some of the replies they expected, but many that perhaps they did not.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using this phrase in a list or a table, ensure consistency by pairing it with other status-based phrases like "completed" or "pending review".

Common error

Avoid using "reply expected" when you are the one performing the action of expecting. In active sentences, use "I expect a reply" or "we are expecting a reply". Reserve "reply expected" for describing the state of an inquiry or document.

Linguistic Context

In the examples provided by Ludwig, "reply expected" functions as a noun phrase often acting as a post-modifier or a compressed passive clause. It frequently follows a noun it describes, such as a date or a specific document, indicating its current state or an upcoming deadline.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Social Media

1%

Academic

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

Linguistic data from Ludwig indicates that "reply expected" is a highly efficient and correct English phrase used to denote the status of a pending communication. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical validity across various high-authority sources, particularly in journalism and legal contexts. It is most frequently used to mark deadlines or the anticipation of official statements (e.g., "the government's reply expected Jan. 12"). While interchangeable with "response required", the phrase "reply expected" specifically focuses on the timeline and the fact that an answer is forthcoming. Writers should use it to provide clarity in summaries and reports, ensuring it describes the status of the reply rather than the person waiting for it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A reply is expected

Provides the full grammatical clause version of the phrase

Response required

Emphasizes the necessity of the answer rather than just the anticipation

Expected reply

Inverts the structure to a standard adjective-noun pair

Reply needed

More direct and slightly less formal, often used in task management

Awaiting feedback

Shifts the focus to the act of waiting rather than the status of the item

Feedback anticipated

Uses more formal vocabulary suitable for business or academic reviews

Pending response

Clinical and administrative in tone, common in legal or tracking systems

Prompt answer requested

Adds a layer of politeness and urgency to the expectation

Answer awaited

Slightly more journalistic or literary in style

Reaction anticipated

Broadens the scope from a specific 'reply' to any form of feedback

FAQs

How do I use "reply expected" in a sentence?

The phrase is often used as a status indicator or within a passive structure, for example: "The document was sent on Monday, with a "reply expected" by Friday."

What is the difference between "reply expected" and "expected reply"?

While similar, "expected reply" often refers to the content of the answer (e.g., "he gave the expected reply"), whereas "reply expected" usually refers to the status of a pending response.

Can I say "response required" instead?

Yes, "response required" is a very close alternative that emphasizes the necessity of the feedback rather than just the timeline.

Is "reply expected" formal enough for business emails?

It is neutral and professional. However, in the body of an email, you might prefer a more polite phrasing like "awaiting your reply" to sound less demanding.