respond shortly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "respond shortly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when requesting a quick reply or response from someone. Example: "Please respond shortly so we can proceed with the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

On Monday, Venezuela said it would respond shortly to the US move, according to Reuters.

Independent

"He will urgently consider the select committee's recommendation and respond shortly," she said.

The Guardian

11.54am: News Corporation has issued a holding statement: "News Corporation is carefully reviewing the Select Committee's report and will respond shortly.

The Guardian

The voice now gives you the option of sending a canned e-mail message back to the sender (either "I am in transit and will respond shortly" or "Call me if it is important") or recording a 15-second MP3 audio message that gets sent to your correspondent as an e-mail attachment.

The New York Times - Tech

I've contacted Facebook, and have been told they will respond shortly.

TechCrunch

O'Brien told me Engel would respond shortly.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Asked when that would happen, he responded: "Shortly.

The New York Times

It is believed that hundreds of others perished after responding shortly after the first aircraft struck.

The New York Times - Sports

Team GB captain Craig Figes scored the quarter's first, but Montenegro responded shortly after by firing in a penalty.

Independent

Rob Wilson, the minister for civil society, said: "I welcome the report as an important contribution and aim to consider fully before responding shortly".

The Guardian

Officers responded shortly before 1 a.m. to a call about a gunshot victim and found Mr. Grant lying in front of 249 East 115th Street.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "respond shortly" when you want to convey that a reply will be given soon, but not necessarily immediately. It suggests a timeframe of within a few hours or a day, depending on context.

Common error

Avoid using "respond shortly" if you mean to convey an immediate or instantaneous response. In such cases, phrases like "respond immediately" or "respond right away" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "respond shortly" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a promise or expectation of a timely reply. Ludwig examples show it used in contexts ranging from official statements to customer service interactions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

18%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "respond shortly" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate a timely reply or reaction. Ludwig examples and the AI analysis confirm its frequent appearance in news and media, business, and scientific contexts. While generally neutral in tone, it's important to use it when you mean a reply will be given soon, but not necessarily immediately. Related phrases such as "reply soon" and "answer promptly" offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality and emphasis. The analysis indicates that this phrase serves to assure the recipient that their message will be addressed without significant delay.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reply soon

Replaces "respond" with "reply" and "shortly" with "soon", maintaining a similar level of formality and meaning.

answer promptly

Substitutes "respond" with "answer" and "shortly" with "promptly", emphasizing speed in the response.

get back to you quickly

Uses a more conversational tone, replacing "respond" with "get back to you" and "shortly" with "quickly".

will be in touch shortly

Shifts the focus to initiating contact, rather than simply responding, while retaining the immediacy.

a response will follow shortly

Formalizes the statement by using passive voice and a more structured sentence.

react swiftly

Emphasizes a quick reaction or action, rather than a verbal reply.

an immediate reply is expected

Stresses the urgency of the response, making it a demand rather than an offer.

a quick answer will be provided

Similar to "reply soon", but sounds a bit more formal and promises a fast answer.

we'll get back to you right away

Uses a more casual tone, suggesting immediate attention to the query.

expect a response in short order

Emphasizes the speed and efficiency of the reply, using a slightly more archaic phrasing.

FAQs

What does "respond shortly" mean?

The phrase "respond shortly" means to reply or react in a timely manner, suggesting a response will be provided relatively soon, but not instantaneously. It implies a quicker reply than "respond later", for example.

How can I use "respond shortly" in a sentence?

You can use "respond shortly" in a sentence like this: "I've contacted Facebook, and have been told they will respond shortly."

What can I say instead of "respond shortly"?

You can use alternatives like "reply soon", "answer promptly", or "get back to you quickly" depending on the context.

Is "respond shortly" formal or informal?

"Respond shortly" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although alternatives like "reply soon" may sound less formal.