return email

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "return email" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an email that is sent back in response to another email. Example: "Please send me a return email confirming your attendance at the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Many of the Valley's most talented workers will likely not return email or calls from Yahoo.

TechCrunch

Send an email to [email protected] to receive the discount code by return email (or ping me and I'll give it to you).

TechCrunch

Gates also began worrying about losing her full-time job, eventually writing Sandberg to explain that she was responsible for a garage piled high with slipper shoes that she hoped to sell — then fretting about what the return email would say.

TechCrunch

The return email address was "[email protected]".

Huffington Post

Lih noted: Lih wrote that he contacted Schiff for comment about whether she had offered to pay Essjay for his time and quoted her return email.

Wikipedia

Trying repeatedly to call into the office and get confirmation that people were OK, I found a return email in the mid-afternoon was my first contact.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

His attorney did not immediately return emails on Thursday.

The Guardian

A Twitter spokesman did not return emails seeking comment.

The Guardian - Tech

The website, registered in Panama, did not return emailed requests for comment.

The Guardian - Money

Representatives from her record label, Def Jam, and tour promoter, AEG, did not return emails seeking comment.

The Guardian - Music

The Ottawa mayor's office and city council either declined to comment or did not return emails.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "return email" when you specifically want the recipient to send an email back to you. Be clear about what information or action you need in the return email.

Common error

Don't assume the recipient will "return email" instantly. Allow reasonable time for a response, especially if your request requires effort or information gathering on their part.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "return email" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as the object of a verb (e.g., send, receive) or as a modifier to describe the type of email. As stated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "return email" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to refer to an email sent as a response. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific contexts, indicating a neutral register. While alternatives like ""reply email"" and "response email" exist, "return email" remains a clear and widely understood option. When using this phrase, be mindful of allowing reasonable time for a response.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reply email

Replaces "return" with "reply", focusing on the act of responding.

response email

Substitutes "return" with "response", highlighting the email as an answer.

email reply

Inverts the order, emphasizing the type of reply.

email response

Inverts the order and uses "response", emphasizing the type of response.

send a reply email

Adds the action of sending a reply by email.

email back

A shorter, more informal way to say "return email".

get back by email

Focuses on the act of getting back to someone through email.

email in reply

Specifies the medium in which the reply is sent.

respond via email

Highlights the act of responding through email.

send an email response

Specifies the action of sending an email in response.

FAQs

What does "return email" mean?

The phrase "return email" refers to sending an email back in response to a previous email. It is essentially a "reply email".

How can I ask for a "return email" politely?

You can politely request a "return email" by saying something like, "Please send a "reply email" at your earliest convenience" or "Kindly "email back" your confirmation."

Is it better to say "return email" or "reply email"?

Both "return email" and "reply email" are acceptable. "Reply email" might be slightly more common in general usage, but "return email" is also widely understood.

What is another way to say "send a "return email""?

Instead of "send a "return email"", you can say ""email back"", "reply via email", or "send an email response".