subject to reply

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "subject to reply" is not commonly used in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where a response is anticipated or required, but it is better to clarify the intent. Example: "The proposal is subject to reply from the committee before any decisions are made."

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Of the 27 managers scheduled to be interviewed, 10 were also investigators or coordinators and three possible subjects failed to reply to the request for an interview.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

This may lead to over-diagnosis because subjects tend to reply positively to questions but the characteristic may not be present to the degree necessary to put the diagnosis of a criterion.

BMC Psychiatry

"No sorry -- you cannot bid on the property subject to finance" I replied.

Huffington Post

Overall, 1,200 patients were recruited in the study, subjects were asked to reply to the standard questionnaire, which encompassed the eight factors in the Simple Model of Stomach Age, by telephone or letter.

BMC Clinical Pathology

The subject is asked to reply to each question on the basis of a Likert scale measuring the frequency of the event over time (from 0=never to 6=every day).

British Journal of Cancer

This argument, if the liberal critics are correct, is subject to some fairly powerful replies, among which is that, given the fact that there is widespread pluralism about God and the good among the citizens of liberal democracies, it is impossible for coercive laws that protect basic liberal commitments to be justified to them.

SEP

The older one, who was clearly the wiser, said he had been in the service for more than forty years already, and had joined when it was still the tsar's army, after which he changed the subject to modern times, and in reply to my question about his specialty he replied that he was a chemist.

The Guardian - Books

The garden's reply was subject to censorships.

The New Yorker

IN NATURE of October 11 (p. 585) two letters appear on this subject, in reply to which a few words may perhaps usefully be said.

Nature

"That's so interesting, is there an article I could read on this subject?" in reply to your thread on gendered violence.

Vice

When asked whether men were subject to the same scrutiny, Hunt replied: "Men are treated differently in those circumstances.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "subject to reply", ensure the context clearly indicates what is contingent upon the response. For improved clarity, consider alternatives like "pending a response" or "awaiting a reply".

Common error

Avoid using "subject to reply" if the consequence of not replying is unclear. Instead, specify the action or decision that is dependent on the response. Otherwise the sentence becomes ambiguous.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "subject to reply" functions as a qualifier, indicating that something is conditional or dependent on receiving a response. Ludwig AI indicates that more common and clear alternative should be prefered.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "subject to reply" indicates that something is conditional upon receiving a response. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI suggests that it's not as commonly used or as clear as alternatives like "pending a response" or "awaiting a reply". Its register is neutral to formal, appearing in news, science, and wiki sources. To ensure clarity, specify what is contingent upon the response. For more formal contexts, phrases like "dependent on response" or "contingent on reply" might be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

awaiting response

This alternative focuses on the act of waiting for a response.

pending reply

This phrase emphasizes the state of being undecided until a reply is received.

requires a response

This alternative highlights the necessity of a reply.

response needed

This is a more concise way to express that a reply is required.

reply is expected

This phrase indicates an expectation of a response.

needing a response

This highlights the necessity of a reply.

dependent on a response

This emphasizes that something hinges on the reply.

contingent on reply

This alternative suggests that something is conditional upon receiving a reply.

a reply is necessary

Highlights the importance of a reply.

answer required

Similar to "response needed", but uses "answer" instead of "response".

FAQs

How can I use "subject to reply" in a sentence?

While "subject to reply" isn't commonly used, it suggests something depends on a response. For example, "The proposal is "subject to reply" from the committee before any decisions are made." Consider more common alternatives like "pending a response".

What does "subject to reply" mean?

The phrase indicates that a decision, action, or outcome is contingent upon receiving a response. A clearer way to express this is to say something is "pending a response" or "awaiting a reply".

Which is more appropriate, "subject to reply" or "awaiting a response"?

"Awaiting a response" is generally more common and clearer than ""subject to reply"". "Awaiting a response" directly conveys that you are waiting for someone to reply before proceeding.

Are there formal alternatives to "subject to reply"?

Yes, in formal contexts, consider using phrases such as "dependent on response" or "contingent on reply". These alternatives maintain a professional tone while ensuring clarity.