they replied

USAGE SUMMARY

"they replied" is a proper and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is usually used as part of a dialogue or exchange, such as "I asked them what time it was, and they replied, 'It's two o'clock.'".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Turkish," they replied.

Princeton University

Sure, they replied.

The New York Times - Sports

"No, Jewish," they replied.

The New York Times - Books

"Send it," they replied.

The New Yorker

Maybe never, they replied.

The New Yorker

"Forever," they replied.

The New York Times - Sports

Too awkward, they replied.

The New York Times - Style

"We know," they replied.

The New Yorker

Aisle 5," they replied.

The New York Times

"No," they replied.

The Washington Post

"No one," they replied.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they replied", ensure that the pronoun 'they' clearly refers to a specific group or individuals mentioned previously in the text to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "they replied" when it's unclear who 'they' refers to. Always ensure the antecedent of 'they' is explicitly stated or easily inferred from the context. If the reference is ambiguous, specify the group or individuals by name or description instead of using 'they'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they replied" functions as a reporting clause or dialogue tag. It introduces the response or answer given by a group of individuals to a question, statement, or situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s a standard and acceptable construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

18%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they replied" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to indicate a response from a group of people. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in English writing. It appears frequently across various sources, including news, academic texts, and more informal content. When using this phrase, ensure the pronoun 'they' has a clear antecedent to avoid ambiguity. While alternatives exist, such as "they answered" or "their response was", the specific choice depends on the context and desired formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they answered

Uses a different verb to indicate the response, maintaining a high degree of semantic similarity.

the group responded

Rephrases to specify "group" instead of pronoun "they".

the team replied

Rephrases to specify "team" instead of pronoun "they".

the committee answered

Rephrases to specify "committee" instead of pronoun "they".

their response was

Changes the structure to a noun phrase indicating the response, slightly more formal.

they stated

Substitutes 'replied' with 'stated', implying a more formal or official response.

the members stated

Rephrases to specify "members" instead of pronoun "they".

they indicated

Suggests a more indirect or subtle form of response, possibly non-verbal.

they confirmed

Implies that the response affirmed or verified something.

they noted

Suggests a brief or concise response, simply acknowledging something.

FAQs

How can I use "they replied" in a sentence?

You can use "they replied" to indicate the response of a group of people to a question or statement. For example: "I asked them about their plans, and they replied, "We're going to the beach."

What are some alternatives to using "they replied"?

Alternatives include "they answered", "their response was", or "they stated", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it grammatically correct to use "they replied"?

Yes, "they replied" is grammatically correct when 'they' refers to a plural subject or a singular subject that uses 'they' as its pronoun.

What's the difference between "they replied" and "he replied"?

"They replied" indicates that a group of people responded, while "he replied" indicates that a single male person responded. The choice depends on who is giving the response.