they responded by saying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they responded by saying" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that someone said something in response to something else. For example: "I asked them what they thought about the new policy, and they responded by saying that it was too restrictive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Presumably they responded by saying it's too dark for fast bowling.

The Guardian - Sport

"They responded by saying they are 'promoting creative freedom,' that they didn't do anything wrong," Mr. Chang wrote.

The New York Times - Tech

They responded by saying the earmarks in current spending bill were far more transparent — and so less wasteful — than those passed by Republican majorities during Mr. Bush's presidency.

The New York Times

When I asked for reasons as to why and how they concluded I was a refugee they responded by saying that they had collected my personal information from media and PNG had agreed with Australia that I would receive a positive refugee finding.

The Guardian

They responded by saying they knew who I was and knew the kind of stuff and did, which they argued would pass for comedy these days.

Forbes

There were similar criticisms of health boards 18 months ago - they responded by saying they were striving to improve access for the deaf and hard of hearing.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

It saddens me when they respond by saying that they never heard of him.

The New York Times - Style

Instead, they respond by saying: "'Put in a freedom of information request' when it could actually be easily dealt with just answering the question".

The Guardian

And some of the prisoners speak with them about conditions in the prison and the hardship they face, and they respond by saying, "We're prisoners like you, we've lost our minds".

The New York Times

Thus, as you look into various colleges, it makes sense to ask each college, "What percentage of the students graduate in FOUR years?" If they respond by saying they don't know, they do know but they just prefer not to tell you.

Stanford University

It's like when I send a write-in ballot for the Oscars and they respond by saying, "Please stop contacting us" or "For the eighth time, we will not deliver this life-size sculpture of you to Meryl Streep".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they responded by saying" to clearly indicate a verbal response to a question, statement, or situation. It's particularly useful when you want to emphasize the act of responding itself.

Common error

Avoid using "they responded by saying" repeatedly in close succession. Vary your sentence structure by using alternatives like "they stated", "they replied", or "their response was that" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they responded by saying" functions as a reporting clause, introducing the content of a response. As Ludwig AI explains, it's a grammatically correct way to indicate that someone provided an answer or statement. The phrase clearly connects the action of responding to the content of their statement.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they responded by saying" is a grammatically sound and common phrase used to introduce a verbal or written response. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a clear and straightforward way to indicate that a group answered or reacted to something. While widely applicable, it is important to avoid overuse by incorporating alternative phrases such as "they replied" or "their response was that". Predominantly found in news and media sources, the phrase maintains a neutral register and effectively communicates the content of a response.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they answered by stating

Replaces "responded" with "answered" and "saying" with "stating", providing a slightly more formal tone.

they replied by indicating

Substitutes "responded" with "replied" and "saying" with "indicating", suggesting a more indirect or subtle response.

their response was that

Changes the structure to focus on the response itself, rather than the act of responding.

they communicated that

Replaces "responded by saying" with a broader term, "communicated", which can include non-verbal communication.

they offered the explanation that

Adds an element of justification or reasoning to the response.

they remarked that

Uses "remarked" to indicate a brief or casual response.

they declared that

Emphasizes the firmness or certainty of the response with "declared".

they pointed out that

Highlights the act of drawing attention to a specific fact or detail in their response.

they countered by claiming

Indicates a response that opposes or challenges a previous statement with "countered".

they informed us that

Focuses on the act of conveying information, making it more direct and formal.

FAQs

How can I use "they responded by saying" in a sentence?

You can use "they responded by saying" to introduce a direct quote or summarize their response. For instance, "When asked about the budget cuts, they responded by saying, 'We are doing our best with limited resources'". Alternatively, you could say, "When asked about the budget cuts, "their response was that" they were doing their best with limited resources.

What are some alternatives to "they responded by saying"?

Some alternatives include "they replied", "they stated", "their answer was", or "their reaction was", depending on the context. Each alternative may slightly alter the nuance of the sentence.

Is it grammatically correct to use "they responded by saying"?

Yes, "they responded by saying" is grammatically correct. The structure accurately conveys that a group responded with a spoken or written statement. It's a common and accepted phrase in English.

What's the difference between "they responded by saying" and "they responded with"?

"They responded by saying" specifically indicates a verbal or written response, while "they responded with" can refer to any type of reaction, including actions or gestures. For example, "they responded by saying they would investigate" versus "they responded with a counter-offer".