to which he muttered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to which he muttered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a response or remark made by someone in a low voice or under their breath, often in reaction to something said or done. Example: "She asked him if he was ready, to which he muttered a reluctant 'yes'."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

To which he muttered in Italian: 'Who gives a fuck?'.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

This is followed by R.LQ.S., a phonetic poem by Hausmann in which he mutters, babbles, howls, growls, trills and rolls his Rs.

The Guardian - Arts

Furthermore he deserves to receive profuse and full apologies for any suggestion that just because there is audio of his 911 call in which he clearly mutters the words "fucking coons" immediately before shooting to death a 17-year-old African-American boy -- he was in any way motivated by racist beliefs.

Huffington Post

A week later British TV host Jeremy Clarkson was caught on camera reciting a version of "eeny, meeny, miny, moe" from his childhood ("before racism was bad" as The Office's David Brent once put it) in which he continues muttering "catch a nigger by the toe".

The Guardian - Opinion

"I declare this highway open to traffic," he muttered.

The New Yorker

"A cool thing to study," he muttered.

The New Yorker

"And make love to 'im too," he muttered.

The New Yorker

In February, when Tony Blair was asked in parliament by one of his own backbenchers to give a brief characterisation of the political philosophy which he espouses and which underlies his policies, he muttered something about the NHS and took his seat looking flummoxed.

The Guardian

With HBO's The Jinx, the real estate heir Robert Durst, long held in suspicion after the 1982 disappearance of his wife and the 2000 murder of his friend Susan Berman – and acquitted for the 2001 murder of a neighbor – was arrested on the eve of the documentary's final episode, in which he was caught muttering in the bathroom: "What the hell did I do?

The Guardian

I'm sixty... " "I don't know what you look like," he muttered, which was true, since he had yet to look at me. "Here..."...

The New Yorker

I'm sixty... " "I don't know what you look like," he muttered, which was true, since he had yet to look at me. "Here......

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to which he muttered" when you want to convey a sense of reluctance, disapproval, or privacy in a character's response. It adds a subtle layer of characterization and tone to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "to which he muttered" as a catch-all for any quiet response. Consider alternatives like whispered, murmured, or replied softly to better convey the specific nuance you intend.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to which he muttered" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying the verb indicating the action of responding. It describes how the person responded, indicating a low, mumbled, and often reluctant manner of speaking. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's a valid and usable phrase in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to which he muttered" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a quiet, often reluctant, response. While Ludwig AI confirms its usability, the phrase is relatively rare, primarily appearing in news and media contexts. When using it, ensure it accurately reflects the intended tone and consider alternatives like 'mumbled' or 'whispered' for nuanced expression. Avoid overuse to maintain its impact and character-revealing qualities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to which he muttered under his breath

Adds 'under his breath' to clarify the inaudible nature of the muttering.

to which he mumbled

Replaces 'muttered' with 'mumbled', suggesting even less clarity or audibility.

to which he murmured

Similar to 'muttered' but can also imply a sense of affection or thoughtfulness.

to which he whispered

Substitutes 'muttered' with 'whispered', indicating a very quiet and private response.

to which he replied softly

Replaces 'muttered' with 'replied softly', emphasizing the gentle nature of the response.

to which he grumbled

Replaces 'muttered' with 'grumbled', implying a negative or dissatisfied tone.

to which he responded in a low voice

Elaborates on the manner of the response, highlighting the low volume.

to which he said quietly

A more straightforward and neutral alternative to 'muttered'.

he mumbled in response

Changes the sentence structure while maintaining the meaning of a quiet, unclear reply.

his muttered response was

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the response itself, rather than the action of muttering.

FAQs

How can I use "to which he muttered" in a sentence?

This phrase is used to indicate a quiet or mumbled response to a previous statement. For example, "She asked if he was ready, to which he muttered a reluctant 'yes'."

What is a similar phrase to "to which he muttered"?

Alternatives include "to which he "replied softly"", "to which he "mumbled"", or "to which he "whispered"", each suggesting a slightly different tone or volume.

Is there a more formal alternative to "to which he muttered"?

A more formal alternative would be "to which he "responded quietly"" or "to which he "remarked softly"", which lack the connotation of mumbling or reluctance.

What does 'mutter' imply in the phrase "to which he muttered"?

The word 'mutter' suggests that the response was spoken in a low, unclear, and often reluctant or resentful tone. It can imply that the speaker doesn't want to be heard clearly or is speaking under their breath.