unread messages

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unread messages" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to messages that have not yet been opened or read. Example: "I have ten unread messages in my inbox." Alternative expressions include "new messages" and "unopened messages."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was stuffed with hundreds of unread messages — some, remarkably, from people flummoxed by her aloofness.

The New York Times

My 148 unread messages (all spam) are causing me -- and I suppose others -- to lessen e-mail's priority and impact.

The New York Times

Before leaving I make sure any unread messages on the answerphone have been dealt with if urgent and close up shop.

The Guardian

After installing, the service told me that my in-box, at 40,000 unread messages, was "normal," so I never used it again.

The New York Times - Tech

There was a strong pull towards wanting to open unread messages, but there was still a barrier to prevent us being online 24/7.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yet Mr. McWilliams said that when he looked into Mr. Hussein's e-mail account last month it was filled completely with unread messages.

The New York Times

Seeing as I had nothing to do, I thought I might as well have a clear-out of the hundreds of unread messages festering in my personal account.

The Guardian

While this makes room for plenty of open tabs, it also hides the number of unread messages that is normally displayed on the full tab of an open Gmail page.

The New York Times - Tech

Scroll down the Available Labs list, click on the Enable button next to "Unread messages icon" and click on the Save Changes button at the top or bottom of the page.

The New York Times - Tech

To keep space-saving Gmail users on top of new mail, developers in the Gmail Labs have created a special icon that displays the number of unread messages right on the small tab's Gmail logo.

The New York Times - Tech

In a new article published on its support website, Apple outlined a three-step process, enabling people to open their Messages app again: Ask Siri to "read unread messages".

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unread messages" to draw attention to the need for action or response, especially in professional settings.

Common error

Avoid using "new messages" when you specifically want to emphasize that the messages haven't been read yet. "New messages" simply indicates recently received messages, regardless of their read status.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unread messages" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often used as a subject or object to describe the status of messages that have not been read. As Ludwig AI can confirm, it's commonly used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

14%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

8%

Reference

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unread messages" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe messages that have not yet been opened or read. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is widely used across various platforms and contexts, primarily serving to inform or alert users about messages requiring their attention. The phrase maintains a neutral tone, suitable for both formal and informal communication. When using "unread messages", specificity (e.g., "unread emails") can enhance clarity. Alternatives like "new messages" exist, but they do not carry the same emphasis on the messages' unread status.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

new messages

This alternative focuses on the novelty of the messages, highlighting that they are recently received.

unopened messages

This phrase emphasizes that the messages have not been accessed or opened yet.

unread emails

Specifies that the unread messages are emails.

waiting messages

This suggests the messages are pending attention or waiting to be read.

unseen messages

Focuses on the visual aspect of not having been viewed yet.

pending messages

Similar to 'waiting messages', this indicates messages that are currently in a state of being unread and requiring action.

remaining messages

Highlights that these messages are left to be read from a larger set.

overdue messages

This implies a sense of urgency, suggesting the messages should have been read already.

overlooked messages

Suggests that the messages have been missed or ignored.

ignored messages

This implies a deliberate choice not to read the messages.

FAQs

How to use "unread messages" in a sentence?

You can use "unread messages" to describe the status of messages that have not yet been opened or read. For example, "I have 50 "unread messages" in my inbox."

What can I say instead of "unread messages"?

You can use alternatives like "new messages", "unopened messages", or "pending messages" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "unread messages" or "un-read messages"?

"Unread messages" is the correct form. The hyphenated version "un-read messages" is not standard usage.

Is it better to say "unread messages" or "new emails"?

It depends on the context. "Unread messages" emphasizes that the messages haven't been read, while "new emails" simply indicates recently arrived emails, regardless of whether they've been read.