we heard back from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we heard back from" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is usually used to indicate that you have received a response from someone after having made a request or inquiry. Example: We heard back from the university and they said our application was accepted!.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Four hours later, we heard back from her.

The Guardian - Music

"We tried to choose the ones that we heard back from consumers really tasted the best," he said.

The New Yorker

When we heard back from the poetry editor Alice Quinn a few days later, Jane's eyes were open but she couldn't see.

The New Yorker

We heard back from 25% of those graduates.

Forbes

We averaged the ratings and excluded any school where we heard back from less than 15% of alumni.

Forbes

"We heard back from both our staff team and the Women In Consumer Electronics that we should not change our rules, that they like the marketplace as it is.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

If we hear back from Mr Carter, we'll write a follow-up post.

The Economist

We'll update once we hear back from Google/Yelp.

TechCrunch

We'll update this when we hear back from Coinbase.

TechCrunch

We'll update when we hear back from the company.

TechCrunch

We'll update if we hear back from either.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we heard back from" when you want to indicate that you received a response after an inquiry or request. It implies a waiting period before the response.

Common error

Avoid using "we hear back from" in the past when you mean to say you already received a response. "We heard back from them" indicates a completed action, while "we hear back from them" suggests a future or habitual action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we heard back from" functions as a reporting verb phrase, indicating that a response has been received. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we heard back from" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to indicate the receipt of a response following an inquiry or request. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase serves primarily to inform about the status of communication. Usage is most prevalent in news and media contexts, though it also finds a place in academic and business settings. For more formal writing, consider alternatives such as "we received a response from" or "we were contacted by". Be mindful of using the correct tense to accurately reflect whether the response has already been received.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we received a response from

Formal alternative replacing "heard back" with "received a response".

we got a reply from

More informal and direct alternative to the original phrase.

we were contacted by

Focuses on the action of being contacted rather than just receiving a response.

we had a response from

Slightly more formal and emphasizes the existence of a response.

we received communication from

Very formal alternative, emphasizing the communication aspect.

a reply was received from

Passive voice construction, shifting focus to the reply itself.

we obtained feedback from

Specifically indicates that the response was in the form of feedback.

we were notified by

Highlights the notification aspect of the communication.

we got word from

Informal and emphasizes receiving information.

we were informed by

Focuses on the act of being informed, often in a formal context.

FAQs

What does "we heard back from" mean?

It means that a response was received from someone after a request or inquiry was made. It indicates that communication has been established after a period of waiting.

What can I say instead of "we heard back from"?

You can use alternatives like "we received a response from", "we got a reply from", or "we were contacted by" depending on the context.

How to use "we heard back from" in a sentence?

Example: "We heard back from the client, and they approved the proposal."

Is it correct to say "we hear back from" instead of "we heard back from"?

The correct tense depends on the context. "We heard back from" indicates a past event, while "we hear back from" implies a future or habitual action. For example, "We hope to hear back from them soon" is correct when you are waiting for a reply.