without prompt action

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "without prompt action" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a situation requires immediate attention or response to prevent negative consequences. Example: "The report indicates that the environmental issues will worsen without prompt action from the authorities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Without prompt action, the economy will follow.

The Economist

Without prompt action by Congress, they said, "it will be virtually impossible for states to continue coverage for children already enrolled".

The New York Times - Health

The last report by United Nations experts, in March 2000, said Iraq's capacity had fallen from a peak of 3.5 million barrels a day to 2.8 million, and would continue falling without prompt action.

The New York Times

Without prompt action, the atmosphere's concentration of greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels, is expected to double from pre-industrial levels by the end of this century, the scientists said.

The New York Times

According to a recent poll by YouGov, 85% of the public are now convinced that global warming is actually taking place and almost as many think that without prompt action it will accelerate.

The Economist

"Without prompt action, the pledges Qatar made last year are at serious risk of being dismissed as a mere PR stunt to ensure the Gulf state can cling on to the 2022 World Cup," said the Amnesty report, which also raised the issue of Nepalese workers being denied leave to return home after the earthquake.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Without their prompt action, he would be dead.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"There's no doubt in my mind that without the prompt action of paramedics this man would've died". The boy, who admitted a charge of wounding with intent and possession of criminal property, attacked Mr Dickson in an alleyway.

BBC

From the review of transferred cases, it is also clear that, without the prompt action of the TBA concerned, some of these women may have been added to the maternal mortality statistics.

Unicef

This year's severe drought and a failed harvest left 18 million people without enough food, and only prompt action by donors – stung by criticism that they failed to act early enough in Somalia – staved off disaster.

The Guardian

A spokeswoman at Fox News said the company believes the suits are without merit, noting that the company took prompt action and takes all complaints of discrimination seriously.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "without prompt action", ensure the context clearly indicates the negative consequences that will arise if immediate steps are not taken. This adds weight to your statement and emphasizes the urgency.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the negative outcomes of inaction. While it's important to highlight potential issues, overstating them can weaken your argument and make it less credible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without prompt action" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or clause, indicating a condition or consequence. Ludwig's examples show its usage to highlight the necessity for immediate measures to prevent negative outcomes.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

3%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "without prompt action" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that highlights the critical need for immediate intervention to avert potential negative consequences. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for a broad range of contexts, including news, business, and scientific writing. The phrase is most commonly found in News & Media. When employing this phrase, it is important to avoid exaggeration, and to focus on direct description of predictable outcomes. Alternatives such as "absent immediate action" or "if action is not taken quickly" can be used to achieve slightly different nuances. In essence, "without prompt action" acts as a forceful call to address pressing issues before they escalate, as evidenced by numerous real-world examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absent immediate action

Replaces "prompt" with "immediate", emphasizing the urgency of the action needed.

if action is not taken quickly

Expresses the condition in a more explicit, clause-based structure.

unless immediate steps are taken

Uses "steps" instead of "action", suggesting a series of actions.

if there is no timely intervention

Substitutes "prompt action" with "timely intervention", highlighting the importance of acting at the right time.

lacking swift response

Emphasizes the speed of the response that is required, slightly altering the focus.

in the absence of quick measures

Uses "measures" instead of "action", suggesting specific steps or policies.

should immediate intervention fail

Frames the lack of action as a potential failure, adding a layer of consequence.

if timely measures are not implemented

More formal and emphasizes the implementation of specific measures.

without rapid intervention occurring

Focuses on the occurrence of intervention needing to be rapid, adding a sense of immediacy.

if there's no immediate response

More conversational, using "response" instead of "action" and "there's" for informality.

FAQs

How can I use "without prompt action" in a sentence?

You can use "without prompt action" to emphasize the urgency of a situation and the negative consequences of delay. For example, "The situation will worsen "without prompt action" from the authorities."

What are some alternatives to "without prompt action"?

Alternatives include "absent immediate action", "if action is not taken quickly", or "unless immediate steps are taken", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "without prompt action" or "without immediate action"?

"Without prompt action" and "without immediate action" are largely interchangeable. The choice depends on the specific tone and emphasis you want to convey. "Prompt" implies readiness and quickness, while "immediate" stresses the lack of delay.

What does "without prompt action" imply?

The phrase "without prompt action" implies that there will be undesirable outcomes if something isn't done quickly. It often conveys a sense of urgency and potential crisis, encouraging decisive intervention.