expect a reply

Meaning

This phrase means to anticipate or look forward to receiving an answer to a message, email, or letter. It is commonly used in professional correspondence to set expectations or politely prompt a response. The tone is neutral and professional, making it suitable for standard business emails.

Examples

• Should I expect a reply by the end of the day, or will it take longer?

  Should I expect a reply by the end of the day, or will it take longer?

• We sent the proposal yesterday and expect a reply from the client soon.

  We sent the proposal yesterday and expect a reply from the client soon.

• Please let me know when we can expect a reply regarding our application.

  Please let me know when we can expect a reply regarding our application.

• I didn't expect a reply so quickly, so thank you for the prompt update.

  I didn't expect a reply so quickly, so thank you for the prompt update.

• If you do not expect a reply immediately, you don't need to mark the email as urgent.

  If you do not expect a reply immediately, you don't need to mark the email as urgent.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I am waiting to expect a reply.

  ✓ I am expecting a reply.

  Expect already implies waiting or anticipating; combining 'waiting to expect' is redundant and grammatically incorrect.

• ✗ We expect a reply for our email.

  ✓ We expect a reply to our email.

  Use the preposition 'to' after 'reply' when indicating what is being answered.

Related Expressions

Practice

• When can we ___ from the HR department?

  💡 Anticipate getting an answer.

  Show answer

  expect a reply

• I sent the contract this morning and ___ by Friday.

  💡 Look forward to getting a response.

  Show answer

  expect a reply