Official letters · Plain-English guide
What does “In due course” mean?
At some later point; no exact date is given.
“Later is a time. It is not much of an appointment.” — Arthur
What it means in practice
This means at a later, appropriate time, without giving a specific date. It is a common way of saying something will happen later while leaving the waiting period undefined.
An example and a clearer version
The original wording
We will respond in due course.
In plain English
Please tell me when I should expect a response.
What to say instead
later, without a date being given.
How to make the next step clear
Look elsewhere in the letter for a stated deadline or process. If none is given and you need to plan, ask when you should expect the response and when it is reasonable to follow up.
Wording you can adapt
When should I expect a reply, and who should I contact if I have not heard by then?
The wording around a phrase matters. Keep the names, dates, amounts and conditions from the original when you rewrite it.
Try “In due course” with Arthur →