# dictated but not read

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/dictated-but-not-read
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Dictated, as to a secretary or stenographer, but not proofread by the person who dictated it.

## Examples

- The letter arrived marked dictated but not read.
- The busy executive signed the stack of letters, leaving them marked dictated but not read before leaving for the airport.
- Because the author was in such a hurry to meet the publishing deadline, the final manuscript was sent to the editor marked dictated but not read.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.