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What does "to this effect" in the following sentence mean? (This sentence is in a reply of an application).

However, if you are not successful, we will inform you to this effect.

Does this mean, if I failed I will still get informed(by a mail or phone-call) or if I failed, I will have no idea that I have failed already?

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It means: if you fail, then they will inform you that you fail. – GEdgar Apr 27 '12 at 14:44
@GEdgar hi, i searched the internet for definition, it seems that "to that effect", "to the effect" has a defined meaning, but not "to this effect". A friend told me that it means: "in this sense", would you agree with this meaning? – Sheldon Apr 27 '12 at 14:47
I'm not quite sure how it could mean the latter. Could you explain your reasoning? "We will inform you X" can only mean "we will not inform you" if the X somehow amounts to "not", and I'm not quite sure how "to this effect" can leave such an impression on you. – RegDwighт♦ Apr 27 '12 at 14:49
@RegDwightΒВBẞ8 Hi, sorry, English is not my first language, so maybe I am not aware of this. I am asking because it's been quite some time since my applcation, and I haven't received any interview message nor rejection letter. SO i was wondering if they won't even inform me when I fail. (Like a double check.) :) – Sheldon Apr 27 '12 at 14:52
In this example: "this effect" is "you are not successful". So "you are not successful" is what you will be informed of (if in fact you are not successful). – GEdgar Apr 27 '12 at 14:53
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3 Answers

up vote 2 down vote accepted

Here, "to this effect" is a specific instance of "to the effect" where "this" refers to the demonstrated meaning in the sentence.

Really, the phrase could be replaced with "thus" - ie "we will inform you thus", even more plainly, "we will inform you that you were not successful"

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up vote 1 down vote

I think OP's example is someone's misguided idea of "formal" writing style. Google Books reports barely a couple of dozen written instances. But it just looks stilted and clumsy to me. The addition of to this effect conveys nothing at all here, since the statement already says you'll be informed if you're unsuccessful.

The standard formal usage "to this effect we will [do sth]" means in order to effect (achieve) this.

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up vote 1 down vote

If I'm not mistakening , they meant with this result we will inform you.

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