Sometimes, it’s useful to use “FYI” as an abbreviation. However, in certain formal situations, you might want to look for better alternatives. That’s where this article comes in, and we’ll try and show you the best options for formal emails!
What Can I Say Instead Of “FYI” In Formal Emails?
There are plenty of better alternatives to using “FYI” formally. Here are some of the best ones we want to share with you:
- I would like to bring to your attention
- I would like to update you on
- I would like to notify you that
- Just so you know
- Just so you are aware
- In case you were not made aware
- In case you did not already know
- Please be informed that
- Please be advised that
- For your information
The preferred version is “I would like to bring to your attention.” It works well in many formal emails because it shows that something is important enough to write in as a side note. This is much more polite than the abbreviation “FYI” in almost all cases.
I Would Like To Bring To Your Attention
“I would like to bring to your attention” is the best way to replace “FYI.” It works well because it brings something directly to someone’s “attention.” This shows the information is important enough for them to read about, and we want them to understand here.
These examples will show you what it means:
- I would like to bring to your attention the team morale, as it has gone down in recent weeks.
- I would like to bring to your attention these products, which I think we should take off the market.
- I would like to bring to your attention my absence from these meetings and why it was acceptable.
I Would Like To Update You On
“I would like to update you on” helps when we have more information to aid with someone’s current knowledge. An “update” is a great way to give them the information they may be waiting on but might not know about. Again, we use “I would like to” to keep it formal.
These examples will help you understand more about it:
- I would like to update you on the project like you asked of me.
- I would like to update you on the interview process, as it’s going much better than expected.
- I would like to update you on the news, but we do not have anything more to say about it yet.
I Would Like To Notify You That
“I would like to notify you that” works when we want to let someone know about more information. Yet again, “I would like to” is a great way to start any polite phrase with formal emails, which is why we think it’s worth having ready.
Here are some examples of it in action:
- I would like to notify you that the manager has asked us all to be present tomorrow.
- I would like to notify you that someone will be down from head office to see you.
- I would like to notify you that you are not the only one who feels this way.
Just So You Know
“Just so you know” works well when we want to take the pressure off the information. We use “Just” when we want to start the phrase that allows someone to accept more information. It might be the case they already “know,” but we “just” want to check it with them.
These examples will show you how it works:
- Just so you know, I will not be available to come in on two of the days you need me.
- Just so you know, no one is written down on the rota to cover my shifts.
- Just so you know, I’m not the only person here who thinks they have been cheated out of pay.
Just So You Are Aware
“Just so you are aware” is another “Just” phrase we can use. We use it similarly to the above to take away from the pressure of letting somebody know about certain information. It does not make it sound as important, which can be helpful to remain polite.
These examples will help you to understand it better:
- Just so you are aware, the boss is checking all of our histories tonight.
- Just so you are aware, this is the only place he has worked in a very long time.
- Just so you are aware, he actually lost his job from here a long time ago, and we don’t know what he’s up to now.
In Case You Were Not Made Aware
“In case you were not made aware” works well when we don’t want to assume someone doesn’t already have the information. We use “in case” to let them know that we are providing it, but we would not be surprised if somebody else had already made them “aware.”
These examples will show you how it works:
- In case you were not made aware, there are three people who were not fit enough to come to work today.
- In case you were not made aware, someone called up earlier to ask whether we have these products in stock, and I said I’d pass it to you.
- In case you were not made aware, there will be a disciplinary hearing about your behavior tomorrow morning.
In Case You Did Not Already Know
“In case you did not already know” is another way to double-check whether someone has the information we provide for them. This works better than “FYI” because it doesn’t take for granted their knowledge. If they already knew it, we are not trying to insult them.
Here are some examples of how it might look:
- In case you did not already know, there will be someone coming in today to look at the computers.
- In case you didn’t already know, I have booked overtime for the following two weeks.
- In case you didn’t already know, someone told me that there would be a meeting in half an hour.
Please Be Informed That
“Please be informed that” is a polite alternative that starts with “please.” It helps to do this in emails because it allows us to ask for permission for somebody to accept the information we are providing. This is common practice in many cases of formal writing.
These examples will help you see how it looks:
- Please be informed that the CEO should be coming down today, and he expects everyone to be presentable.
- Please be informed that there will be building works going on in the office, and you should avoid going there for a while.
- Please be informed that someone else has already told me about this situation, and I have come up with a suitable solution.
Please Be Advised That
“Please be advised that” is another polite way to inform someone of something. This time, we replace the verb “informed” with “advised” to show someone that something is important enough to mention to them.
Here are a few examples of how we might use it:
- Please be advised that I will not be able to come to work today. I do apologize for any inconvenience caused.
- Please be advised that I am sending this email to all of you to try and find the culprit.
- Please be advised that you will be receiving a second email later tonight that I expect a reply to.
For Your Information
“For your information” also works formally in emails. We can simply remove the abbreviation and replace it with the phrase that it stands for. This works well because it still allows us to add further information without any confusion on the reader’s side.
Here are some helpful examples to explain how it might work:
- For your information, I was there when you sent the email about the meeting, and I replied to it.
- For your information, I am not the only person in this office who thinks you need a course to help you understand team cohesion.
- For your information, there were many candidates for the position, and we almost couldn’t choose between them.
Is It Polite To Say “FYI”?
Before finishing the article, we’d like to circle back to “FYI” quickly. We want to share whether it’s polite to use it at all or whether it’s better left unsaid.
“FYI” is polite when you’re adding information that will be useful for somebody to know. It works well in many cases when there might need to be further information added to help someone understand something. However, if this is not the case, it can be rude.
Some people believe that “FYI” is a little rude because it makes it seem like the writer knows more than the reader. Using “FYI” can be construed as someone thinking they are smarter than the reader, and they thought they’d add information to help them with it.
If the reader already knew whatever that information was, that’s where “FYI” can be mistaken as rude. However, this is rarely the case, as “FYI” is mostly used to add information that would otherwise have been left out.
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