10 More Formal Ways To Say “Just In Case”

When writing formal emails, sometimes you will want to be prepared for any scenario. Some things might be unlikely, but you’ll want to express that, just in case, you’re prepared for them. But “just in case” can be taken as an informal phrase, so here are some more formal alternatives.

The preferred alternatives or replacements for “Just in case” are “In case”, “Should” and “Lest”. “In case” is a simplified version of “Just in case” that uses more precise language and is less casual. “Should” and “Lest” are words that can help account for any possibilities, while keeping the sentence brief.

In Case

A great first option you can use to replace “Just in case” is simply “In case”. While it’s obviously a very similar expression, “In case” by itself is a lot classier and formal. When you drop the “Just” from “Just in case”, you’re merely preparing for a possibility in a very neutral way.

The small adjustment of simply changing “Just in case” to “In case” can go a long way towards making your emails more formal, as it will let the person know that your tone for this conversation is formal.

• Dear Mr. Michaels
• I have been thinking about our development issue. I don’t think it’s going to happen, but in case it does, I think we should call the team to execute our alternative plan.
• Cheers,
• Mr. Paulson

Should

“Should” is another fantastic word that will help you rephrase your “Just in case” into a sentence that is not only less casual, but also more directly comprehensible with less unnecessary words. Following the “Should (x) happen, then (y)” can help you make your emails shorter, more compact and efficient.

When you say “Should” to create the possibility of an event happening, you’re being efficient and more formal in the language that you use at the same time.

• Dear Mrs. Andrews
• I understand your fear about the risk involved. Should anything happen, then we can fix it immediately, and you don’t need to worry about the price of the transaction.
• My best,
• Mr. Smith

Lest

“Lest” might strike some as an old-fashioned way of expressing that something ought to be avoided, but the truth is that if you want to replace your “Just in case” that refers to a negative event, then “Lest” is an incredibly fitting word.

“Lest” works in a very similar way to “Just in case”, to the point where you can use it in an email with little issue.

It can slot into a sentence without changing it drastically, and you can sound very formal by using it.

• Dear Mr. Summers
• I think that, for the trip, we should take the upstate route instead of the downtown route, lest we get stranded in a snowstorm and have no place to go.
• My best,
• Mr. Quire

Were

Another classic replacement for “Just in case” in a formal email is “Were this to happen”. This is a phrase that expresses the exact same idea as “Just in case”: That of a given event being possible, and what to do in case that specific event were to occur.

The phrase “Were this to happen” is a simplified version of “If this were to happen” that drops the preposition “If” and alters the word order, and it’s perfectly valid and formal english.

• Dear Mr. Howlett
• Earlier in our conversation, you asked me what I’d do if the lost items were found. Were this to happen, I would have them fetched immediately and notify the respective owners.
• My best,
• Mr. McCoy

As A Precaution

A good way to replace “Just in case” with a more formal alternative for an email is to use “As a precaution”. “As a precaution” immediately implies that the following idea exists only for a specific scenario that may not necessarily happen, and it uses no casual language in doing so.

When you say “As a precaution”, you’re also directly outlining a path of action to take in a worst case scenario, which the receiver of the email will most likely appreciate you doing.

• Dear Mrs Frost
• I keep thinking about what you told me the other day. As a precaution, I will start using caller ID to prevent further scam calls.
• My best,
• Mrs Gray

If This Were To Happen

“If this were to happen” is a great sentence to use when you’ve previously established a hypothetical scenario. The phrase helps you immediately determine a plan of actions to take if the hypothetical scenario were to come to pass. “If this were to happen” is another good replacement for “Just in case”.

Furthermore, “If this were to happen” is a good way to establish a hypothetical in a neutral way that is fitting for any sort of formal email or communication.

• Dear Mr. Shaw
• I understand that there is a risk of the ship capsizing with this new cargo. If this were to happen, I’d be happy to cover all the monetary charges involved.
• My regards,
• Ms. Pryde

In the event

“In the event” is another direct way to pivot into talking about a possible scenario in a formal way. “Just in case” also establishes a hypothetical situation, but “In the event” is a particularly good phrase to use because it immediately allows you to talk about what to do in that situation.

The combination of establishing a hypothetical and then talking about what to do in that hypothetical would be of immense use to any kind of formal emails, so “In the event” is a great phrase to have at your disposal.

• Dear Mr. Evans
• In the event that your profile is unable to be updated, we will resend you the required tax documents to fill out.
• My best,
• Mr. Rogers

Supposing

“Supposing” is a term that allows you to talk about a hypothetical while at the same time implying that it’s not a given, because you’re only supposing, or making an assumption. You can use “Supposing” to establish a particular imaginary situation, and then talk about what to do in that situation.

“Supposing” is a very elegant way to convey the creation of a hypothetical scenario in a formal email, because it’s just one word that immediately conveys the creation of a hypothesis.

• Dear Ms. Kane
• Supposing that the company’s wire transfer doesn’t work, then I will head to my bank and have them formally send your payment through their delivery system.
• My best,
• Ms. Gordon

On The Occasion That

“On the occasion that” is a fantastic sentence to use instead of “Just in case”. The phrase fulfills the same purpose of establishing a situation that hasn’t yet happened, and outlining the actions to take in that situation. The language used is significantly less casual than in “Just in case”.

 “On the occasion that ” manages to portray the potential situation as a very possible and real scenario without establishing it as a given fact.

• Dear Mr. Williams
• I have processed your files. On the occasion that you need to use our services again, we will already have your information on hand, and can get you help quicker..
• My best,
• Mr. Pym

Assuming That

“Assuming that” is a good sentence to replace “Just in case” with because it’s a clean and well-known way to suggest a possible situation to the receiver of your email, without using any casual language. If you use “Assuming that”, your email will be very comprehensible and direct.

Because “Assuming that” is a very straightforward way to phrase the idea of a hypothetical situation, some people might see it as not formal enough. However, “Assuming that” can be used in a perfectly neutral manner.

• Dear Mr. Stark
• Assuming that what you have told me is true, I will have to hold a new meeting soon to determine a course of action for these future months.
• My best,
• Mr. Drake

What Does “Just In Case” Mean?

“Just in case” is a phrase that is utilized to talk about a possible, hypothetical situation, and the action that is being taken to prepare for such a possibility. “Just in case” can generally be used as a standalone phrase after or before mentioning the steps being taken to prepare.

“In case” is used to mean “If this situation happens, then I will do this”. “Just in case” is a more vague phrase that may refer to actions being taken merely because of the possibility of something happening.

Is It Informal To Say “Just In Case”?

Because “Just in case” is a vague, broad phrase, it’s generally an informal sentence to utilize, and should be avoided in professional or academic settings. Formal, professional language should strive to be more precise and efficient, and “Just in case” is very often used in ambiguous ways.

Merely saying “In case” without the “Just” is a valid way of expressing the same idea while being more specific and avoiding the vagueness that is often related to “Just in case”.