“Please be advised” is a common term in formal emails, but it’s not always the best choice. This article will look at professional alternatives to using “please be advised.” Some of these alternatives are used more politely, allowing you to show a more personal side to your writing:
- Please understand
- Wish to inform you
- Please note
- Please be aware
- Please pay attention to the
- It has come to our attention
- Please take note
- Kindly note
- For your information
- Keep in mind
- Bear in mind
- I want you to know
Other ways to say “please be advised” are “please understand,” “wish to inform you,” and “please note.” These work well in formal and informal capacities. You may use them to draw someone’s attention or understanding to something important in an email or letter.
1. Please Understand
“Please understand” is great to use as another way to say “please be advised.” It doesn’t use the impersonal “be advised,” allowing the reader to accept the information easier.
Using “understand” here is a more empathetic way of getting someone to look into the information you share next. It shows that you might have something important to say to them without panicking them by the content.
Here is an email sample to help you out with it:
- Dear Roger,
- Please understand that you are not the only person who applied for this job. We’ll have more news for you later.
- All the best,
- Carlton
2. Wish to Inform You
“Wish to inform you” is a very formal synonym showing that you have some information to give someone. “Wish” is used to keep it formal and respectful, while “inform” is the direct verb used to share information.
It’s great for formal emails because it shows that something applies to the recipient directly. When sending an email with this phrase, you’re letting the recipient know they need to pay attention to the following information.
- Dear Sally,
- We wish to inform you that the meeting was a resounding success. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
- All the best,
- Peter
3. Please Note
“Please note” is a simple way of asking someone to pay attention or “note down” information in an email. It is polite and allows you to appear more personal than “please be advised.”
This is great to use if you want to be more friendly with the recipient. It shows that something is worth noting.
- Dear Tom,
- Please note that I do not have all the answers at this moment. I’m doing what I can to figure them out.
- Kind regards,
- Terri
4. Please Be Aware
“Please be aware” is another great phrase to use here. It shows that someone should be “aware” of certain changes or problems in your email. Without this phrase, you imply that the email isn’t important enough to keep track of.
Starting an email with “please be aware” is similar to flagging it for importance. It suggests to the recipient that they need to focus on the information provided.
- Dear Julia,
- Please be aware that you only have a few more days to complete this task. I do not want to rush you, but I need it done.
- Best wishes,
- Sam
5. Please Pay Attention to The
“Please pay attention to the” works well in formal emails. It shows that someone should direct their attention to the information that comes after “the.” It’s most common to say “to the following” before explaining the information.
This keeps the recipient engaged and attentive. It reminds them that the information is important enough to keep track of. You can use that against them later if they don’t pay attention.
- Dear Craig,
- Please pay attention to the following information. I believe it’s going to be very important for you.
- All the best,
- Stuart
6. It Has Come to Our Attention
“It has come to our attention” is a formal way of letting someone know that something applies to them and that you’ve heard it through other means. It usually comes as a warning, showing someone they’re in trouble for something they’ve done.
You should use it when another party has shared information about someone. It shows that you have learned something vital and want to share this information with the affected party.
- Dear Sammy,
- It has come to our attention that you have an issue with the new way of doing things. Would you like to discuss this?
- Yours,
- Yuri
7. Please Take Note
“Please take note” is a simple alternative to use here. It suggests that someone should “take note” of the situation you’re about to reveal to them via email.
It’s a polite phrase because it uses “please” with the more friendly “take note.” It’s good to use this if you don’t want to intimidate the recipient with the information you might have to share.
- Dear Natalia,
- Please take note of the following issues. We have compiled this list to help you understand what comes next.
- All the best,
- Daniel
8. Kindly Note
“Kindly note” is another great synonym. This time, “kindly” is used to remain polite and respectful while the recipient learns from the information provided. It shows that you want them to keep track of the information and use it later.
- Hey Micky,
- Kindly note that you have been included in our system. We appreciate your help with these matters.
- Yours,
- Scott
9. For Your Information
“For your information” is a decent phrase used formally to show that certain information applies to somebody. You should use it when you want someone to pay attention to whatever comes next.
“For your information” is an introductory clause in an email. You should immediately follow it with a dependent clause that explains the information to the recipient.
- Hey Adam,
- For your information, we have left it open and do not know who will fill the role. Do you have any ideas?
- All the best,
- Sara
10. Keep in Mind
“Keep in mind” suggests that someone should keep some information in mind moving forward as it is important to them. You should use it to let the recipient know that something important is coming.
This may encourage them to take a mental (or physical) note. It also suggests that an important change is coming, allowing them to keep tabs on it moving forward.
- Dear Keane,
- Keep in mind that we have not settled on a final draft. We are still working through some iterations to sort this out.
- Best wishes,
- Royston
11. Bear in Mind
“Bear in mind” is another great synonym. You may use “bear” synonymously with “keep.” It implies that someone should bear some information in mind from your email.
To “bear” something in mind means to keep yourself informed about it. It implies that someone should remember the information shared with them as you might come back to it later.
- Dear Martha,
- Bear in mind that you are the only person who has come to us with this. We trust that you will be able to deliver the goods.
- Yours,
- Abbie & Matt
12. I Want You to Know
“I want you to know” is a direct expression of your intentions when informing someone about something. It usually implies that something is important by telling someone they should “know” more about it.
“I want you” is used here to show that it’s your personal request for them to know about it. It shows that you would like someone to “know” what’s coming next, as it is usually important enough for them to care about.
- Dear Romero,
- I want you to know that your complaints have been noted. We are doing everything we can to make things easier for you.
- All the best,
- Stuart
Is It Correct to Say “Please Be Advised”?
“Please be advised” is grammatically correct and works well formally. It’s used to tell someone you will inform them of something important (often negatively). It encourages them to take note of the “advice.” It appears polite when used in this way.
For example:
- Please be advised that I do not have the correct files for this.
You should only use “advised” here as it is the verb form to refer to giving someone advice. “Adviced” is incorrect (the “c” should always be an “s”):
- Correct: Please be advised that you are not the only person I’ve hired to do this job.
- Incorrect: Please be adviced that there are other solutions you have not found yet.
What Does “Please Be Advised” Mean?
“Please be advised” means you have some important information or a warning to share with someone. It suggests that the reader pays attention to what comes after “advised.”
The information after “advised” is vital, so you must encourage the reader to look out for it. You should use this phrase to remind someone to focus and take your words into account.
It is a formal phrase that comes across as polite. However, it is mainly used when giving negative information or warning someone about their work ethic or behaviour.
It’s an impersonal phrase that gets used mainly by bosses. They use it to talk to employees who they need to share a warning with.
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.