Please Find Enclosed or Please Find Attached? Formal Email

“Please find enclosed” and “please find attached” are very similar phrases in writing. The only difference comes from the medium you’re writing with (i.e. emails or letters). This article will explain how they differ from each other and everything you need to know.

Please Find Enclosed or Please Find Attached?

“Please find enclosed” is correct when an attachment is enclosed within an envelope. This applies when you are sending someone a letter. “Please find attached” is correct when you’ve attached a file or document to an email. This only works for emails.

Please Find Enclosed or Please Find Attached

Technically, the two phrases are synonymous. They are synonymous because they both refer to something that is attached to a letter or email you’ve sent to someone.

The only reason they aren’t used in the same context is that one is strictly for letters while the other is strictly for emails.

Please Find Enclosed

“Please find enclosed” is correct when you are writing a letter. If you have included something extra with your written letter, you will say that it is “enclosed.” This helps the reader to look for whatever is enclosed before throwing the envelope away.

Sometimes, enclosed information can be left behind in an envelope. If it is not mentioned, it can be easy for someone to disregard it without taking a closer look to see what you might have included.

That’s why it’s always wise to draw attention to an enclosed file. It makes sure that nothing is accidentally thrown away or ignored.

If you want to see how to use “please find enclosed” in a sentence, you can refer to these examples:

  1. Please find enclosed my resume. I hope it sheds some light on why I would be a good fit here.
  2. Please find enclosed the certificate that was sent to me to demonstrate the things I’ve learned.
  3. Please find enclosed a copy of the merit you asked for. I hope this is sufficient enough for what you’re looking for.
  4. Please find enclosed the information that you requested in your previous letter. I hope that is good enough.
  5. Please find enclosed a few close-up photos and portraits that I would like to accompany my portfolio.
  6. Please find enclosed a stapled document that includes all of the information that is relevant here.

Please Find Attached

“Please find attached” is correct when you are writing an email. It refers to a file or document that is “attached” to the email as a non-physical entry. It isn’t something that someone can touch (as emails are sent online rather than physically).

While it is easier to miss an attachment with a letter, it’s still possible to miss one in an email. Someone might click away from an email too soon and miss the attachment you included.

That’s why “please find attached” is a good way of reminding the reader that you’ve included something that pertains to the contents of the email.

These examples will show you how to use “please find attached” in a sentence (or an email):

  1. Please find attached the invoice that relates to this purchase. I hope everything is correct on your end.
  2. Please find attached the updated file for your perusal. Let me know if there’s anything else you need me to change.
  3. Please find attached the documents that you requested. Everything should be updated and ready to go now.
  4. Please find attached all of the information relating to this candidate. I believe they will be a good fit for this company.
  5. Please find attached the photographs that were taken of the ceremony. I hope you appreciate them.
  6. Please find attached the files that you have asked for. I hope that will be enough for you to go on.

Which Is Used the Most?

According to Google Ngram Viewer, “please find enclosed” is used the most, but there isn’t much between the two. Both phrases are fairly popular, showing that both letters and emails are still used to share attachments and information.

Please Find Enclosed or Please Find Attached usage

As mentioned before, “enclosed” and “attached” can be interchangeable. People only use them differently based on whether they send letters or emails.

That’s why both phrases are correct and used almost the same amount by most people. They are both correct, and they both work to show that you’ve connected something to your mail.

Please Find Enclosed or Enclosed Please Find?

“Please find enclosed” is the most common phrase to use when something is included in an envelope. “Enclosed, please find” is also correct, where the stress is put on “enclosed.” It comes first in the phrase, so it adds more emphasis to the attachment.

If you’re going to use this phrase, make sure you include a comma directly after “enclosed.” This needs to be included because “enclosed” should be an introductory clause.

It’s the first thing that people will pay attention to when they read your letter. It will help them to know that something very important is enclosed.

  • Enclosed, please find my resume. I hope that gives you all the information you need from me.
  • Enclosed, please find the photos you asked for. This should provide you with adequate details.
  • Enclosed, please find what you asked me for in your previous letter. I hope this is acceptable.

As a side note, the same can work for emails. You can say “attached, please find,” as long as the comma comes after “attached.”

7 Best Alternatives to “Please Find Enclosed” and “Please Find Attached”

There are a few alternatives that might work well for you to replace these phrases. It’s best to have a few ready to go so you don’t find yourself repeating the same phrase to remind someone of an attachment.

  • Please find the attached
  • Please find the enclosed
  • I have attached
  • I have enclosed
  • The attached
  • The enclosed
  • Refer to the attachment

Final Thoughts

“Please find attached” works best for emails. “Please find enclosed” works best for letters. While the two phrases are synonymous, they work for different reasons. You can’t say “enclosed” for an email because it is not a physical entity. You also generally won’t hear “attached” for letters.