There are many reasons why you might need to make someone wait. You need to be careful what you say in a formal email to ensure you don’t sound rude, though.
So, this article will explore what to say instead of “please wait” in a formal email.
- Please bear with me
- Thank you for your patience
- I would appreciate your patience at this time
- I’ll send this by [time]
- I’ll get back to you soon
- Please leave it with me
- Let me get back to you soon
- Wait a moment while I find the answer
- Can you wait for a little while?
Keep reading to learn how to politely ask someone to wait in an email. We’ll explain more about the synonyms listed and provide examples for each.
1. Please Bear With Me
If you want to know how to say “please wait” politely in an email, start with “please bear with me.” It’s a friendly and familiar way to let someone know you need more time before answering them.
We recommend using it when emailing customers. It tells them you’re doing everything possible to answer their email. However, if you don’t have the appropriate information yet, you can ask them to “bear with you” while you find it.
Here is a great sample email if you’re still stuck with it:
Dear Howard,
Please bear with me while I figure out the next steps. I want to send all the documents at the same time.
Yours,
Darryl Stilts
2. Thank You for Your Patience
A really useful professional alternative is “thank you for your patience.” It shows you how to say “please wait” formally, allowing you to use it in most business emails when you want someone to give you some time.
Generally, this phrase works best when emailing clients. It shows you appreciate them reaching out to you with a question. You should use this toward the start of your email to show that you need more time before you can answer whatever query they have.
It’s a great way to build a good working relationship with your clients. After all, it’ll show them you’re reliable and doing everything you can to help.
Also, this example should help you with it:
Dear Martina,
Thank you for your patience while I search for the answers. Of course, I’ll let you know when I find out more.
All the best,
Scott Lang
3. I Would Appreciate Your Patience at This Time
Another great synonym for “please wait” is “I would appreciate your patience at this time.” It works well in a business email because it shows that you’re still trying to process information before giving someone a definitive answer.
For instance, you can use it when emailing applicants who need to know if they’ve been accepted for a job role. It shows that you don’t have the answer for them yet, but you would appreciate it if they gave you more time.
You can also check out this email sample to see how it works:
Dear Holly,
I would appreciate your patience at this time. A few things are going on that we must resolve.
Kind regards,
Olivia Copley
4. I’ll Send This By [Time]
You don’t have to be general when saying “please wait.” Some people prefer you to specify a time that they can expect information. Then, they can put it on their calendar to ensure they don’t miss it when you finally email them again.
So, “I’ll send this by [time]” works well when you know what time you’ll receive information. It’s a confident phrase to include in a business email because it shows you expect information soon and want someone to be ready for it.
Check out the following example to see how it works:
Dear Jane,
I’ll send this by 5 p.m. Until then, please continue working on the project I have set for you.
Kind regards,
Mr. Tanner
5. I’ll Get Back to You Soon
A slightly more general alternative to “please wait” is “I’ll get back to you soon.” It’s a very popular choice in business emails because it shows that you need some time to ask around before giving someone a final answer.
We recommend using it when emailing clients who have asked a question. It shows you want to help them, but you might not have the answers they’re looking for just yet.
Here is a useful example to help you with it:
Dear Brody,
I’ll get back to you soon regarding the files. Mr. Jenkins wants me to continue working on them for now.
All the best,
Jodie Heath
6. Please Leave It With Me
“Please leave it with me” is a great polite synonym for “please wait.” It’s much more friendly and casual, making it an excellent choice when you have a good working relationship with someone at your workplace.
For instance, you can use it when emailing coworkers. It shows you are on the same team and want to help them complete a task.
Perhaps they came to you with a question about their project. You can tell them to “leave it with you” if you want to help, but you need to ask around before giving them anything final.
You should also check out the following example:
Dear Nicholas,
Please leave it with me. I know who I need to ask, but they are currently out of the office.
Yours,
Tommy Woodley
7. Let Me Get Back to You Soon
Another great variation of “please wait” is “let me get back to you soon.” It’s an excellent alternative because it shows you need an unspecified amount of time before returning to someone.
Generally, including “soon” in an email like this shows you don’t know when (or if) you’ll get back to someone. It lets the recipient know you’ll try your best, but they shouldn’t expect you to have all the answers when you finally reply.
Check out this email example to see how it works:
Dear Roger,
Let me get back to you soon. There are some things I need to work out before we can continue.
Yours,
Michael Foster
8. Wait a Moment While I Find the Answer
To be as polite as possible in an email, you can try “wait a moment while I find the answer.” It works well in most professional emails because it shows you need to take some time to ask around the office before giving any definite answers.
You may use it when emailing new customers. It shows you lack the appropriate information to help answer their original query.
Therefore, you should ask others in your office before answering their email. It encourages the customer to wait while you find the best possible answer for them.
Here is a sample email to show you more about it:
Dear Jane,
Please wait a moment while I find the answer. I will have to ask my peers to see what they know.
All the best,
Evie Burton
9. Can You Wait for a Little While?
“Can you wait for a little while?” is a great alternative to “please wait.” It’s a polite question that shows you would appreciate someone’s patience while you figure out your next steps.
Unlike the other alternatives, this phrase comes as a question. It allows you to sound more genuine when you need someone to be patient.
You may want to use it when emailing your supervisor. It shows you respect them and want them to wait before you give them an appropriate answer to an important question.
You can also refer to the following example:
Dear Christopher,
Can you wait for a little while? I just want to ensure I have the correct information before I say anything wrong.
Yours,
Danny Redmayne