We might see “talk to you then” written down in an email, and it’s good to know what it means and why we use it. This article will explore how it works in an email format, and we’ll also cover some of the best formal alternatives to use in emails.
What Does “Talk To You Then” Mean?
“Talk to you then” means that we will talk again whenever we arrange. Usually, it comes after giving a date or time for a meeting or event. In those cases, “talk to you then” means we’ll talk again at the meeting or event and not before or after.
The definition of “talk,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “to discuss something with someone, often to try to find a solution to a disagreement.”
In this sense, we use it as the verb at the end of the email to say that we’ll speak to someone again when we next see them. We often sign an email with it rather than start one or put it in the middle. If you remember that, you’ll always get it correct.
Example Emails with “Talk to you then”
To help you understand the best ways to write “talk to you then,” we thought we’d include some example emails. We’ll keep them brief enough to focus on the main talking point of this article.
“Talk to you then” is a great way to sign off an email when you’ve given somebody a specific date or time to see you again.
- Dear Mr. Smith,
- I’ve arranged a meeting to discuss personal matters with you on Monday at 15:00.
- You do not have to bring anything else with you; I simply expect to have a chat with you to see what we can do next.
- Talk to you then,
- Dan Weiss.
- Dear Jennifer,
- I’m sorry I couldn’t attend the meeting this afternoon, I came down with an awful cold.
- If you’d like, I thought we could reschedule it for this coming Thursday.
- Perhaps noon, if that works for you?
- Let me know what you think; otherwise, talk to you then.
- David
- Dear Mrs. Turnbull,
- I would like to have a meeting to discuss my promotion. I know you mentioned it a little while ago, but I haven’t heard anything since.
- I’m free this afternoon between 14:00-16:00. Let me know which time works best for you in that slot.
- Talk to you then,
- Daisy Duke
As you can see, “talk to you then” is used at the end of the email. While it’s not the most formal option you can use, it still works wonders in most formal settings.
It’s especially powerful when you want to use it to announce that you’ll see somebody at the time you’ve given them, even if they haven’t yet agreed to it. That’s because people have a harder time turning down the arranged time when you’re already set on it.
Examples (speaking) with “Talk to you then”
Emails aren’t the only place where “talk to you then” is found. In fact, it’s potentially more common to find it in spoken English. For that reason, we thought we’d also include some examples of times where people might say it.
- I’ll see you at the party, and I’ll talk to you then!
- Whenever you’re next here, I will talk to you then.
- Speak to you then! I’m looking forward to it.
- Don’t worry; I will speak with you then when it’s a little more private.
- Oh, you’re leaving already? Talk to you later then!
- I have something I need to tell you. Meet me at six tonight. I’ll talk with you then.
As you can see, “talk to you then,” and all of its variations are great when you want to arrange a time to meet somebody again. It works similarly to how the emails do, except we’re offering somebody a time to visit us again.
Usually, “talk to you then” works when somebody is leaving our company. It’s another way of saying “goodbye,” which is why it’s so common to see when someone leaves rather than when you first meet them.
Is “talk to you then” formal?
Generally, “talk to you then” isn’t that formal. It works well in formal situations when you’re familiar with the person you’re emailing, but you’re better off using alternatives if you get the chance.
“Talk to you then” is an informal phrase. We use it to say “goodbye” and that we’ll talk to somebody again at some arranged point in the future. There are better alternatives for formal settings.
Professional alternatives to “Talk to you then”
It’s important to know which synonyms work best in professional settings. “Talk to you then” isn’t encouraged, but we do recommend you try out one of the following.
- Dear Mr. Davies
- I will hold a meeting at 15:00 to hear about your ideas.
- I look forward to hearing from you,
- Mr. Jacobs.
- Dear Andrew Peters,
- We have a meeting set for 12:00 if you could make yourself available for then.
- Let me know if there is anything else you need,
- Mrs. Smith
- Dear Evan Hands
- Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Would you kindly attend my office before you head out for lunch?
- I hope this works for you,
- Mrs. Jones
As you can see, all of the bold options are great professional alternatives to “talk to you then.” We’re being much more polite with all of these alternatives, which is exactly what we should do in professional situations.
We’re also not strictly saying that the time we’re suggesting is the only time that works. By opening up the floor with “I hope this works for you,” we’re allowing the person we’re emailing to come up with a more suitable time if necessary.
How do you reply if someone says, “I’ll talk to you then”?
To reply to “I’ll talk to you then,” you should make sure you agree with the arranged time first. If you do, you can say something like, “looking forward to seeing you then.” If you don’t agree, then you should make alternative arrangements.
You may also like: 10 Better Ways To Say “We Need To Talk”
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.