Do you have a lot of conversations over email with work colleagues?
It’s common to have a lengthy back-and-forth over email.
You need phrases and strategies for these emails.
Listen in today and learn some tips on how to have a conversation via email with a colleague or superior at work.
Emails at work
Aubrey asks Lindsay if she ever has email conversations.
Lindsay says that she does and it’s tricky to know how to start the additional replies.
How do you know which vocabulary to use?
You may get tripped up with what tone to use.
Should it be formal or informal?
You also have to consider what yours emails are about.
Today’s episode was inspired by a listener’s question.
Today’s question
I’ve just participated in your amazing event – AEE Olympic Games, it was gorgeous 🙂 And Poland won 🙂
I have been with your podcast for the last few months and I listen to it every morning while walking with my dog Hunter 🙂 I mostly listen to business english episodes, many thanks for this, it helps me at my work.
And I have a question for you, maybe you could make an episode about common phrases/sentences used in an e-mail conversation, such as phrases for the beginning and end of the e-mail, both formal and informal? Will be great 🙂
Thank you so much and big greetings from Poland, connection not perfection 🙂
Kind regards,
Tomek
Email conversations
It can be tricky when having conversations via email.
There are a lot of things you have to consider.
As Tomek mentioned in his question, you also have to take into consideration how you end an email.
This was covered in a past in episode which is AEE 1922: Avoid this Mistake: How to NOT End Business Emails
What is the correct tone?
The phrases you use in an email will be very different for formal and informal emails.
You would usually be formal when talking to a client or colleagues you don’t know well.
You can be informal if you’re emailing a co-worker you know well and work closely with.
Today we’ll share phrases for email conversations of each tone.
Avoid repeating openers and closers and use natural phrases like these to continue the conversation.
These examples show how to structure an email in different ways.
#1: Opening
Always acknowledge previous emails and then continue the conversation and share information or ask a question.
- Thank you for the information, Rick! That’s very helpful. Can you let me know if …
- I see, thank you! I have another question…
- Me again! Thank you so much for all your help with this!
- Another quick question! Will all meetings …
Here are informal options for responding in an email.
- Gotcha!
- Hey again!
- Sorry about that.
- Me again!
#2: Closing
- Let me know if you have any questions.
- Let me know your thoughts when you get a chance.
- (followed by) Have a great weekend! / day!
- Give me a call if you need to.
Here are informal options to close an email.
- Thank you!
- What do you think? / Let me know what you think.
- Let me know – thank you!
Takeaway
Many emails become a conversation.
The phrases you use will depend on your goal and the relationship.
This will determine what you say and how formal your language is.
Use today’s phrases in your email exchanges to deepen the connection!
Do you often have email conversations?
We’d love to hear your story in the comment section below.
