As Per My Last Email: Other 10 Unprofessional Email Phrases To Follow Up

As Per My Last Email: Other 10 Unprofessional Email Phrases To Follow Up. When you need something from a colleague, but haven’t received a response yet. If you decide to write am email using the phrase “Per my last email,” you can come off as passive aggressive. It can leave your co-worker feeling called out. 

In this article, we will list better ways to follow up in a professional way than Saying “As Per My Last Email”. the best way to avoid having to go down that road is to set your expectations clearly and concisely in your initial message. Lead with the most important information; include a call to action; create accountability by adding a due date; and, if there’s a lot of relevant background information, include it below and alert the reader it exists.

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What is a professional clap-back?

Passive aggression creates hostility which can be sensed by the receiver. This leaves room for a “professional clap-back” — that is, an even more cheeky response to a critical statement.

Per my last email example

An example of a professional clap-back looks like the following:

Passive-aggressive sender: “As per my last email, we’d really appreciate it if you could get to those before the end of the week, ideally tomorrow.”

Professional clap-backer: “Or, you could send this to the development team as I think this ask would be more appropriate of them to complete.”

How Do You Politely Say As Per Your Last Email?

1. Restate Your Request

Pointing your colleague back to the original request in some cases won’t feel like quite enough. Maybe you want to emphasize exactly what it is you’re asking for and why. So reiterate your request in one to two sentences. Pull out the most important point along with the deliverable you’re waiting on and the deadline, directing the reader to the original email for more information.

For example,

• “Here are the design proofs for your review. We need your edits by the end of the week in order to move forward. Please see below for additional information.”

2. Be Direct

The best approach sometimes is simply to point someone right back to the original request. Reply to the thread—so that the original is easily referenced—and be direct and concise.

Per my last email example

• “I need your input on the below by [date/time]”
• “I’m checking in on the below” or “Checking in on this [request/question/assignment]”. 
• “I’m following up on the below” or “Following up on this [request/question/assignment]”
• “I’m circling back on the below” or “Circling back on this [request/question/assignment]”.

3. Call them on Phone

Pick up the phone, especially if you’re in a time crunch and need a quick answer. If you get the person live, you can say something like, “Hey Jane, so glad I caught you, do you have a few minutes to discuss [the project or question at hand]. I’d love to figure out [the deliverable], and thought it would be easier to do over the phone.” Then restate what you need clearly and concisely.

But, if they don’t pick up, leave a quick voicemail, something like: “Hey Jane, I was calling about [the project or question at hand], I thought it would be easier to discuss over the phone. I’ll send you another email, but please feel free to call me back to discuss.”

4. Pose a Question

You can start with a question to get the reader’s attention and, if needed, use it as an opportunity to change tactics, timelines, or expectations.

For example of Per my last email 

• “Want to jump on a quick call or meet up to discuss [project or question at hand]?” as in, “Want to jump on a quick call or meet up to discuss the design proofs?”
• “Are you able to get me [the deliverable] by [date/time]?” as in, “Are you able to get me your feedback on the design proofs by Wednesday at noon?”.
• “What do you think about [the project or question at hand]?” as in, “What do you think about the design proofs?”
• “Do you have time to [complete the task requested]?” as in, “Do you have time to review the design proofs?”.

9 Unprofessional As Per My Last Email Phrases

1. “Does Friday still work as a deadline? No worries if it doesn’t!”

This phrase sounds friendly, right? But the problem is it’s too friendly. You’re basically communicating one of two things in your email: “You haven’t confirmed a deadline with me so I’ll need to figure this out on my own if you don’t respond” or “You’ve already confirmed this deadline with me, but I don’t trust that you’ll have it in time, so let me know if I should just do this myself.” 

2. “I’m not in charge of that”

Even if you’re “not in charge of that,” you shouldn’t throw the person who is under the bus in front of your team. Also, this email phrase is only used when a job that needs to get done hasn’t been so a better way to say this is, “I can’t speak to that, as I wasn’t assigned to the project, but maybe Mary Jane can!”

3. “I can’t stand this place”

Maybe you can’t stand your job, or your coworkers, or your company — but that’s nothing to mention in a professional piece of writing. Statements such as this one can get in front of the wrong eyes, or easily be forwarded to leadershipwithout your knowing.

4. “I’m re-attaching for convenience”

This phrase basically translates to, “I know you ignored it the first time, so I’m going to send it again to hold you accountable for actually opening it.” Unless you’re someone’s boss or manager, you probably shouldn’t convey this passive-aggression in writing. And even if you are, a simple “I can send it again if you’d like” would be a more sensible response.

5. “As per my last email”

Instead of referring to your last email passive-aggressively, just say whatever needs to be said a second time to save everyone the archival search.

6. “My apologies for the delay”

If you write this in an email, you might as well say, “Hey, I’m sorry I’m late. I was busy prioritizing other tasks”. If you find yourself in this situation, try adding this to your email: “I realize that to successfully carry out projects such as this, timely participation is required from all parties. You can expect my response to come sooner in the future.” 

7. “I feel like”

“I feel like” is a filler phrase. It pads your thoughts with uncertainty and allows receivers to negotiate them. Take, for example, the difference between, “I feel like we should wait until next week to decide” in comparison to “Let’s wait until next week to decide.”

8. “Great work! Next time, you should”

This phrase, though positive, is a pretty back-handed compliment. You’re basically telling recipients, “This is great — except for John, Jane and Mary — so actually, this is just good.” It’s better to share with email recipients what was effective about their work and what could be improved for future projects.

Here’s an example: “What a wonderful proposal! Your tone came across as friendly and assertive, and I found your calls to action especially effective because they made me want to click. Toward the end, you mention John, Jane, Mary and I was a little unclear about what you meant. Is there any way we can be more specific?” 

9. “Just a heads up, I won’t be coming in tomorrow”

It’s best not to call off exclusively via email if you can help it. Not only is it unprofessional to plug the mention in an un-related email, but it’s also inconsiderate to your manager and team who may need to follow-up with you in the following days or will have to take over your time-sensitive responsibilities. Make the ask in person, as soon as you know need to take off, or compose a new email requesting the day off to your manager. 

How do you respond to an unprofessional email?

If you’re on the receiving end of any one of these phrases, the best way to respond is with professionalism — this means leaving your assumptions and emotions out of it. Respond simply by sticking to the facts and/or asking the sender for more information in applicable cases.