20 Less Annoying Synonyms and Alternatives to "Please Find Attached"
The Definitive Guide to Ditching "Please Find Attached" in 2024
In today‘s fast-paced business world, we‘re all guilty of falling back on overused email phrases from time to time. But if there‘s one phrase that feels particularly antiquated and stuffy, it has to be the dreaded "please find attached."
Maybe it‘s the oddly formal construction or how it brings to mind a courtroom more than a modern workplace. Whatever the reason, "please find attached" has outlived its usefulness in professional communication. But old habits die hard, and many of us struggle to find a suitable replacement that still clearly conveys an attachment.
Never fear! We‘ve put together the ultimate guide to help you eliminate "please find attached" from your emails once and for all. Packed with over 20 easy-to-implement alternatives plus tips and examples for writing better emails with attachments, you‘ll soon be sending attachments with confidence and poise.
Why "Please Find Attached" Needs to Go
When delivering an attachment, it‘s important to be direct. Unfortunately, "please find attached" and its many variations ("attached please find," "kindly find the attached file," etc.) are anything but.
For starters, the phrase sounds unnecessarily stuffy and bureaucratic. Unless you‘re a nineteenth-century barrister, there‘s no need for such highfalutin language. You want your emails to strike a friendly, approachable tone, not read like a legal contract.
What‘s more, "please find attached" is largely redundant. Any moderately tech-savvy recipient will see the attached file as soon as they open your email, so there‘s no need to awkwardly announce its presence. It‘s a bit like picking up the phone and saying, "please find me on the other end of this line" – unnecessary and slightly bizarre!
By swapping "please find attached" for a more casual, contemporary alternative, you‘ll improve the clarity of your emails and make a better impression on peers, clients, and prospects alike. But before we jump into the alternatives, let‘s revisit some attachment email best practices.
Attachment Email Best Practices
- Craft a clear, informative subject line. For example:
- Presentation Slides from Today‘s Meeting
- Your Personalized Demo Report
- Signed Contract for Project X
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Briefly set the context. If your email is a follow-up to a previous discussion, recap the relevant points in a line or two before mentioning the attachment.
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Keep it concise. Avoid long, meandering emails. Ideally, limit yourself to 2-3 short paragraphs so the reader doesn‘t miss the attached file.
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Provide a call-to-action. What should the recipient do after reviewing the attachment? Let you know if they have any questions? Sign and return the file? Make the next steps clear.
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Double check before sending. Always confirm you‘ve selected the correct file(s) before hitting send. There‘s nothing more embarrassing than having to send a sheepish follow-up with the right attachment!
20 Better Alternatives to "Please Find Attached"
All set to exterminate "please find attached" from your emails forevermore? Here are 20 replacement phrases to try instead, along with guidance on when to use each one.
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I‘ve attached [file name] for your review.
A simple, straightforward alternative that works in just about any scenario. -
The [file name] you requested is attached.
Ideal when sending an attachment that the recipient specifically asked for. -
As promised, I‘m sharing [file name] with you.
Emphasizes that you‘re delivering on something you previously offered or committed to sending. -
Here is the [file name] I mentioned.
Suggests that you brought up the attachment earlier in the email or in a previous interaction with the recipient. -
You‘ll find the attachment below.
Politely directs the reader‘s attention to the attached file in a softer way than "please find attached." -
Let me know if you have any questions about the attached [file name].
Invites the recipient to follow up with you if anything in the attachment is unclear. Great for complex documents. -
The attached [file name] contains [brief description].
Gives the recipient a helpful preview of what they can expect to find in the attachment. -
I‘m attaching [file name] for your reference.
Implies that the information in the attachment supplements the content of your email. -
[File name] is attached for your convenience.
A courteous turn of phrase that shows you‘re trying to make things easy on the recipient. -
Attached please find the [file name] I owe you.
Acknowledges that the attachment is something you previously promised or the recipient was expecting. -
I appreciate you taking the time to review the attached [file name].
A polite way to gently direct the recipient‘s attention to your attachment. -
Kindly refer to the attached [file name] for more details.
Somewhat formal, but still preferable to "please find attached." Use in more traditional business settings. -
Please see the attachment for [brief description].
Another succinct option that works for just about any professional scenario. -
This email includes [file name] as an attachment.
A neutral phrase that simply states the facts. -
My email has [number] attachments, including the [file name] we discussed.
Helpful when you‘re attaching multiple files and want to call attention to a specific document. -
Moving forward, please consult the attached [file name].
Suggests that the attachment contains information the recipient will need to reference in the future. -
I‘ve enclosed [file name] as agreed.
Reminds the recipient that sending the attachment was discussed and mutually agreed upon. -
Don‘t hesitate to reach out with questions after reviewing [file name].
Warmly encourages the recipient to ask for clarification if needed after perusing the attachment. -
I‘m sharing [file name] with you in confidence.
For sensitive attachments that shouldn‘t be forwarded or shared without permission. -
Thanks in advance for looking over the attached [file name] and sharing your thoughts.
Shows appreciation for the recipient taking the time to review and provide feedback on your attachment.
Examples Phrases in Action
To help you get a sense of how these alternatives work in practice, here are a few sample emails showcasing the phrases in context:
EXAMPLE 1
Subject: Website Mockups – Round 2
Hi Javier,
Hope you‘re having a great week! I‘m sharing the latest homepage designs with you. These mockups incorporate the changes we discussed during last week‘s meeting.
Please take a look and let me know if any other tweaks are needed. I‘m aiming to send the final designs to the development team by EOD Friday.
Thanks!
Melinda
EXAMPLE 2
Subject: Signed NDA for Project Constellation
Hello Regina,
As promised, I‘m attaching the NDA for Project Constellation. This document has been reviewed and signed by our legal team.
Kindly countersign the attached file and return a copy to me for our records.
Please let me know if you have any concerns or questions!
Best regards,
Terrence
EXAMPLE 3
Subject: Q3 Marketing Report
Hi team,
I appreciate you taking the time to review the attached Q3 marketing report in advance of tomorrow‘s quarterly business review. The deck contains detailed breakdowns of our lead generation efforts over the past three months.
Don‘t hesitate to reach out if anything in the report is unclear. See you all tomorrow at 10am sharp!
Cheers,
Kai
Putting It All Together
Retiring "please find attached" in favor of one of the alternatives explored here is a small change that can have an outsized impact on your professional image. Whereas "please find attached" can come across as stodgy and impersonal, these contemporary variants will make your emails sound warmer and more relatable. At the same time, they get your point across with equal clarity.
As you experiment with these alternatives, pay attention to your audience and the context at hand. Some phrases (e.g. "I appreciate you taking the time to review the attached [file name]") are more deferential in tone, making them ideal for communicating with executive stakeholders or external clients. Others (e.g. "Here is the [file name] I mentioned") are more casual, which may be appropriate for emails to close coworkers and subordinates.
The key is to choose an alternative that strikes the right note and seamlessly fits the flow of your email. When in doubt, err on the side of simplicity and directness. Your recipients will appreciate not having to parse any unnecessary verbiage as they hunt for your attachment!
By following the tips outlined here and taking just a moment to deliberately choose your words, you‘ll craft clearer, more engaging emails that show your attachments in their best light. Now please find attached enjoy your "please find attached"-free future!
