How to say “it doesn't matter” professionally
Why it can fall flat
“it doesn't matter”
The other person is likely to hear “it doesn't matter” as a sign that their question or effort was pointless. Usually you mean you have no preference, or that a small detail won't change the outcome.
Say this instead
- 01
Happy with either. Your call.
Boss · Chat
Use it with a boss when you truly have no preference, since it is relaxed and shows you trust their judgment.
- 02
Honestly I'm easy on the venue. What works best for everyone else?
Coworker · Chat
Handing the choice to the group works best when you honestly have no preference, and the friendly question keeps it from sounding bored.
- 03
Thank you for checking. The file format won't affect anything on our side, so a PDF or a Word document is fine.
Client · Email
Give a client a clear answer plus the reason the detail is no issue, so they stop worrying about it.
- 04
Thanks for your message. A scanned copy or a clear photo of the form will be processed in the same way, so there's no need to resend anything.
Customer · Email
Customers get reassurance that nothing extra is needed, which saves them time and worry.
- 05
Thank you for the invitation, I'm looking forward to the interview. Video or in person is fine with me, so I'll go with whatever your team prefers.
Recruiter / HR · Email
Enthusiasm up front makes the flexibility read as cooperative when you write to a recruiter.
- 06
The slide font won't change anything, so don't spend more time on it. The numbers are what count.
Someone you manage · Chat
Telling someone you manage where to put their effort turns the point into guidance and not dismissal.
- 07
No worries about the late reply. It won't hold anything up, so there's no rush on my side.
Coworker · SMS
A colleague who is apologizing for a small delay feels the pressure lift with this one.
Examples
Hi Ishita, Thanks for letting me know about the typo in the invoice reference. It won't affect your payment, because we match it using the invoice number, so nothing more is needed from you. Kind regards, Joshua
Thanks for the heads-up that you'll miss the 3 pm catch-up. That's fine, I'll share the notes afterwards, so there's nothing you need to fix.
What to avoid
- Sending “it doesn't matter” alone as a full reply leaves out the reason or next step the reader needs.
- Replies like “whatever” and “I don't care” can come across as cold or annoyed.
- If you actually have a preference or a deadline, say what you need instead of using this phrase.
- A sarcastic tone, as in “Fine, it doesn't matter”, makes the reply sound irritated.
- Leaving the other person unsure whether to go ahead is unhelpful, so say “go ahead” or “no action needed”.