“Per my last email”: how to say it politely
Why it can fall flat
“per my last email”
Calling out “per” as the culprit, this phrase reads like a formal citation of your own paper trail, as if you're pointing out they missed something. Most of the time, you just want the recipient to find the information and reply.
Say this instead
- 01
Just flagging that I covered this in my email from Tuesday. I can resend it or talk it through if that's easier.
Coworker · Chat
Chat suits a peer who missed something, since it points to Tuesday's message and offers to resend or talk it through.
- 02
As mentioned in my email on March 12, the final artwork is due on Friday. I've pasted the relevant part below so it's easy to find.
Client · Email
Clients respond well to this because it gives the date and the detail and pastes the relevant part, with no blame.
- 03
I outlined the two options and my recommendation in Monday's email. Could you tell me which way you'd like to go?
Boss · Email
When you need a manager's decision, ending on a clear question keeps the message from reading as a reproach.
- 04
I shared the steps in my message last week. Can you take another look and tell me which part is unclear?
Someone you manage · Chat
Someone you manage who skipped instructions gets sent back to the source, and the invitation to name what's unclear keeps it open.
- 05
The refund timeline is in the email I sent on June 4, copied below. If anything there doesn't match what you're seeing, tell me and I'll check.
Customer · Email
A customer repeating a question gets the answer restated, and the offer to check leaves room for a real problem.
- 06
Hi Abigail, as I said in my email, I'm free for interviews only after 3 pm on weekdays. Could you suggest a slot in that window?
Recruiter / HR · SMS
Recruiters who propose times outside your stated limits get the constraint repeated along with a request for a slot that fits.
- 07
I think my earlier email may have got buried. The key point was that design needs the final copy by Thursday. Can you confirm that works?
Coworker · Email
Blaming the inbox instead of the person works when you suspect the message was simply missed, and the confirm question moves things forward.
Examples
Hi Lucas, Thanks for checking in on the launch date. I covered this in my email on Monday: the earliest we can go live is June 20, because testing finishes on the 17th. I've copied that section below in case it's useful. Let me know if you need anything else to plan around it. Best regards, Camila
Hi Robin, I covered the invoice approval steps in my email from Wednesday. Could you check it and tell me if any step is unclear? I'm glad to go through it together.
What to avoid
- Sending the phrase alone as a one-line reply reads like a reprimand.
- Phrases like “as you should know” or “as I already said” only sharpen the point and tend to irritate.
- Pasting a long quoted thread without saying which part matters leaves the reader hunting for it.
- Sarcasm or exclamation marks will show your frustration and make the other person defensive.
- Copying in a manager just to prove you already sent the information looks like point-scoring.