blog · 10 oct 2026

10 email phrases that sound translated, and what fluent speakers write instead

you wrote "please find the attached file herewith" and felt very professional. the reader felt like they were opening a court summons.

these phrases are not wrong. they are just older and stiffer than how most teams write today, and many come from translating a formal first language word by word.

• Please find attached file→I've attached the fileshorter, active
• Kindly revert→Please get back to merevert means to go back to a previous state
• Noted with thanks→Got it, thanks!less like a government office
• Kindly do the needful→Could you take care of this?rarely used by native speakers
• Sorry for the inconvenience→Thanks for your patiencethank instead of apologise
• I want to ask you about→Quick question aboutsignals it will be short
• Please advise→Let me know what you thinkinvites input, softer
• As per my last email→Just following up onthe original can read as annoyed
• Do you understand?→Does that make sense?the original sounds like a teacher
• Waiting for your reply→Looking forward to hearing from youa warmer close

none of these need better grammar. they need a lighter touch.