What does "please advise" mean in emails?
"Please advise" is a formal email request for guidance or a decision. Here's when it sounds natural and when it sounds passive-aggressive.
What it means
Please tell me what to do, give me guidance, or make a decision. It asks the recipient to respond with information or instructions.
"I've received two conflicting responses. Please advise."
"I'm unsure how to proceed. Please advise."
The passive-aggressive version
"Please advise." at the end of an email can imply "why haven't you told me yet?" or "this is your problem to solve." The bluntness of it - especially without additional context - reads as pointed.
When it's fine
When there is genuinely a decision or guidance needed from someone with authority or knowledge. It's more formal than "let me know what you think."
Better alternatives in most cases
- "Could you let me know how you'd like to proceed?" - warmer
- "What would you recommend?" - direct
- "Any guidance on this would be helpful." - softer
Register
Formal. More common in formal business and legal communication.
What does "please advise" mean?
Please tell me what to do, give me guidance, or make a decision. It asks the recipient to respond with information or instructions.
"I've received two conflicting responses. Please advise."
"I'm unsure how to proceed. Please advise."
Is "please advise" formal or informal?
Formal. More common in formal business and legal communication.
What's another way to say "please advise"?
- "Could you let me know how you'd like to proceed?" - warmer
- "What would you recommend?" - direct
- "Any guidance on this would be helpful." - softer
Want your emails to sound more natural?
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