I read recently about someone who still writes: “Please find attached…” Every email. Every attachment. Every time.
And apparently they’re lovely. Smart. Calm. Competent. Just… stuck in 2001.
Single-sentence reaction: Nothing has ever needed to be “found”.
“Please find attached” doesn’t sound professional. It sounds cautious.
The old way (from the wild): “Attached is the invoice. Please review it at your convenience. I’ll be back on 3rd September. Let’s discuss scheduling a follow-up appointment whenever you’re prepared.“
Careful. Polite. Also long, formal and slightly nervous.
But modern English lets you keep the politeness and drop the padding.
The modern way: “I’ve attached the invoice. Have a look when you can. I’m back on 3 September, and we can follow up then.“
Same message. Less ceremony. Much more natural.
Action Point
- If you see “Please find attached” in your drafts, delete it.
- Start with what matters instead: “I’ve attached…“
Clear English helps everyone: You sound confident. The reader relaxes. And nobody has to find anything.
More phrases worth leaving behind
While you’re updating your email habits, here are a few more expressions that quietly undermine your professional image.
“As per my last email…” Technically correct. Emotionally loaded. Anyone who receives this knows it really means: “I already told you this.” It puts people on the defensive before they’ve read the next sentence. Try instead: “Just to recap…” or simply repeat the key point without the reference.
“Please revert.” Common in some business cultures, but confusing in international contexts — “revert” means to go back to a previous state, not to reply. In global business English it can leave readers puzzled. Try instead: “Please let me know” or “I’d welcome your response.”
“Kindly do the needful.” Widely used, widely misunderstood outside South Asia. In global business English it reads as vague at best, and slightly archaic at worst. Try instead: Be specific. “Could you send the updated file by Friday?” is clearer in any context.
“I hope this email finds you well.” Not offensive – just exhausted. Everyone writes it, nobody means it, and most readers skip straight past it. Try instead: Get to the point immediately. Or if you want warmth, make it specific: “Hope your conference went well last week.“
The pattern you’ll notice
All of these phrases share something: they prioritise formality over clarity. They were designed for a slower, more formal era of business communication.
Modern professional English is direct, warm and human. It respects the reader’s time. It says what it means – without ceremony, without padding and without anyone having to find anything.
Your turn
Which of these phrases do you still catch yourself writing? And what do you use instead?
