So, you’re trying to include “for your reference” in an email. If you’ve included an attachment or file that someone needs to refer to, it’s worth indicating its importance.
But what is the best phrase to use?
This article will explore the best alternatives to “for your reference.”
Other Ways to Say “For Your Reference”
- Pay attention to
- As a quick note
- For your information
- For your review
- Consider the attachment
- For your attention
- Please look into
- Take a look at
- Look into
- I would like you to refer to
- Please refer to
- Give reference to
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- “For your reference” is grammatically correct and formal when highlighting something in an email.
- Try using “pay attention to” for a formal alternative that will mix up your email choices.
- You could say “as a quick note” if you want to be more informal in your emails.
So, keep reading to learn more about the most useful synonyms. You will find the best suitable options to replace “for your reference” in your writing.
You can also skip to the final section to learn whether “for your reference” is correct. It would help to know that before you include it.
Pay Attention to (Formal)
You should use “pay attention to” in formal emails to let someone know they need to focus. It shows you have something very important to share with them, so they shouldn’t overlook it.
There are plenty of situations where this might come up professionally. Try using it when emailing employees and letting them know they need to pay attention to the contents of the most recent file attachment.
“Pay attention to” is more commanding than “for your reference.” It works best if you’re the boss because you need to have some authority over the person you’re messaging to get away with a phrase like this.
We also highly recommend using “pay attention to” as an alternative to “for your reference.” Both phrases are great formally and you can use both to mix up your formal written choices.
Here is an example of how you might use “pay attention to” in an email:
Dear Sarah,
Pay attention to the new rules. I have attached them below.
Please feel free to ask any questions if you have them.
All the best,
Hannah
As a Quick Note (Informal)
“As a quick note” is a great informal alternative you can use to share information with someone. It does not draw immediate and urgent attention to the information, though.
Instead, it is more conversational, and you should use it in emails with colleagues you have a close relationship with. This generally ensures that they will understand your friendly tone and not complain that you’re not writing professionally.
“As a quick note” is certainly not as impactful as “for your reference.” It makes it seem like the information you’re sharing is unimportant or insignificant, which can be dangerous formally.
For that reason, we only recommend “for your reference” in formal emails. You should keep “as a quick note” to informal situations between friends and colleagues.
Check out this example to lend a hand:
Dear Roger,
As a quick note, I have attached some of the updated databases.
What do you think of them?
Yours,
Michael
Is It Correct to Say “For Your Reference”?
“For your reference” is grammatically correct and formal. You should use it in business emails when you want someone to refer to new information.
It’s most common when you’ve attached a file. It generally suggests that the recipient needs to “refer” to the file to see what you have updated them about.
For example, you might send “for your reference” to an employee when you want them to look into new rule changes. It can work well if you’re the boss and want people to pay attention to something that’s incredibly important to their job.
You may come across any of the following variations in formal emails as well:
- Just for your reference
- For your reference and record
- Attached for your reference
These variations all offer something in emails if you want to keep using a variation of the original phrase, “for your reference.” You could also use “FYR,” which is the abbreviation of “for your reference.”
You should bookmark this page for later use. After all, you never know when you might need to come back to it and remind yourself of how to use “for your reference.”