It’s important to respond politely when someone tells you something useful, but “good to know” may come across as a tad short or even rude.
Fear not! We’ve compiled a list of alternative phrases to use when you’re given helpful info, so keep on reading.
Other Ways to Say “Good to Know”
- I will keep that in mind
- Thanks for telling me
- Noted
- Duly noted
- Happy to hear it
- Glad to hear
- That’s useful to know
- I’ll take that on
- That’s useful information
- I’ll bear that in mind
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The phrase “good to know” can come across as rude in some contexts, especially when said sarcastically.
- In formal circumstances, you can say “I will keep that in mind” instead.
- In informal circumstances, you can say “thanks for telling me.”
Keep reading to see how we use our choice of formal and informal synonyms for “good to know” in a couple of examples.
Thereafter, we’ll discuss whether the phrase “good to know” is inherently rude.
I Will Keep That in Mind (Formal)
If someone has given you helpful information in a formal setting, “I will keep that in mind” is an appropriate response.
This phrase lets the other person know that you have not only heard their advice but will make use of it in some way.
We would recommend making use of this phrase in email exchanges in the workplace or other formal communications. After all, while “good to know” can be used in formal situations, it can come across as terse and give off the wrong tone in text.
Lastly, let’s see how one might use “I will keep that in mind” in practice:
Dear Carlisle,
Thank you, I will keep that in mind.
Kind regards,
Jessica Plett
Person 1: I would suggest seeking the assistance of one of our interns to get the admin side of this project done more quickly.
Person 2: Okay, I will keep that in mind.
Thanks for Telling Me (Informal)
Another term that you can use when you’ve been given some helpful information is “thanks for telling me.” This phrase is a tad more friendly and casual, so you can use it in informal circumstances.
It is not a better phrase than “good to know,” but the addition of “thanks” makes this phrase a bit more polite. After all, you are expressing gratitude for the information rather than simply saying it is good information to have.
You can use this phrase in the workplace when speaking to colleagues with whom you have a friendly rapport.
Consider the example below:
Dear Reg,
Thanks for telling me about the editing software. I had no idea!
It’s been a great help.
All the best,
Angus
Is “Good to Know” Rude?
Whether the phrase “good to know” will come across as rude depends greatly on the tone with which you say it and the surrounding context.
This phrase is often used in a sarcastic manner to imply that information is unsolicited or not truly helpful:
- Person 1: I keep a collection of my snake’s shed skin in my desk for good luck.
- Person 2: Good to know…
For obvious reasons, we would recommend caution when you use this phrase in emails. After all, it’s not always easy to discern tone through text!
Nonetheless, if the message surrounding the phrase in your email is polite, then the phrase “good to know” won’t be considered rude.
Consider some variations of the phrase below:
- It’s good to know
- That’s good to know
- Good to know that
Additionally, if you want to make absolutely sure that your use of “good to know” comes across politely and sincerely, it never hurts to add a “thank you” before or after!
In conclusion, “good to know” might come across as rude if said with a sarcastic tone or if written in text, so use it with caution!
If you find our list of alternatives good to know, feel free to bookmark this page!