Has someone just explained something to you that now makes complete sense?
However, you’re worried that replying with just “makes sense” will seem rude or unprofessional?
Luckily, we’re here to help you with that!
This article will teach you how to say “makes sense” professionally and politely. That way, you can use different phrases for different situations.
Other Ways to Say “Makes Sense”
- It’s clear now
- I get it
- I see what you mean
- That adds up
- I understand
- That’s logical
- That’s reasonable
- I see the logic in that
- That’s sound
- It’s all coming together
- That’s coherent
- I’m following you
- It’s clicking now
- That’s quite sensible
- I’m with you on that
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- “Makes sense” is correct, but it’s informal unless you extend it to something like “it makes sense.”
- “It’s clear now” is a great formal synonym that shows you understand something after an explanation.
- “I get it” is excellent as an informal alternative that shows you’re happy with an explanation.
You should keep reading to learn other ways to say “makes sense.” We’ve touched on the best formal and informal alternatives to show you what’s available.
Also, read the final section to find out if “makes sense” is correct before writing it. Then, you’ll know whether it’s appropriate to include when you want to use it.
It’s Clear Now (Formal)
We recommend using “it’s clear now” as a professional way to say “makes sense.” It’s more direct and to the point, showing that you’re happy with an explanation.
Generally, you can use this formally after an email recipient has explained how something works.
It’s useful because it shows that they don’t need to clarify any further, as you fully understand what they’ve written.
Try using it when contacting an employee. It’s useful because it lets an employee know that you appreciate their explanation, and you won’t need them to go into further detail.
If you still need a visual demonstration, you can refer to the following email example:
Dear Clark,
It’s clear now because of your explanation, so I’m happy to work through this.
I’ll let you know as soon as I’ve made progress on my end.
Best regards,
Donny Shaw
I Get It (Informal)
Sometimes, it’s better to stick to more informal choices. That’s where “I get it” comes in.
It’s friendly and sincere. While it certainly works better when contacting friends, it’s still a great way to show that you’re more than happy with the explanation they provided.
And you’re not only limited to using this synonym in text messages.
It can also work in emails when you’re letting coworkers know you appreciate a full explanation.
Either way, it’s clear and direct. It shows that you get what someone is saying, and you no longer need to ask questions.
This email sample should also help you to see more about how it works:
Hi Ben,
I get it now; thanks so much!
Of course, I’ll continue moving forward with the project, but I’ll update you when I have more news.
All the best,
Sarah Cattery
Alternatively, this text message sample can help you to understand more about it:
I get it! You explained it clearly, and I’ll do what I can to take your words on board as I continue with this.
Is It Correct to Say “Makes Sense”?
It is correct to say “makes sense.” It’s a casual phrase that lets someone know you understand an explanation they’ve provided you with.
Generally, it’s not rude.
You can also use the phrase “makes sense” on its own. However, it’s not formal when used like this.
For instance:
- Makes sense. Thanks for the explanation.
If you want it to sound more formal, you’ll need to add a simple extension like “it” or “that.”
For example:
Dear Ben,
That makes sense to me.
Thanks so much for talking me through it.
Yours,
Jaime Clear
To reiterate, the phrase is only formal when using extensions. So, you can refer to the following ones to find out what works:
- It makes sense
- It all makes sense now
- Now it makes sense
- That makes sense
- That makes more sense
- That makes perfect sense
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to mix things up and sound more formal. Feel free to play around with the extensions to find the version that best suits the tone of your writing.
Don’t forget to bookmark this page before you leave, though! Then, you can always remind yourself of another way to say “makes sense” when you need it.