Okay, so you need some time to figure out how to respond to someone.
You can use “please wait,” but you’re a little worried that it might sound a bit rude or demanding.
Well, you’ve come to the right place.
This article will share some alternatives to teach you how to say “please wait” politely in emails.
Other Ways to Say “Please Wait”
- I appreciate your patience at this time
- Could you please bear with me?
- Thank you for your patience
- I kindly ask for a moment of your time
- Allow me a brief moment to address your request
- Your understanding is appreciated while I attend to this matter
- I will be with you shortly
- Please bear with me for a moment
- I’m currently working on your inquiry
- Thank you for giving me some time to look into this
- I apologize for any delay and will respond as soon as possible
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- “Please wait” is correct and acceptable when asking customers to wait, but it’s not the most friendly phrase.
- Try “I appreciate your patience at this time” when formally emailing customers after they’ve inquired.
- “Could you please bear with me?” is a great informal alternative that shows you need time to figure things out.
You should read on to learn what to say instead of “please wait” in your emails. We’ve provided formal and informal phrases to help you understand the best options.
Also, you can read the final section to learn if “please wait” is correct. Then, you’ll know how to tell a customer to wait and whether it’s appropriate to stick with the original phrase.
I Appreciate Your Patience at This Time (Formal)
You can use “I appreciate your patience at this time” as a professional way to say “please wait.”
It’s much wordier, but this tends to go a long way when writing a formal email.
The extra wording helps you to sound more respectful and sincere. It shows the recipient that you care about their time and would appreciate some patience from them.
Generally, if you use something like this, it shows you understand that the recipient is busy instead of just waiting for your reply.
So, you can use it when emailing a customer. It’s a great way to let them know that you’ll do what you can to help them, but you might require a bit of patience beforehand.
Here’s a great sample email to show you how to use it:
Dear Mr. Alcohol,
I appreciate your patience at this time. I’ll do what I can to assist you further, but you need to wait a little longer.
Best regards,
Anthony Shaw
Could You Please Bear With Me? (Informal)
Another way to say “please wait” is “could you please bear with me?” This is an informal question that shows you’d appreciate the patience of the recipient.
It teaches you how to ask someone to wait politely in emails.
Generally, a direct question like this one goes a long way and shows the recipient that you’d appreciate their time while you figure something out.
For the most part, you’d use this when emailing a customer. You can tell a customer to wait with a polite phrase like this, and they’ll usually be happy to oblige.
Also, this email sample should clear a few things up:
Dear Rebecca,
Could you please bear with me? I’m trying to sort out the best way to help you with this, but I’m struggling to find the answer.
All the best,
Bethany Jacobs
Is It Correct to Say “Please Wait” in an Email?
It is correct to say “please wait” in an email. It’s a great choice when remaining formal and direct.
Generally, it encourages customers to wait for your reply. That way, they’ll know that you’ll get back to them eventually, but you’re not ready to do so.
It is polite but unfriendly. So, white it uses “please” to keep things respectful, it’s not always the best choice when writing to people in friendly circumstances.
You can write to a customer with it. It’s a simple phrase that most companies encourage. However, we’ve provided synonyms above to help you sound more friendly and reassuring.
Here’s a great email example to help you understand it better:
Dear Mr. Parkinson,
Please wait while I process your request. I’m sure you’ll be more than happy with what I come up with.
Best regards,
Jon Adams
Also, you can use it in a customer service chat (if your company provides it). For instance:
Hello! Please wait while we put you through to one of our most experienced advisors.