What exactly does it mean when something is “nice-to-have”? And what’s another word for “nice-to-have”?
If these are the questions that are stressing you out currently, then you’ve come to the right place. Just keep reading and you’ll find all of the answers you need.
Nice-to-Have Synonyms
- Additional feature
- Added bonus
- Optional extra
- Bonus feature
- Desirable option
- Lower priority
- Inessential
- Could-have
- Good extra
- Value-added feature
- Luxury
- Stretch goal
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- “Nice-to-have” is a correct phrase that people use in business to describe a feature that’s desirable but not essential.
- As a formal alternative, you can try using “additional feature.”
- If you’re looking for an informal option, then try using “added bonus.”
If you keep on reading, we’ll describe the scenarios that these formal and informal alternatives are best suited for. You’ll also be able to read some handy example sentences that will help you understand these phrases.
Additionally, we’ll explain why the punctuation of “nice-to-have” is important.
Additional Feature (Formal)
Another way to say “nice-to-have” is “additional feature.”
This is a formal synonym that works well in a professional context. Therefore, you should feel comfortable using it when giving important presentations or speaking to your boss.
However, “nice-to-have” is still recognized business and product terminology, so it’s still the best phrase to use in these contexts. This is just an alternative for when you want to diversify your language.
Moreover, this phrase doesn’t necessarily always represent the exact same meaning as “nice-to-have,” as it doesn’t convey the same combination of being desirable but inessential.
Nonetheless, you can still use it in the right contexts, like in the email example below:
Dear Kyle,
We’re currently viewing that as an additional feature, which we’ll include if we have the time/budget.
Please let me know if you would like us to shift strategy and prioritize this.
Kind regards,
Glenn
Added Bonus (Informal)
An informal alternative to “nice-to-have” is “added bonus.”
This phrase has a slightly more casual tone, so is best used in environments where you feel comfortable communicating in a relaxed register.
“Nice-to-have” is also a relatively informal phrase but one that’s established business terminology. If you’re in a position where you need to present a new concept for a product or project, we would still recommend using the original phrase, “nice-to-have.”
However, this is a strong alternative for when you’re discussing plans with colleagues, like in the example below:
Hi Yasir,
The chat feature is just an added bonus, so I’m happy to switch my focus to something else for a while if it’ll help you guys out!
Cheers,
Glenn
Is It Correct to Say “Nice-to-Have”?
“Nice-to-have” is correct terminology.
People use this phrase to discuss something that would enhance a product or experience but isn’t necessary to its functioning.
For example, if you’re designing a new website for a company and you’re working within a limited time period or budget, you might have a few features in mind that are “nice-to-have.” These are things you’ll include if you find the time or money but not things that you’ll prioritize.
The hyphens in this phrase are important, as they transform the separate words into a compound phrase. Take a look at the examples below:
- Correct: It’s nice to have you on board!
- Incorrect: It’s nice-to-have you on board!
- Correct: This feature is a nice-to-have.
- Incorrect: This feature is a nice to have.
Remember, a “nice-to-have” with hyphens is an additional feature that’s unnecessary but nice. The hyphens turn this concept into a noun. As such, you only use the hyphens when referring to an additional feature.
Without hyphens, something that is “nice to have” is just that – nice to have! You remove the hyphens when you want to treat this term as a phrase and not as a single noun.
We hope you’ve found this article useful and feel confident using these terms. Why not bookmark this page so you can easily come back and refresh your knowledge whenever you feel like it?