When you need this

You forward an email when someone else needs to see it: the question belongs to another team, a colleague missed an invite, or your manager should know what a client said. Forwarding is quick, and that's the risk. The whole thread goes with it, including old comments near the bottom that were never meant for the new reader.

Two habits keep forwarding safe. Add a line at the top that says why they're getting it and what you want from them, because "See below" with nothing else makes the reader dig. And if the message came from a client or a colleague, ask yourself whether they'd be comfortable with it traveling. When in doubt, ask first: "Is it OK if I forward this?"

Phrases

send an email you received on to another person

explaining where the email came from

pointing to the earlier emails underneath

for your information; nothing to do, only to read

forwarding and asking for action

a relaxed way to say you're forwarding something

asking before you share someone's message

the message is private or sensitive

explaining how you got it

you can't answer it, but you'll send it on

handing a task to someone by name

asking for an explanation with a forwarded email

the first email in the chain

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

Practice · 3 min

Say the line that fits. Situation on the left, one natural line on the right.

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Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.