Are you looking for a professional way to compliment someone’s work? You may want to use “keep up the good work” to do so, but is it the best professional choice?
This article has gathered the best synonyms for “keep up the good work.” We’ll show you how to say it to keep things interesting in your writing.
Is It Rude to Say “Keep up the Good Work”?
It is not rude to say “keep up the good work.” Instead, it’s a compliment that works well when you want to sound as polite and friendly as possible via email.
We recommend using it in emails. It’s ok to say it in professional emails because it shows that you appreciate someone’s workload and the effort they’re putting in.
Here’s an example to show you how to use it:
Keep up the good work, Dan! I knew I could rely on you to do this well.
Pros
- It’s polite and positive.
- It’s a very good compliment to boost morale.
Cons
- It’s a bit generic.
- It doesn’t explain what someone has done that you consider “good.”
“Keep up the good work” is a great phrase to include in formal emails. You can’t go wrong with it. But that doesn’t mean you should stop there. There are other alternatives, after all.
Keep reading to learn other ways to say “keep up the good work.” We’ll also provide email examples to help with each one.
What to Say Instead of “Keep up the Good Work”
- Keep it up
- Keep doing what you’re doing
- Keep working hard
- I appreciate all your hard work
- Your efforts haven’t gone unnoticed
- This is great work
- Keep your work at this level
- You have exceeded my expectations
- Brilliant stuff!
- This is awesome work
1. Keep It Up
There’s nothing wrong with keeping things simple. In fact, simplicity often helps your email to sound more formal and polite.
That’s why “keep it up” is a great example of another way to say “keep up the good work.” The original base of the phrase is still there, but “keep it up” is more direct and gets straight to the point.
It’s great to use when emailing employees. It shows that you’re happy with the work they’ve been putting in lately. We highly recommend it if you’re trying to make them feel better about themselves or their workload.
This email example should also help you with it:
Dear Harrison,
Well done! Keep it up, and you’ll be climbing the ladder in no time. Thank you for putting the work in.
All the best,
Scott White
2. Keep Doing What You’re Doing
You may also use “keep doing what you’re doing” when someone has been handing in good work. It’s a great way to reaffirm that someone is performing to a high standard.
We recommend using it when emailing coworkers. It shows that you’re impressed with their work and want them to know.
It’s also a great way to encourage someone to keep putting that amount of effort in. We highly recommend it as an option when you’re looking to strengthen your team.
Check out this sample email as well:
Dear Jenson,
Keep doing what you’re doing, and you’ll be rewarded! We’re very happy to have someone like you on the team.
All the best,
Carla Chacksfield
3. Keep Working Hard
“Keep working hard” is a good formal alternative to include in emails. You may use it when congratulating employees who have put a lot of work in lately.
Generally, this phrase works when you’re impressed with someone. It often implies that someone hasn’t always worked hard but has recently improved their work ethic.
For employee morale, you can’t get much better than a simple phrase like this. It’s bound to improve someone’s confidence and make them feel useful.
Here’s a great email example to help you with it:
Dear Hughie,
Congratulations on the promotion! Keep working hard. You’re bound to keep climbing if you do.
Yours,
Julia Lodge
4. I Appreciate All Your Hard Work
For a more formal synonym, you can use “I appreciate all your hard work.” It shows that you value and respect the recipient for everything they did.
We recommend using it after an employee impresses you. It’s a great way to show that you value them and can see the work they’ve put into completing a project.
Also, it’s bound to improve an employee’s morale. You should always try your best to keep people happy in the workplace if you’re looking for a more unified workforce.
We also recommend reviewing this email sample:
Dear Beau,
I appreciate all your hard work lately. Thank you so much for helping us complete this assignment.
Kind regards,
Emily Holland
5. Your Efforts Haven’t Gone Unnoticed
Employees always like to see appreciation for their work. Phrases like “your efforts haven’t gone unnoticed” are the perfect way to do this.
This phrase is an indirect synonym to “keep up the good work.” It shows that you’ve paid attention to someone’s work ethic and like what you see.
Generally, this will encourage employees to keep up the good work. We highly recommend it when talking to employees who you might be considering for promotion.
Perhaps this sample email will also help you:
Dear Nathan,
Your efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. You’ve really helped us to understand how to make the most out of these changes.
Best wishes,
Dean Parker
6. This Is Great Work
For a more direct alternative, you can use “this is great work.” If the recipient has sent you their project directly, “this is great work” makes for a great response.
For instance, let’s say a student emails you to ask for you to review their work.
You should tell them if you’re incredibly impressed with their work. That’s where “this is great work” comes in.
It implies that you’ve reviewed their work and like what you see. We highly recommend it to maintain a more positive connection with your students.
Check out the following example as well:
Dear Maggie,
This is great work! I knew you were the right person for the job. I’ll be in touch when I have more for you.
Kind regards,
Missy Lemming
7. Keep Your Work at This Level
When someone has noticeably increased their work abilities, you should let them know how happy you are to see it. This works best when emailing employees who don’t always send you the best work.
Something like “keep your work at this level” is a great way to encourage employees to work hard. It shows that you’re happy with the increased quality of work.
Also, it’s good to use if you want someone to keep working on projects for you. Maybe you are considering them for a promotion. This would be a great choice.
You can also review this email example:
Dear Carlton,
Keep your work at this level, and I’m sure you’ll see a promotion in no time. I knew you were the right person for this role.
Yours,
Noah Bullet
8. You Have Exceeded My Expectations
If you can let someone know that their work is impressive, you’re bound to boost their morale. A synonym like “you have exceeded my expectations” works incredibly well for this reason.
You can use it when emailing employees after they hand in a project. It’s a great way to keep things polite yet professional.
However, you should be careful with this one.
Obviously, for someone to “exceed” your expectations, it would imply that your expectations were lower than they should have been.
We still recommend using it, but only when someone hands in a brilliant project. Otherwise, you might imply that you didn’t expect the recipient to send you good quality work (which is insulting).
Check out this example if you’re still stumped:
Dear Lorena,
You have exceeded my expectations with this work. Thank you so much for getting on top of it.
All the best,
Sam Weiss
9. Brilliant Stuff!
We’ve touched on plenty of formal options. There are also a couple of informal ones to consider before you leave!
“Brilliant stuff!” is a great conversational exclamation to include in an email.
It lets coworkers know you’re happy with their work. Of course, since it’s more conversational than other options, it’s better suited when you know the recipient well and can joke with them.
Here’s a great example to also help you with it:
Hi Christopher,
Brilliant stuff! This will certainly help us move forward with the projects without worrying about competitors.
Yours,
Damian Wallace
10. This Is Awesome Work
As another informal synonym, you can use “this is awesome work.” It’s a great way to keep things light-hearted and friendly in your emails.
Of course, it only works when emailing coworkers or people you get along well with. We certainly don’t recommend using a phrase like this when emailing your boss (or any superior).
Nevertheless, give it a try the next time you’re impressed by a colleague’s work. You’re bound to flatter them and improve their mood when they read a positive phrase like this one.
You may also refer to this email sample:
Hi Maria,
This is awesome work! How did you come up with it, though? I can’t wait to share it with the rest of the team.
Yours,
Paul Bowser