So, you want to agree with someone’s ideas or plans. Knowing what to say to convey a formal tone can be tricky.
“That works for me” is an option, but is it the most appropriate professional choice?
Is It Formal to Say “That Works for Me”?
It’s not formal to say “that works for me.” It’s too conversational, so it does not work well if you try to include it in a business email. It is unprofessional, so it conveys the wrong tone for most formal situations.
Informally, it’s a great phrase. It’s actually very polite, so it works well in most casual contexts. Here’s how you might use it:
That works for me, Damien! I’ll see you on Friday.
Pros
- It’s a great conversational phrase.
- It allows you to agree with someone’s plans or ideas easily.
Cons
- It’s too informal.
- You cannot use it in business emails to arrange plans.
“That works for me” is certainly suitable informally. However, it is no use formally. So, it’s best to have a few alternatives ready that work much better.
Keep reading to learn how to say “that works for me” professionally. We’ve gathered the best alternatives and provided examples to help you understand them.
What to Say Instead of “That Works for Me”
- That suits me
- I agree
- That will work
- That is acceptable
- That’s great
- That’s good
- I can do that
- I can make that work
- That will do nicely
- That is sufficient
1. That Suits Me
There’s no reason to look too deeply into your synonym choices. Sometimes, a simple option is also the most effective. So, we recommend using “that suits me” in a business email when agreeing with someone’s idea.
It allows you to show that you accept someone’s idea and think it works well. It’s very professional, so it’s a good one to use when emailing your boss and agreeing to something they might have set for you.
Here is an email example to help you:
Dear Mrs. Adam,
I appreciate it. That suits me as well, and I’m very excited to work closely with you on this subject.
Best wishes,
Peter Samson
2. I Agree
You might find that “I agree” works well in particularly formal circumstances. However, it’s a very impersonal phrase that should only be reserved for the most professional business emails.
For instance, you might use it when completing a project for a client. It allows you to maintain a positive and professional relationship with simple language such as “I agree.”
This sample email will also show you how to use it:
Dear Monica,
I agree with the original plan you presented. Let’s get that ready for the presentation.
Yours,
Forrest Tyler
3. That Will Work
You should always try to sound as confident as possible when writing business emails. “That will work” is a great way to showcase confidence. It’s a very important phrase that shows your schedule is well-suited to someone’s idea.
For instance, let’s say that a colleague has arranged an event. They’ve emailed you to see if you will attend, and you’ve decided the time “will work” because you’ve looked through your diary. That’s the best way to use this one.
This email example will also help you:
Dear Brody,
Thank you, that will work. It’s the perfect time to host the event, as most people are able to attend.
All the best,
Jackson
4. That Is Acceptable
Sometimes, emails call for very formal language. For example, “that is acceptable” might not be something you would say every day, but it’s something that belongs in a business email when you want to impress the recipient.
It’s a very respectful phrase. You should use it when emailing business partners to set up meetings or events together. It shows you accept the terms they’ve presented.
You might benefit from checking out this email example:
Dear Ms. Mayfair,
Yes, that is acceptable, and I look forward to seeing you there. I appreciate you contacting me to arrange the meeting.
Kind regards,
Mr. Carlton
5. That’s Great
Going back to some more simple phrases, “that’s great” has to be one of the best options if you want to remain polite and professional. It works well in many business emails because it shows you agree with someone and think their idea is “great.”
We recommend using this one when talking to colleagues. It’s a much more friendly phrase that works well in business emails once you’ve got a better working relationship with the recipient.
This sample email will help you with it:
Dear Russell,
That’s great, thank you. I am happy to work on either, but I’ll let you choose which you prefer.
Kind regards,
Melissa Bennett
6. That’s Good
Following on from “that’s great,” you can also use “that’s good” as an alternative. “Good” and “great” are somewhat synonymous, though “good” is a little bit less extreme (making it less positive).
However, it’s still a great phrase when emailing colleagues. You can use “that’s good” when you’re happy to hear something from a colleague and think the timings they’ve suggested work well for you.
Here is an email sample if you still need help:
Dear Paul,
Yes, that’s good for me. I’m very excited to meet with you and discuss more of this in person.
Best wishes,
Charlotte Dean
7. I Can Do That
It’s worth using a phrase like “I can do that” when you want to sound a bit more conversational. It’s a very useful option when emailing colleagues or people you’re close to.
There isn’t anything overly formal or professional with this one. That’s why it works best when emailing people you’ve known for a while. We highly recommend it if you have a more friendly relationship with the recipient.
Here is an example to demonstrate how to use it:
Dear Cammy,
That works perfectly! I can do that, and I’ll bring along some of the project files to show you.
Best regards,
Roger
8. I Can Make That Work
Another great casual alternative to “that works for me” is “I can make that work.” Of course, you can still use it in some emails, but you need to have a friendly relationship with the recipient to get away with it.
Think about using it when emailing coworkers. It shows that you can do something at a certain time by fitting it around other things that might be in your schedule.
You can refer to this example to help:
Dear Remus,
That time is fine with the rest of the team and me. I can make that work, so see you on Friday.
All the best,
Thomas Woodgrove
9. That Will Do Nicely
“That will do nicely” is a decent alternative to “that works for me” that keeps things interesting. Of course, you can use this in business emails when talking to colleagues and arranging meetings.
It’s a great way to agree to a specific time. It shows you are very comfortable agreeing with the time, and it “nicely” fits into your schedule.
This email example should also help you:
Dear Rami,
That will do nicely, thank you. I’m glad you could set up the times for this meeting.
All the best,
Hillary
10. That Is Sufficient
While it might not be the most effective phrase in casual circumstances, “that is sufficient” is a great professional alternative. It’s quite impersonal, though. You should only use it when writing very formal emails (i.e., an email to your boss).
You may also want to be careful using a word like “sufficient.” After all, it’s not quite as positive as words like “good” or “great.” Some recipients might take it to mean you aren’t impressed with their suggestion.
Here is an example to help you with it:
Dear Mr. Jacobs,
Of course, that is sufficient for me. I will let you know closer to the time when I’m ready to meet.
All the best,
Jessica Perkins