Someone has just emailed you with some great news. You might be tempted to write “I’m glad to hear that” to show how excited you are. However, are there better formal alternatives available?
Is It Formal to Say “I’m Glad to Hear That”?
It is not formal to say “I’m glad to hear that.” Unfortunately, the phrase is informal and does not work well if you include it in most business emails.
The tone is slightly unprofessional, but that doesn’t mean the phrase is incorrect. In fact, it’s quite a friendly one to include when messaging or emailing people you get along well with.
For example:
That’s great news! I’m glad to hear that! Thank you for telling me.
Pros
- It’s very friendly and enthusiastic.
- It shows people that you’re happy to receive positive news.
Cons
- It’s informal.
- You cannot include it in most professional emails.
Clearly, you can’t use “I’m glad to hear that” in formal emails. Luckily, you have alternative options.
Keep reading to learn other ways to say “I’m glad to hear that” that work well in formal writing. We’ve also provided examples to demonstrate how they should look in an email.
What to Say Instead of “I’m Glad to Hear That”
- Thank you for telling me
- That’s very good news
- I appreciate the update
- Thank you for the update
- I’m happy to hear that
- That’s very good to hear
- That’s excellent news
- That’s the kind of news I needed today
- We’ll take that as a win
1. Thank You For Telling Me
We recommend using “thank you for telling me” if you want to be more professional. It shows that you appreciate the update from the email sender.
While “thank you” might seem like a simple choice, it’s a very effective way to share your appreciation. Most people use it in business emails when thanking people for sharing new information or letting them know what’s happening.
This email example should help you understand it better:
Dear Thomas,
Thank you for telling me this information. You are doing so well at keeping me involved.
All the best,
Cheryl
2. That’s Very Good News
“That’s very good news” is another way to say “I’m glad to hear that” that works well in formal emails. It’s slightly more friendly, making it more suitable when emailing colleagues.
It shows that you appreciate the information someone shared with you. Generally, this phrase only works when someone has shared positive news.
Otherwise, “that’s very good news” might not be received well. After all, it can be cruel to say “that’s good news” when hearing bad news (that’s just common sense!)
This sample email will also show you how to use it:
Dear Billy,
That’s very good news, thanks. I’m glad I have someone like you keeping me in the loop.
My best,
Joanna Green
3. I Appreciate the Update
It’s worth using “I appreciate the update” in many written cases. It suits a business email well, so we highly encourage you to use it when you want to sound as professional as possible.
For instance, you might use it when emailing employees. It shows that you appreciate them sending you an email, especially if it gives you information that you didn’t already know about.
Here is a quick email example to show you how it works:
Dear Harry,
I appreciate the update on this topic. Please let me know if anything else comes up going forward.
Kind regards,
Suzanna
4. Thank You for the Update
To keep things professional, you could always try “thank you for the update.” It’s a simple phrase that shows appreciation after someone has provided you with the news.
Of course, “thank you for the update” is much more versatile than “I’m glad to hear that.”
Generally, “I’m glad to hear that” only works in positive situations. You can’t use it when someone has shared a bad update.
However, “thank you for the update” works whether there is good or bad news to share. It’s a great phrase to include in business emails when you appreciate the information you’ve received.
This example email should help you if you’re still unsure:
Dear Mario,
Thank you for the update, and I’ll see what I can do on my end. I’ll update you if I have anything more to say.
Yours,
Jenson
5. I’m Happy to Hear That
It’s good to share emotions sometimes in a formal setting. To do so, you could try “I’m happy to hear that.” It’s a more friendly phrase that works best when emailing employees you have a good relationship with.
You can also use it when talking to colleagues. Basically, as long as you have a good relationship with someone, “I’m happy to hear that” is a positive way to accept information from them.
You might benefit from referring to this sample email:
Dear Horacio,
I’m happy to hear that! I always knew I could count on you to come to me with these issues.
Best wishes,
Markus Felt
6. That’s Very Good to Hear
“That’s very good to hear” is a great example of how to say “I’m glad to hear that” positively and professionally. It’s a very enthusiastic phrase that shows you’re happy to learn about something. Though, it only works when sharing positive information.
You can use it when emailing employees. It shows you appreciate them emailing you about something. It’s a great way to build a strong working relationship with the people who work for you.
Here is an email sample if you’re still not sure:
Dear Tricia,
That’s very good to hear. I’m glad you’re starting to feel better, and I hope to see you again soon.
All the best,
Suzie Walker
7. That’s Excellent News
It’s no secret that “excellent” is a strong word. You should reserve it for the most impactful situations. So, when someone shares truly positive news, you can say “that’s excellent news.”
For instance, you might use it when emailing a colleague who finally agreed to help you with a project. It shows that you’ve been waiting on them for a while, and you’re glad they’re finally able to step up and give you a hand.
Here is an example to show you how it works:
Dear Christopher,
That’s excellent news; thank you for sharing. I’m glad we can finally work together on this.
Kind regards,
Kim
8. That’s the Kind of News I Needed Today
A slightly more casual option comes in the form of this phrase. It’s a great way to show people that you haven’t had a great day but you’ve just received positive news that has turned the day around.
We highly recommend this one when emailing coworkers. It shows that you are both on the same team, and you’re happy that they’ve shared something positive to cheer you up.
Generally, you should avoid using this one when emailing your boss. After all, your boss won’t care as much if you’re not close with them (in most cases).
You can refer to this example to help as well:
Dear Persephone,
That’s the kind of news I needed today. It’s going to make things much easier to understand.
Yours,
Duncan Anthony
9. We’ll Take That as a Win
You can say “we’ll take that as a win” in some business emails. “We” represents a team or company rather than the individual.
It’s good to use this phrase when emailing clients if you want to represent your company. If your client has shared positive news, you can say “we’ll take that” as if your company is happy to receive it.
On the other hand, you could say it when emailing team members. It shows that you have worked as a team with them, where “we” represents both you and the email recipient.
This email example should also help you:
Dear George,
We’ll take that as a win. That’s really good news, and you should be proud of your achievement.
All the best,
Colin