A heads-up is always welcome. It means we’re given information to prepare for something. Thus, we should be grateful that we’re given the chance to prepare.
However, is “thanks for the heads-up” the best formal phrase to use?
This article has gathered some alternatives to show you how to say “thanks for the heads-up” professionally.
Is It Professional to Say “Thanks for the Heads-Up”?
It is not professional to say “thanks for the heads-up.” Unfortunately, the phrase itself is a bit too conversational. You shouldn’t say it when you’re trying to sound as formal as possible.
While it’s an informal phrase, that doesn’t mean it’s incorrect. In fact, it’s quite a popular choice when showing that you appreciate someone for warning you.
Here’s an example to show you how it works:
Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll be sure to act on this accordingly to see what I can find out.
Pros
- It’s polite and friendly.
- It’s a good way to show appreciation when someone prepares you for something.
Cons
- It’s quite informal, so it doesn’t work well in most business emails.
- It is fairly generic and bland.
So, you can’t really use “thanks for the heads-up” in formal writing. Instead, you should try to mix in some synonyms to help you sound as professional as possible.
Keep reading to learn another way to say “thanks for the heads-up.” We’ll also provide some examples for each phrase to help you.
What to Say Instead of “Thanks for the Heads-Up”
- Thank you for informing me
- Thank you for this information
- I appreciate your telling me
- Thanks for letting me know
- Thank you for warning me
- Thanks for being honest with me
- I appreciate the heads-up
- I appreciate you coming to me with this
- Thank you for saying that
- Thanks for keeping me in the know
1. Thank You for Informing Me
For a simple professional alternative, you can use “thank you for informing me.” It’s incredibly useful in formal emails because it shows you’re happy to receive information.
Generally, “thank you for informing me” works when someone shares warnings or information.
Therefore, it’s one of the more common phrases to include in an email. You should try it when emailing clients, as it’s a good way to keep a formal rapport with them.
This email sample will also help you understand it:
Dear Miss Adams,
Thank you for informing me about this discrepancy. I will see if there’s anything I can do before moving forward.
Yours,
Roger Moore
2. Thank You for This Information
You can also use “thank you for this information” as a formal way of saying “thanks for the heads-up.” Here, we can refer to the “heads-up” as “this information.”
The implication is that you appreciate someone coming to you with a warning. It shows you didn’t expect to hear it, but you’re glad they could trust you with the knowledge.
You may use it to email coworkers who have kept you in the loop. It’s a professional choice that shows you’re truly grateful.
Check out the following example to see how to use it:
Dear Allison,
Thank you for this information. I wasn’t aware of this, but I’m glad you came to me to inform me.
Yours,
Darren Kate
3. I Appreciate Your Telling Me
Whenever you use “I appreciate” instead of “thank you,” it’s seen as a more professional alternative. Therefore, “I appreciate your telling me” is a great option to use.
We would like to highlight that you have two options here:
- I appreciate your telling me.
- I appreciate you telling me.
Using “your” shows appreciation for the action. It’s a more formal way to thank someone for coming to you with information.
Using “you” shows your appreciation to the person. It’s a good way to sound a bit more friendly if that’s what you’re looking for.
We also recommend reviewing this example:
Dear Mr. Smith,
I appreciate your telling me. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to repay you later.
All the best,
Sam Davies
4. Thanks for Letting Me Know
There’s nothing wrong with sounding a bit more friendly in your formal emails. Sometimes, a more friendly tone is called for.
That’s where “thanks for letting me know” comes in handy. It’s friendly and shows you appreciate the update.
It works best when emailing coworkers. It’s a really good way to show them how much you appreciate the information they’ve provided, especially if it helps to prepare you for something.
Here’s a helpful email sample if you’re still unsure:
Dear Delilah,
Thanks for letting me know. I knew I could count on you to provide me with a proper insight into this.
Kind regards,
Andy Lang
5. Thank You for Warning Me
Warnings tend to help us prepare for what’s to come. Therefore, getting a warning in the workplace is a good way to ready yourself if you need to.
“Thank you for warning me” is a good alternative to “thanks for the heads-up.” It shows you really appreciate someone coming to you to warn you of something that might negatively affect you.
It works well when a client hears about some company changes relating to your job role. If they heard about it first, they might share it with you to let you know what’s coming.
Check out this email example to see how it works:
Dear Marissa,
Thank you for warning me about the changes. I’ll be sure to talk to my manager to see if there’s anything we can do.
Best,
Sean Wallace
6. Thanks for Being Honest With Me
You can also try “thanks for being honest with me” instead of “thanks for the heads up.”
It’s an appreciative and kind synonym that works well when you know the recipient. Generally, it gives off a more friendly vibe, which sometimes helps your emails.
You can try it when emailing employees. It’s all too easy for employees to avoid honesty when speaking with their employers. Therefore, you should respect them if they come to you first.
We also recommend reviewing the following email sample:
Dear Miley,
Thanks for being honest with me. I’ll be certain to bring this up with the team to let them know what’s happening.
Yours,
George Kingston
7. I Appreciate the Heads-Up
Try “I appreciate the heads-up” as a professional way to say “thanks for the heads-up.”
As always, “I appreciate” is a more formal phrase than “thanks.” Therefore, it’s a simple yet effective replacement to sound as formal and respectful as possible.
You should use it when emailing your boss. It shows you appreciate whatever information they share (especially if it helps you do your job).
Here’s a helpful sample email to show you how it works:
Dear Ms. Watson,
I appreciate the heads-up. I’ll be in touch when I have spoken to the client to decide what to do next.
Thank you so much,
Marissa Mayhorn
8. I Appreciate You Coming to Me With This
“I appreciate you coming to me with this” is a friendly and polite way to thank someone for a heads-up.
It shows they went out of their way to contact you and provide details. We recommend using it when thanking clients.
Generally, this phrase keeps things friendly between you and the other party. It works best with clients because it’s a good way to build a positive rapport with them.
If you’re still stuck, check out this example:
Dear Ms. Williams,
I appreciate you coming to me with this. Please let me know if there’s anything else you need from me.
Kind regards,
Sam Tanner
9. Thank You for Saying That
You can try using “thank you for saying that” as a formal synonym for “thanks for the heads-up.”
It helps to mix up your written language a bit more, making your emails more original.
It’s a good option when thanking a supervisor or someone above you. It’s respectful and appreciative, showing that you care about the information they provided you with.
We also recommend reviewing the following example:
Dear Mr. Cournoyer,
Thank you for saying that. I’m glad someone from the firm is on my side with this situation.
All the best,
Summer Milliken
10. Thanks for Keeping Me in the Know
We also want to go over “thanks for keeping me in the know.” Now, this one is a little more conversational, but that doesn’t mean it’s irrelevant in formal emails.
You can use it when emailing colleagues. It’s a great way to share appreciation when you’re grateful they’ve kept you in the loop.
It also helps you to stay more friendly with the recipient. If they’ve done you a favor, it’s best practice to stay friendly to let them know you appreciate what they’ve done.
You should also check out this email example if you need more help:
Dear Teresa,
Thanks for keeping me in the know. I’ll let you know as soon as I find out more information that pertains to this.
Kind regards,
Jonathan Woodley