Are you looking for ways to tell someone to continue talking about something?
But maybe you’re worried that “please proceed” is a bit informal or overused.
Well, you’ve come to the right place to learn more.
After all, this article will teach you how to say “please proceed” professionally.
Is It Rude to Say “Please Proceed”?
It is not rude to say “please proceed.”
It’s a polite phrase that works well when you’d like someone to continue with something. Of course, this could apply to payments, processes, or general thoughts.
It’s professional, too. So, you’ll often find something like this useful to include in most emails.
You may want to review the following email sample to learn a bit more about it:
Dear Ms. Albert,
Please proceed with the process we were going through.
I’d like to know more about your plans moving forward.
All the best,
Katie Anne
Pros
- It’s a professional way to keep someone active and engaged in their own thoughts.
- It’s polite and respectful.
Cons
- It’s a bit generic.
- It doesn’t always explain what you’d like someone to proceed with.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with using “please proceed” in your emails. But that doesn’t mean it’s your only option. There are plenty of others out there.
So, keep reading to learn how to say “please proceed” in an email. We’ve gathered a helpful list of synonyms to give you a better idea of what might work well in your emails.
What to Say Instead of “Please Proceed”
- Kindly move forward
- Please continue
- Feel free to proceed
- You may continue
- When you’re ready, keep going
- Go ahead
- I invite you to proceed
- Carry on
- I encourage you to move forward
1. Kindly Move Forward
We recommend starting by saying “kindly move forward.”
This is a formal and direct way to tell someone to continue with a process.
Generally, it’s a good way to show that you’re happy for someone to proceed accordingly.
It works well when contacting a client. For the most part, it shows that you’re currently happy with the state of affairs, so you’d like everything to continue as planned.
Clients will appreciate this direct phrasing. It gets your point across quickly and ensures you’re using straightforward language.
Here’s a helpful email sample to show you more about it if you still don’t get it:
Dear Mr. March,
Kindly move forward with the process once you have everything in place.
I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with next.
Best wishes,
Sam Rich
2. Please Continue
For something simpler, try “please continue.”
As you can tell, we’ve swapped “proceed” for “continue” with this synonym. Sometimes, the best synonyms are those that don’t change much from the original formula.
Therefore, you can use this when talking to a vendor. It’s an excellent way to tell them to proceed with the order you’ve placed with them.
Generally, this keeps things respectful and professional. So, you really can’t go wrong when including something like this in most business formats.
If you still need a bit of help with it, it might be worth reviewing the following email example:
Dear Ms. Banner,
Please continue with the order, as we’d like to stock this item by the end of the month.
Let us know if anything changes that might prevent us from doing that.
My best,
Shane Orson
3. Feel Free to Proceed
Another great phrase to use in your writing is “feel free to proceed.” This works well when writing to a company about a product you might have ordered.
For instance, you can use it to tell them to proceed with the payment from an invoice.
It’s direct and clear, letting people know that you’re fine with things as they are. So, you can use it to indicate that you’d like something to move forward.
Companies will appreciate this choice of language. It leaves nothing up to the imagination and shows that you’re currently quite happy with how things are going.
You could also review the following sample email to learn a bit more about how it works:
Dear Ms. Partridge,
Feel free to proceed with the payment for the product as originally planned.
I’m more than happy with how this is going, and I look forward to what comes next.
Yours,
Sarah Catford
4. You May Continue
You can ask someone to proceed with the process by using “you may continue.”
This is a respectful and direct way to let someone know you’re happy for them to continue with something.
Generally, it works quite well when contacting a client. You can let them know that you’re happy with how things are going, so you’re willing to let them move on.
If they’ve come to you asking for confirmation, this is the phrase to use. After all, it’s clear and professional, which will help you to set the tone moving forward.
Here’s a helpful example to show you more about how it can work:
Dear Ms. Anderson,
You may continue processing this because I like where it’s going.
Let me know if there’s anything else I need to do first, though.
Yours,
Taylor Stanford
5. When You’re Ready, Keep Going
You can also use “when you’re ready, keep going” as another way to say “please proceed.”
Generally, this works well when contacting an employee.
It shows that you’re happy with what they’re currently doing. It’s also a bit more friendly, which goes a long way when talking to someone you trust or have known for a while.
Usually, this is an excellent one to use when you want to improve employee relations. It shows you’re a more positive employer, and you want them to know that they can count on you.
You can also review this email sample to learn a bit more about it:
Dear Becky,
When you’re ready, keep going with the project.
I like your style, and I think this is going to reflect will well on our company.
All the best,
Zoey Jenner
6. Go Ahead
Sticking to more conversational alternatives, you may want to use “go ahead.”
This works wonders when confirming something to a coworker.
It suggests that you’re happy for them to proceed with something. So, you can use this when you’d like to let them know that you’re glad they came to you to ask for something.
It’s positive and respectful, too.
You may want to review the following sample email to learn a bit more about it:
Dear Katie,
Go ahead with the project in question, as I know you have some great ideas.
Please let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help you, though.
Yours,
Zion Bennett
7. I Invite You to Proceed
You can also use “I invite you to proceed” instead of “please proceed.”
This is a formal way to show someone that you’re happy for them to continue with something.
For the most part, it’s professional and respectful.
Therefore, it’s quite a good choice when writing to an applicant. If you’re currently happy with what they’re saying to you, this is a good way to keep the conversation going.
It also allows you to learn a lot more about them, which could benefit you both in the future.
You can also review the following email sample to find out more:
Dear Joe,
I invite you to proceed with this application.
You’re an excellent candidate, and I’m certain we will be inviting you to a second interview.
Yours,
Tony Wiseau
8. Carry On
Another great phrase to use instead of “please proceed” is “carry on.”
Generally, you can use this as a more approachable and friendly way to say “please proceed.”
It suggests that you’re happy with someone’s work and want them to continue as they already are.
Therefore, you may use this when replying to a student.
If they’ve sent you an assignment in its current state, this phrase is a good way to let them know it’s correct and they should continue with it.
Feel free to review the following example if you still need help understanding it:
Dear Matty,
Carry on with this in the same way you already are.
It’s perfect, and I’d like to see what else you can do with the criteria.
Best regards,
Dr. Martens
9. I Encourage You to Move Forward
Finally, you may want to use “I encourage you to move forward” instead of “please proceed.”
This is a direct and straightforward way to show that you’re happy for someone to continue with something.
For the most part, it keeps things respectful and professional.
Therefore, you can use something like this when writing to a business partner.
It shows that you’re glad they came to you with something, but you’re more than happy for them to keep going and not have any input yourself.
Also, you can check out the following sample email to find out more about how it works:
Dear Ms. Taylor,
I encourage you to move forward with these ideas.
I think they’ll be great for the company, and I look forward to seeing what happens.
All the best,
Jane Paul