If you’re writing a business plan, you might talk about things being “nice-to-have.”
While you can’t necessarily “have” those things currently, that doesn’t mean you can’t mix up your wording.
This article has gathered some professional synonyms. We think it’s time you learn a different way to say “nice-to-have.”
Is It Professional to Say “Nice-to-Have”?
It is professional to say “nice-to-have.” While it might not look like much at first, “nice-to-have” is a business term talking about desirable options that you’d like to include in a plan.
Saying something is “nice-to-have” is a formal way to show that you’d like to include it, even if it’s impractical. Sometimes, it’s good to list these options in the interest of transparency.
You should refer to this example to see how it works:
The nice-to-have option would include selling the product at a higher market rate.
Pros
- It’s a simple way to share what would be nice to have in a project.
- It’s already a professional term.
Cons
- It looks a little informal (although this is not the case).
- It’s not all commonly used outside of business plans.
You can use “nice-to-have” in most professional instances. However, you might want to rely on a few alternatives to help keep things slightly more interesting.
Keep reading to learn a different way to say “nice-to-have.” There are plenty of great options available.
What to Say Instead of “Nice-to-Have”
- Desirable
- Bonus
- Preferable
- Advantageous
- Requests
- Wants
- Extra
- Option
- Possibility
- Beneficial
1. Desirable
One of the most common ways to replace “nice-to-have” is with “desirable.”
When something is desirable, it means it would be good to have but not necessary. Therefore, it’s a great substitute to include in formal writing.
You can use it when completing a business or product plan. It shows what you’d like to see included, even if there’s no real possibility to include a specific quality.
If you’re still unsure, check out this example:
Dear Jonathan,
Can we make this product work with the desirable qualities? Or is that something we should put on the back burner?
Yours,
Damian Greene
2. Bonus
Everyone enjoys a bonus. A bonus is a good addition to a product, even if it’s not viable.
Therefore, “bonus” is another way to say “nice-to-have.” It shows that you’d appreciate it if you could include the “bonus” on an item.
It’s very formal and works well when filling out business plans or product descriptions. Sometimes, it’s nice to know what the bonuses could be, even if they can’t be used.
You should also check out the following example:
Dear Jonathan,
I’m afraid most of those are bonus features that we simply can’t implement. They’re not part of the current requirements.
All the best,
Daniella Speaks
3. Preferable
Perhaps you’d like to use “preferable” instead. It shows something is nice to have but not necessary.
You might “prefer” to have a quality included in a business plan. However, sometimes, it’s just not possible to include that quality.
If you’re limited by money, you may have to pass up on what’s “preferable.” Therefore, it’s a good one to include in your writing to show that you’ve considered what is “nice-to-have.”
Feel free to review this email example as well:
Dear Mr. Scott,
What are the preferable requirements here? I’d like to get a business plan filled in before taking this to the presentation.
All the best,
Steven Wonder
4. Advantageous
You can also write something as “advantageous” instead of “nice-to-have.”
Anything that counts as “nice-to-have” generally provides an edge or advantage in the business world.
So, it stands to reason that “advantageous” is a great formal synonym.
We recommend using it to express what advantages certain qualities can give your company. It’s worth exploring them, even if you know they’re unrealistic to achieve.
Here’s a great email sample to show you how to use it:
Dear Sally,
We need a list of the advantageous qualities, even if we can’t include them in the product description.
Best regards,
Jon Market
5. Requests
Typically, you can group production values into two categories.
The categories are:
- Requirements
- Request
Generally, “requirements” are necessary. They must be included for something to work. They are also non-negotiable.
However, “requests” are what we want to focus on. “Requests” is a professional way to say “nice-to-have.”
It refers to something you’d like to include but may be unable to. It’s a great way to list qualities in a simplified way for the reader.
We also recommend reviewing this email example:
Dear Mr. Jackson,
We have created a list of requirements and requests. We understand that the requests are unlikely to happen, but we’d like you to know about them.
Yours,
Samuel Tayler
6. Wants
Another great way to list qualities is by using one of the following:
- Needs
- Wants
Again, “needs” are required. They are things that you must include for something to be usable.
However, “wants” is a synonym for “nice-to-have.” It refers to things you want but can’t have. Therefore, it’s a good formal alternative.
Perhaps this example will also help you understand it:
Dear Mr. Bradbury,
Have you established the needs and wants yet? We need a list of wants before we can take this in front of the board.
Yours,
Andrew Tales
7. Extra
Anything you can add on top of a product is considered an “extra.” Therefore, “extra” is a good formal synonym for “nice-to-have.”
It shows you want to add more, but you might be limited by something. It’s a great way to discuss things that seem improbable at the moment, even if you’d like to follow through with the upgrades.
Here’s a great email example to help you understand it better:
Dear Harriet,
Why can we not include the extra qualities of this product? I’d like a good reason to take to the clients if that’s okay.
Best regards,
Jon Watkins
8. Option
It’s good to have options. However, it’s not always that simple. Sometimes, limitations come up that stop you from developing things the way you want to.
Therefore, “option” works well as a professional way to say “nice-to-have.” It shows you’ve considered other options or additions that might make something better.
If you’re still unsure, check out the following example:
Dear William,
Of course, this is an option. However, it’s not something we can practically add to the plan at the moment.
All the best,
Richard Wright
9. Possibility
There’s always a possibility to make something better. For instance, you can improve a product with a few possibilities, even if you might not be able to fund those additions.
Nevertheless, we think “possibility” is a decent formal alternative. It shows you’ve weighed up desirable options to find out if you can add anything further to a product or plan.
This example will also help you to understand it:
Dear Miss Brandon,
We need to consider the different possibilities here. What can we add to the product, and what can’t we afford to change?
All the best,
Sean Peterson
10. Beneficial
When something is “beneficial,” it means it’s nice to have because it will help to improve something. We recommend using it to describe things you want but might not need.
Generally, we want beneficial things because they’ll help to make things more efficient. However, sometimes, we can’t always get those benefits, so we’ll have to look elsewhere.
“Beneficial” is certainly a good choice if you’re looking for something more formal. We certainly recommend using it when discussing business plans or products.
Here is an email sample to show you how it works:
Dear Miss Tyler,
While this change would be beneficial, I’m afraid it’s not going to happen. We do not have the funds or time to complete this.
Yours,
Harrison Motion