Are you trying to let someone know you don’t care about something?
However, you’re a touch concerned that “I don’t care” is too rude or unprofessional, right?
Well, you’re in luck! Because that’s what we’re here to help you with.
This article will teach you how to professionally say “I don’t care” to avoid accidentally causing any offense.
Is It Rude to Say “I Don’t Care”?
It is rude to say “I don’t care” in most contexts.
It’s unprofessional and shows you don’t care about something. It also implies that you don’t think a situation applies to you, so you don’t know why you need to know about it.
It’s bad to say in a professional context.
You should only use it when texting informally. It might work with friends, as they might understand that you don’t mean it.
You should refer to these text message samples to see how it works informally:
I don’t care what you’re saying here. I think we need to reevaluate the situation.
I’m sorry, but I don’t care. There simply isn’t much need for me to look into this.
Pros
- It’s a quick and easy way to show that something doesn’t concern you.
- It gets your point across without needing to overcomplicate things.
Cons
- It’s rude.
- It will never work in a professional context or emails.
Well, it’s clear that “I don’t care” is not a good fit in formal writing. Therefore, it’s time to explore what might work better when writing professional emails.
Keep reading to learn how to say “I don’t care” nicely. We’ve gathered some of the best alternatives to show you what’s available to spice up your writing.
What to Say Instead of “I Don’t Care”
- I’m indifferent
- It doesn’t matter to me
- It’s of no consequence to me
- I have no strong feelings either way
- I’m neutral on the matter
- I’m impartial
- It’s not a priority for me
- I’m not invested in the outcome
- I don’t have a preference
1. I’m Indifferent
Another way to say “I don’t care” is “I’m indifferent.” And, if you’re looking for something more formal and direct, this is probably one of the better choices.
After all, it allows you to share your indifference with a recipient. This implies you simply don’t think something is relevant enough to concern you.
We recommend this as a fancy way to show that you have no reason to care about something.
Try it when contacting an employee. If they’ve come to you to pick an option for them, this will be a great way to tell them it’s not for you to decide.
Here’s a great email sample to help you understand it if you’re still unsure:
Dear Jonathan,
I’m indifferent to the choices here, so I think it’s best you decide.
I hope you figure out the best way to move forward.
Yours,
George Landslide
2. It Doesn’t Matter to Me
For a more professional way to say “I don’t care,” you can write “it doesn’t matter to me.”
This keeps things sincere and honest. Generally, you can use it to remind someone that something does not affect you and that you don’t care about the outcome.
It’s a good option when emailing a coworker. It’s a smart choice that simply lets them know the outcome of a situation is of no consequence to you.
You can also review the following email example to learn more about it:
Dear Brian,
I’m afraid it doesn’t matter to me.
So, I’d like you to try and find the best way to complete this project.
Kind regards,
Maxine Bradbury
3. It’s of No Consequence to Me
Next, we recommend trying “it’s of no consequence to me.” Sure, this might seem a bit harsh, but it’s honest and direct, and you can’t go wrong with that.
When something is of no consequence to you, it means the outcome does not affect you. So, whether it’s positive or negative, you simply don’t care.
However, this keeps things more formal and polite. You can use it when contacting a business partner about a decision they’re about to make.
This lets your partner know the decision is theirs and theirs alone. It implies you don’t see any reason to help them make it.
Also, you can review this example to learn a little more about how to use it:
Dear Miss Pecker,
It’s of no consequence to me as to which option you choose.
I trust that you’re going to make the best call before the deadline, though.
Best regards,
Daniel Tyler
4. I Have No Strong Feelings Either Way
If you’re looking for a more polite way to say “I don’t care,” try “I have no strong feelings either way.”
It’s a good way to sound honest and critical about a situation. It shows you don’t care about something and don’t see why it’s been brought to your attention.
Generally, it’s more polite than simply saying you don’t care. Instead, it shows you don’t mind the outcome if someone is asking you to decide on an option.
For instance, you can use it when contacting a client. If they’ve asked for your input to help improve a project or business idea, this could be a good answer.
Feel free to review the following email sample to learn more:
Dear Mr. Steward,
I have no strong feelings either way.
I’m more than happy for you to make the decision that suits you best.
Yours,
Duncan Banner
5. I’m Neutral on the Matter
You can also use “I’m neutral on the matter” instead of “I don’t care.”
This is a polite and honest phrase that lets someone know you don’t mind an outcome. It shows you’ve thought about it, but you see no reason to share your opinion on a situation.
Generally, this works really well when writing to an employee.
They might come to you for help or a decision. However, if you don’t think it applies to you, or you think there’s nothing you can do, this phrase will work well.
You can also check out the following email example to learn a bit more about it:
Dear Matilda,
I’m afraid I’m neutral on the matter, so I can’t say anything.
I still think it’s smart for you to pursue this to see what you can learn, though.
All the best,
Jon Cornforth
6. I’m Impartial
Next, we recommend simplifying things by saying “I’m impartial.” This is another way to say “I don’t care” that keeps things formal and polite.
Being “impartial” to something means it doesn’t affect you. So, whether it’s a good or bad outcome, you don’t think it’s worth looking into.
Therefore, you can use this when writing to a business partner. It suggests that you have nothing to add to a proposal and do not mind what the outcome is.
Also, it’s good to review this example to learn a bit more:
Dear Ms. Kirkland,
I’m impartial to this decision.
Therefore, I’m more than happy for you to decide what works best moving forward.
Kind regards,
Daniel Cole
7. It’s Not a Priority for Me
We also think it’s good to write “it’s not a priority for me” instead of “I don’t care.”
This is a polite option that shows someone you don’t mind what happens. You can use it when you aren’t planning on prioritizing an outcome and don’t feel the need to interject your opinion.
You can include it when writing to a coworker. It lets them know how you value your work projects and that certain ones aren’t as high a priority as others.
If you’re still unsure, you can review this example:
Dear Judy,
It’s not a priority for me to help you with that right now.
I still appreciate you including me in the process, though.
Best wishes,
Sean Penn
8. I’m Not Invested in the Outcome
We also think it’s good to write “I’m not invested in the outcome.” At the very least, this is a direct and honest way to show someone you don’t care about something.
It works best when you’re the boss. Therefore, it’s most appropriate to use something like this when settling a debate between employees.
If both employees came to you asking for help, this phrase works well. It’s a good choice because it shows you’re not invested and that you don’t mind what happens next.
Here is a great email sample to help you if you still don’t get it:
Dear Maria and Ben,
I’m afraid I’m not invested in the outcome.
So, I’d prefer it if you could both settle this amongst yourselves.
Thank you so much,
Marcus Veltri
9. I Don’t Have a Preference
Finally, you can use “I don’t have a preference” when you see no reason to care about something.
This is formal and honest. So, it’s a good choice when someone presents you with multiple ideas, but you don’t see why you should share an opinion.
You can use it when writing to a team member. It lets them know that you’re happy to give them full control when deciding something about a team project.
And here is a great example to help you understand more about it:
Dear Joe,
I don’t have a preference here.
I think it’s best if you look into it more or discuss it with the rest of the team.
My best,
Sarah Winner