Do you want to know a more professional way to say “I don’t know”?
Perhaps you’re worried the phrase is a bit informal or insincere.
Luckily, you have more options!
This article will aim to teach you how to say “I don’t know” in a smart way to ensure you get the right tone.
Is It Professional to Say “I Don’t Know”?
It is not professional to say “I don’t know.”
Generally, you can use it to show that you’re unsure of an answer. However, it is not a smart choice if you’re trying to use it in formal situations.
Therefore, we don’t recommend using it in emails.
With that said, it’s still correct. But you should use it when texting friends or in other more casual contexts.
For instance:
I don’t know what you want me to say, I’m afraid! Though, I’m more than happy to keep talking to you about this.
Pros
- It’s an honest way to show you don’t understand something.
- It’s direct and to the point.
Cons
- It’s informal.
- It can make you seem a bit uninformed or silly.
Well, it’s clear that “I don’t know” is inappropriate for professional writing. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of options! Now, it’s time to see what else is available to you.
Keep reading to learn better ways to say “I don’t know.” We’ve gathered a great list of alternatives to give you an idea of what’s going to work best.
What to Say Instead of “I Don’t Know”
- I’m currently unfamiliar with that information
- I don’t have that data at my disposal
- I’m afraid I don’t possess the specifics
- I lack knowledge in that area
- I’m uncertain about that
- I’m not in the loop on that
- I haven’t been briefed on that topic
- I’m not acquainted with the specifics
- I haven’t explored that yet
1. I’m Currently Unfamiliar With That Information
Let’s start with a more intelligent way to say “I don’t know.” You can say “I’m currently unfamiliar with that information” to sound more formal and honest.
After all, including the word “currently” suggests that you’re happy for someone to teach you what you don’t know.
Therefore, it’s a good opportunity to email your employer when you don’t know something. It shows you’d like them to correct you or give you more information to help you understand the situation.
Feel free to review this email sample to learn a bit more:
Dear Ms. Gately,
I’m currently unfamiliar with that information.
Do you mind teaching me more about it so I know what to expect?
Thank you so much,
Jon Wells
2. I Don’t Have That Data at My Disposal
Next, you can use “I don’t have that data at my disposal” in some cases. This could be a good way to let someone know that you don’t have the appropriate answer to their question.
For instance, you can use it when responding to a client.
It keeps things formal and honest. For the most part, this lets them know that whatever they have asked cannot be answered by you.
Also, this phrase allows you to refer a client to someone who might be more knowledgeable. So, you might be able to send them in your boss’s direction if they think they’ll be more helpful.
You can also check out this email sample to learn a bit more about it:
Dear Ms. Cornforth,
I don’t have that data at my disposal right now.
I appreciate you bringing it to my attention, but I’ll have to run it by my boss next.
All the best,
Sarah Mixed
3. I’m Afraid I Don’t Possess the Specifics
Next, you might want to use “I’m afraid I don’t possess the specifics.” This is a polite and professional way to say “I don’t know.”
This synonym works well when you don’t know the answer to a question. It’s a great way to be more direct and sincere when letting someone know you can’t be of much help.
For instance, you can use it when responding to a customer query. Generally, this will let the customer know that you’re not able to help them because you haven’t got the answer.
It’s then up to you to decide what to do next. You can look into their query to see if you can gather more information, or you can pass it on to someone who might know more.
Also, you should review this email sample to learn a bit more about it:
Dear Ms. Firth,
I’m afraid I don’t possess the specifics to help you with this.
Please leave it with me for the time being, and I’ll get back to you soon.
Yours,
Bethany Dryland
4. I Lack Knowledge in That Area
Try using “I lack knowledge in that area” when you don’t know how to do something.
Generally, it’s a polite and honest phrase to include when you’re stumped at work. After all, it suggests that you’ve been asked a question that you currently don’t know how to answer.
For instance, you can use it when writing to an employee. They might have come to you with a suggestion to improve the workplace, but you haven’t heard anything about it.
So, you can use this phrase to ask them to explain it a bit more before you continue.
If you’re still confused, you can check out this example:
Dear Maria,
I lack knowledge in that area, so I can’t make any suggestions.
However, I’m open to exploring any ideas you might have to help us move forward.
Yours,
Carl Clark
5. I’m Uncertain About That
We also recommend writing “I’m uncertain about that” as a formal way to say “I don’t know.”
Generally, this is a good option if you’re not sure what to say to someone.
For example, you can say this in a job interview. It’s a good option if you don’t know how to reasonably answer a question but don’t want to give a bad impression.
For the most part, the recruiter asking the question will understand. They might also be able to rephrase it to make it a little bit easier for you to comprehend.
Feel free to review these examples to learn a bit more about it:
I’m uncertain about that, so could you phrase it in another way? I want to ensure I get it right.
I’m afraid that I’m uncertain about that. However, I will do what I can to ensure I learn more about it.
6. I’m Not in the Loop on That
Another way to say “I don’t know” is “I’m not in the loop on that.”
You can use this phrase to show someone you don’t know the information they’ve asked for. It suggests that you haven’t been given the chance to learn it from other parties.
So, you might use this when writing to coworkers. If they’ve asked what you know about a situation, this phrase could be a good way to inform them that you don’t have anything useful to add.
Also, check out this example to learn a bit more:
Dear Max,
I’m not in the loop on that, I’m afraid.
I’m sure someone else on the team can help you to figure it out, though.
All the best,
Marty Bloom
7. I Haven’t Been Briefed on That Topic
Also, it’s worth using “I haven’t been briefed on that topic” to mix things up.
This suggests that you’re still waiting for someone to provide you with the information you don’t know.
It’s polite and honest. So, it suggests that you haven’t been made aware of whatever information you’re missing. Therefore, you can’t answer someone when they need your help.
This email example will teach you more if you still need information:
Dear Miss Scott,
I haven’t been briefed on that topic yet.
So, I don’t have any information that will help you here.
Yours,
Carl April
8. I’m Not Acquainted With the Specifics
It’s also smart to write “I’m not acquainted with the specifics.”
It’s a formal and sincere way to say “I don’t know.” For the most part, it allows you to highlight that you know the basics of something, but you don’t know the whole idea.
So, it can work well when explaining to your boss that you aren’t sure about something.
You can also review this example to remind yourself how it works:
Dear Miss Taylor,
I’m not acquainted with the specifics.
Could you please tell me what I’m supposed to do next?
Thank you so much,
Jack Kerr
9. I Haven’t Explored That Yet
Finally, it’s worth using “I haven’t explored that yet.” The implication here is that you plan on learning something, but you don’t know it for the time being.
That’s where “yet” comes in. It suggests you’re happy to learn more.
So, you can use it when writing to a teacher. It suggests that you don’t know how to answer them, but you’re hoping they can help to fill in that gap in your understanding.
Also, feel free to review this example to learn more:
Dear Miss Hall,
I haven’t explored that yet, but I’m hoping that will change soon.
Do you have any ideas that might help me move forward?
All the best,
Rosie Wilkinson