Are you looking for some better ways to say “it’s up to you”?
Maybe you’re concerned that the phrase itself is a bit informal or rude.
Well, you’ve come to the right place to learn a bit more about it.
This article will teach you how to say “it’s up to you” professionally.
Is It Informal to Say “It’s Up to You”?
It is informal to say “it’s up to you.” Generally, people consider it unprofessional because it’s not a very decisive phrase.
Therefore, you can’t use it in most business emails. It’s not rude, but it is a non-commital way to let someone else decide something, even if you should have more of an impact.
You can review this text message sample to learn more about it if you’re still unsure:
It’s up to you to decide what we do here. I’m going to be fine with whatever choice you make.
Pros
- It’s a decent way to pass decision-making to someone else.
- It’s open-ended.
Cons
- It’s not very confident.
- It shows you’re not willing to commit to a decision, which could reflect poorly on you.
So, you might not want to use “it’s up to you” in formal emails. But that’s not a problem! There are plenty of other options out there, just waiting for you to discover them.
Keep reading to learn how to say “it’s up to you” politely. We’ve gathered a list of synonyms that’ll help you to explore what else works.
What to Say Instead of “It’s Up to You”
- The decision is in your hands
- The choice is yours
- It’s at your discretion
- I will leave it up to you
- You have the final say
- The ball is in your court
- I’m willing to let you decide
- You’re in control
- The decision rests with you
1. The Decision Is in Your Hands
You might want to say “the decision is in your hands” as a formal synonym for “it’s up to you.”
Generally, this is an excellent way to give someone else the choice to do something.
For example, you can use this when writing to a coworker.
Let’s assume you’re working on the same project. Well, this phrase is a good way to give your coworker the option to decide what to do next.
After all, this shows that you’re a team player and willing to hear other people’s ideas before making your own.
Also, you can check out the following sample email to learn more about it:
Dear Adam,
The decision is in your hands.
Realistically, you’re going to be the best person to lead this project forward.
All the best,
Joey Swamp
2. The Choice Is Yours
We recommend mixing things up by using “the choice is yours.”
This is a direct and confident way to give someone else the final decision for something.
So, you can use it when writing to an employee.
For example, they might have come to you with a few options to complete a task. However, they might have wanted your input to see if you could guide them and choose one for them.
If you’d rather let them decide what to do, this phrase is going to work really well.
You can also review the following example to learn a bit more about using it:
Dear Matilda,
The choice is yours, as I think you’ll have the best chance of choosing correctly.
Please let me know what you decide when you’ve made up your mind.
Best wishes,
Jonathan Wood
3. It’s at Your Discretion
For a more formal way to say “it’s up to you,” you may write “it’s at your discretion.”
This is a confident way to pass the decision to someone you trust.
Try using it when writing to a student.
For example, they might come to you with a few options. You can give them the freedom to choose which option will be most impactful by using something like this.
For the most part, it shows you have a lot of trust in your students. Therefore, you can’t go wrong with it.
Also, it might be smart to review this example to learn more about it:
Dear Mario,
It’s at your discretion to decide on this.
I think you already know what’s going to be most impactful, but I’ll leave it with you.
Yours,
Charlie Puth
4. I Will Leave It up to You
Feel free to write something like “I will leave it up to you” in some cases.
This is a sincere and direct way to let someone take control of something.
So, it can work well when contacting coworkers during a project.
It suggests that you’re more than happy to let them make the decisions. This will fill them with confidence and show them that you’re happy to treat them equally.
After all, when you work on a project with someone, it’s good to let them feel equal. This will build a stronger relationship quickly, which can only be a good thing.
You can also review the following example to learn more if you need help:
Dear Janet,
I will leave it up to you to decide what we do next.
You seem to have a pretty good grasp on what will help take us forward.
All the best,
Rosie Jetson
5. You Have the Final Say
For something more direct, try “you have the final say.” It’s another way to say “it’s up to you” that shows someone must make the final decision.
Using “final say” adds some weight to the phrase. It suggests that whatever someone decides will be the option you go for.
Therefore, you should use this when contacting someone you trust.
Try it when writing to your boss. It lets them know that you’re happy to act on something based on the decisions and information they give you.
You can review this example to learn more if you still need information:
Dear Ms. Murphy,
You have the final say because it was your original plan.
Just let the team know what you decide, and we’ll start working on it.
Best wishes,
Sam Wisher
6. The Ball Is in Your Court
Let’s go for something a bit more conversational this time. Try using “the ball is in your court” to give someone the freedom to make a decision.
You can use this when writing to an employee.
It’s an excellent way to show them that you expect them to make a decision. It also suggests you won’t put any of your ideas forward, as you’d like it to be an independent choice.
This will help with character-building in the workplace. It’s also a direct and effective phrase, showing that you want someone to step up.
Also, you can check out the following example to learn a bit more:
Dear Hannah,
The ball is in your court this time.
I know you’re going to make the right call as we move on with the procedure.
Kind regards,
Matt White
7. I’m Willing to Let You Decide
You can also write “I’m willing to let you decide” when giving the decision to someone else.
This is an excellent way to appear diplomatic and sincere. It shows you’ll be happy for someone to take charge of something and make some decisions.
For the most part, this can work when writing to a client. After all, it can make them feel more valued if you give them the opportunity to make some decisions themselves.
It may also be smart to review the following sample email to learn a bit more:
Dear Ms. Darken,
I’m willing to let you decide what we do next.
Once you decide, let me know your choice, and I’ll happily continue.
Yours,
Tyler Morrison
8. You’re in Control
There’s nothing wrong with using something like “you’re in control” in some cases, too.
This is an excellent way to be honest and sincere. It shows that you’re happy for someone to take complete control of a situation and put their own spin on it.
For the most part, this can work when writing to an employee.
If you’ve specifically put them in a leadership role, something like this will work well as a reminder. It suggests that you trust their input and you want them to step up.
So, here’s a helpful sample email to give you more information:
Dear Andrew,
You’re in control, and I know this is going to work for you.
Just let me know as soon as you’ve made a decision about this.
All the best,
Charlotte Spencer
9. The Decision Rests With You
Finally, we recommend writing “the decision rests with you” instead of “it’s up to you.”
This is a formal way to give someone agency to choose something.
It’s sincere and polite, which will let someone know that you want them to make any final decisions.
So, it might work well when contacting a business partner. It shows you’re happy for them to decide on something, as you think they’ll have a better idea of what to do next.
It may also be worth reviewing the following example to learn a bit more:
Dear Ms. Maximus,
The decision rests with you here.
I’ll give you a week to determine what comes next.
All the best,
Thomas Anderson