You will often need to check your ideas with coworkers before finalizing anything. So, confirmation phrases like “let me know if otherwise” help you to figure out if someone has other ideas.
However, is “let me know if otherwise” the best phrase to use professionally?
This article will explore that question.
Is It Professional to Say “Let Me Know if Otherwise”?
It is professional to say “let me know if otherwise.” It works well because it shows you’re open to hearing other opinions before settling on anything.
We recommend it because it’s formal and useful in most email formats. You can use it when emailing your boss to find out their opinion on your work.
Check out this example to see how to use “let me know if otherwise” in a sentence:
I’m planning to go ahead with the project as follows. Let me know if otherwise.
Pros
- It’s very useful when asking for a conflicting opinion.
- It’s professional.
Cons
- It doesn’t explain what “otherwise” could mean.
- It’s very generic.
You can certainly use “let me know if otherwise” formally. Although, it’s not the only option. You should explore some synonyms to keep things interesting.
So, read on to learn how to say “let me know if otherwise” in an email. There are plenty of great options available, after all.
What to Say Instead of “Let Me Know if Otherwise”
- Please let me know if you disagree
- Please tell me if not
- Correct me if I’m wrong
- Please indicate if you think differently
- Please advise if otherwise
- Please let me know what you prefer
- Let me know if you’re opposed
- Please let me know if you’d rather
- Tell me if you find another way
- Please confirm if you agree
1. Please Let Me Know if You Disagree
Let’s start with one of the more obvious alternatives. “Please let me know if you disagree” shows that you want a direct and honest opinion from a recipient.
Instead of asking “if otherwise,” you can use “if you disagree” for more clarity. It’s a very obvious phrase that shows you want to find out what someone thinks.
You may use it when emailing a teammate. It shows that you’d like to go ahead with your plans, but you’re still interested in hearing what they think before you do.
Here’s a great email example to help you:
Dear William,
I am planning to go ahead with the project as it currently stands. Please let me know if you disagree or have any suggestions.
All the best,
Steven Anthony
2. Please Tell Me if Not
You can also go for a slightly more conversational alternative. Something like “please tell me if not” works well in most formal emails.
We recommend using it when emailing clients. It shows you’re open to their opinion if they have something contradictory to share with you.
Using negative language like “if not” often implies that you’re happy to hear conflicting views. It does not show that you want someone to agree with you. Instead, you’re looking for a debate.
You may also review this email sample:
Dear Mr. Hank,
I think this is the best idea we have so far. Please tell me if not because I’m happy to hear a contradicting opinion.
All the best,
Sam Wallace
3. Correct Me if I’m Wrong
You can also go for the more common “correct me if I’m wrong” as another way to say “let me know if otherwise.”
It’s an excellent formal alternative that shows you’re open to corrections. We highly recommend it if you don’t trust your judgment and want to see what others think.
So, you can use it when emailing coworkers. If you’re both in a similar situation, but you think they might have more knowledge about it, then they could be the ones to correct you.
Check out the following example to see how it works:
Dear Rachael,
Correct me if I’m wrong, but this seems like the most plausible solution. I don’t see anything way around it.
Thank you so much,
Sharon Whittaker
4. Please Indicate if You Think Differently
It might be worth using “please indicate if you think differently” might be worth asking for opposing opinions.
It’s a great replacement for “let me know if otherwise” because it is clear and direct.
Of course, you should only ever use a phrase like this when you’re open to criticism. It’s never wise to ask someone for different opinions if you’re not willing to learn from them.
It’s good to use when emailing teammates. It shows you’re willing to listen to other views and ideas within your team to determine the best course of action.
You may also review this sample email:
Dear Graysen,
Please indicate if you think differently, but does this make sense for the project? I think it’s our best option.
All the best,
William Tomkins
5. Please Advise if Otherwise
Clearly, “let me know if otherwise” is already a great phrase to use in formal emails. However, you can also mix things up slightly with “please advise if otherwise.”
Changing “let me know” to “please advise” keeps things polite and respectful.
You should try using this phrase when emailing clients. It shows that you value and respect them without using overly complicated language.
It’s highly effective at what it does. There’s no reason to change “let me know if otherwise” too much if it already does the trick.
Here’s a great email sample to help you with it:
Dear Mr. Carlton,
I’m not going to go ahead with it just yet. However, I do believe this is the best version. Please advise if otherwise.
Yours,
Wilfred Bennett
6. Please Let Me Know What You Prefer
Asking for someone’s preference is a surefire way to get an honest opinion. That’s where “please let me know what you prefer” comes in.
It shows you’re willing to hear opposing views and preferences. Of course, all of that depends on whether the recipient agrees with the ideas you’ve put forward.
You can try it when emailing employees. It shows that you have some ideas, but you’d like to know where they stand before running with any of them.
Of course, you can even refer to this email example:
Dear Tabitha,
I want to find out which of these projects you think is the most likely to succeed. Please let me know what you prefer.
All the best,
Dean Grace
7. Let Me Know if You’re Opposed
Instead of asking for a preference, you could also ask for direct opposition. Asking for an opposing view is a great way to find out whether someone has better ideas than you.
Try using “let me know if you’re opposed” instead of “let me know if otherwise.”
It shows you’re open to constructive feedback, even if that means someone is against your idea.
It’s fantastic to use this when emailing clients. It shows you have a basic idea of what you want to do, but you may need your clients to confirm a few things before advancing.
Don’t forget to review this email sample:
Dear Mr. Katherine,
Let me know if you’re opposed, but I’m going to go ahead with the attached file as written.
Yours,
Phoebe Munchkin
8. Please Let Me Know if You’d Rather
Preferences help to understand someone’s way of thinking. “Please let me know if you’d rather” is a great choice to determine someone’s preference before finalizing any information.
You can use it when asking colleagues for their opinions. It’s useful because it shows you’re willing to hear them out and change your ideas based on what they recommend.
Generally, this works best for team projects. If you genuinely value teamwork, then this is a great way to show that you’re happy to listen to your team’s ideas.
Check out the following email sample as well:
Dear Ryder,
This is what I have so far. I’m open to new ideas, though. Please let me know if you’d rather go in a different direction.
Best regards,
Roger Tidings
9. Tell Me if You Find Another Way
Someone may already have a few ideas that conflict with your own. Or perhaps they’re still looking to find something that works better.
In this case, you could use “tell me if you find another way.”
It’s effective because it’s polite and formal. It shows that you’d like the recipient to reach out if they disagree. This is an effective way to start a debate to determine what someone thinks.
Here’s a useful email example to help you with it:
Dear Eli,
The only way I know to complete this task is as follows. Please tell me if you find another way that’s more efficient.
Yours,
Jacob Johnson
10. Please Confirm if You Agree
Rather than asking for someone’s contrasting opinion, you can also ask for confirmation. A great alternative here is “please confirm if you agree.”
It shows that you’re open to suggestions but want to phrase it in a more positive way.
Asking for confirmation rather than contradiction shows that you’d like the recipient to agree with you. However, if they don’t, they can make a suggestion that might help you.
You can also review this email sample:
Dear Ben,
I believe this is the only suitable solution we have at the moment. Please confirm if you agree or if you have any other ideas.
Thank you so much,
Melissa Williams