Do you want to know the best way to say you don’t understand something in an email?
If you’re concerned that simply saying “I don’t understand” will appear unprofessional or stupid, you’ve come to the right place.
This article will teach you how to respond to an email you don’t understand.
Is It Professional to Say “I Don’t Understand”?
It is not professional to say “I don’t understand.” The phrase on its own is a really bad way to ask for clarification from someone.
However, it’s not rude. It’s simply a way to show that you don’t get something and need more help understanding it.
With that said, we wouldn’t use something like this in an email.
Instead, you’d be better off using it when texting friends or family.
For instance, you can review this message sample to learn more:
I don’t understand what you’re trying to say to me here. Is there anything else you can say to help me understand?
Pros
- It’s an honest way to tell someone when you don’t get information.
- It’s often quite a friendly way to admit there’s a gap in your knowledge.
Cons
- It suggests you don’t believe someone explained a situation well.
- It’s unprofessional and rarely works in emails.
Alright, you might not want to use “I don’t understand” in an email. But that’s where our synonyms come in! There are plenty out there to help you.
So, keep reading to learn how to professionally say you don’t understand something. You can check out all of our alternatives to see which works best for you.
What to Say Instead of “I Don’t Understand”
- I’m seeking clarification on this matter
- Could you please provide further explanation?
- I’m having difficulty grasping the concept
- I’m not quite clear on the details
- Could you help me understand this better?
- Please simplify your explanation
- Could you break it down for me?
- I’m struggling to comprehend
- I require more information to fully understand this
1. I’m Seeking Clarification on This Matter
If you’re wondering how to politely say you don’t understand, start with “I’m seeking clarification on this matter.”
After all, it’s better to ask for an explanation for something that simply says you don’t get what someone is saying.
This works well when writing to a teacher. It lets them know that their initial explanation might not have been sufficient, so you’d appreciate it if they could give you a little more.
There’s nothing wrong with asking for something like this. Most teachers understand and will be happy to assist you further.
Feel free to review this email sample if you still don’t get how it works:
Dear Miss Perkins,
I’m seeking clarification on this matter.
Do you mind rewording it for me?
Thank you so much,
Katherine Zeta
2. Could You Please Provide Further Explanation?
You can also use “could you please provide further explanation?” This question is a professional way to say you don’t understand something when you need more details.
It’s formal and direct.
So, as questions go, it lets the recipient know exactly what you expect from them.
You can use this when asking your boss to clarify something about a work project.
It’s straightforward and honest, which is good practice when you’re seeking an explanation that might help you to figure out more about a situation.
You can also check out the following email sample if you’d like more help:
Dear Mr. White,
Could you please provide further explanation?
I’m sure it makes sense, but I’m not following what you’re saying.
Best regards,
Danny Wilkon
3. I’m Having Difficulty Grasping the Concept
Next, it’s worth using “I’m having difficulty grasping the concept.”
This shows you how to say “I don’t understand” in an email to your professor.
You can use it when they’ve established an assignment concept, but you don’t quite get what they’re asking for.
It’s an honest and formal synonym. Therefore, it’s a good chance for you to directly ask your professor for some assistance if you’d benefit from a deeper explanation.
You can also review this email sample to learn a bit more:
Dear Miss Hall,
I’m having difficulty grasping the concept.
I want to get this right, but I’m afraid it will need to be explained in other words.
All the best,
Michelle Banner
4. I’m Not Quite Clear on the Details
Feel free to use “I’m not quite clear on the details” if you want something that works when emailing a coworker.
This synonym is a bit more friendly, though it’s still acceptable in formal emails.
The best part about this is that it’s honest and straightforward. It shows you don’t understand something without directly having to admit you don’t understand what’s going on.
For the most part, this should give the recipient a chance to explain something better so you’ll understand more about it.
Also, you can check out this example to learn more:
Dear Michael,
I’m not quite clear on the details of this project.
Do you have a better understanding, and can you explain it to me?
Yours,
Rosie Maximov
5. Could You Help Me Understand This Better?
You can also write “could you help me understand this better?” as a professional way to say “I don’t understand.”
As you can see, this directly asks for an elaboration.
It shows you don’t understand something initially, so you’d appreciate it if someone could write more to help you understand it in other words.
Try using this when writing to your boss. It’ll go a long way when helping you figure something out.
Check out this example if you still need more information:
Dear Mr. Kling,
Could you help me understand this better?
I’m happy to work on it, but I’m afraid I’ve missed a few points.
Best,
Sarah Alberts
6. Please Simplify Your Explanation
If you’re still wondering how to say you don’t understand in a professional email, write “please simplify your explanation.”
This suggests that someone has already offered you an explanation, but it’s not sufficient.
So, you can use it to ask someone to reiterate or restate an explanation in a way that makes more sense to you.
You might want to use this when writing to a teacher. It’s a good way to find out more about an assignment before you start working on it.
You can also check out this email sample to learn how it works:
Dear Ms. Tonnage,
Please simplify your explanation to help me get my head around this.
I’m close, but I’m afraid there are some parts I just can’t seem to comprehend.
All the best,
Jonathan Pearce
7. Could You Break It Down for Me?
For a more friendly question, you could ask “could you break it down for me?”
Now, this is going to work best when you already have a good relationship with the recipient.
So, think about using it when writing to a coworker.
It suggests that you need their help and you’d like them to try and explain the intricacies of a project or task you’re working on.
As long as you get on well with this coworker, a phrase like this will often go a long way.
Also, you can check out this example if you need further guidance:
Dear Russell,
Could you break it down for me?
I’d like to understand more about what we’re doing here before I get stuck in.
Thank you so much,
Christina Merchant
8. I’m Struggling to Comprehend
Try using “I’m struggling to comprehend” for a direct synonym when showing you don’t understand something.
Rather than asking for an explanation, this phrase simply states that you don’t get what someone is saying.
From there, the recipient will often provide more of an explanation. After all, a thorough explanation will probably be the best way to get you to comprehend something.
Therefore, this works best when writing to your boss. It shows you don’t understand the reasons behind a project and you’d like them to elaborate further.
If you’re still confused, you can review this example to learn more about it:
Dear Ms. Mart,
I’m struggling to comprehend the reasons behind this project.
Could you explain them to be again so I can understand what to do next?
Best wishes,
Sean Goop
9. I Require More Information to Fully Understand This
The final synonym we want to go through is “I require more information to fully understand this.”
This is a longer way to say “I don’t understand,” but it states your intentions and expectations formally.
After all, you expect someone to provide you with more information if you don’t understand something at first.
Therefore, you can use this when writing to a client.
It’s respectful and honest, showing that you don’t quite get what they’re asking you to do.
This should give a client a chance to explain themselves better. From there, you can build a better relationship and understand more about what they need.
Feel free to review this example if you still need help:
Dear Miss Fuller,
I require more information to fully understand this.
Do you think you could break it down in a clearer way?
All the best,
Ross Johnson