Do you want someone to take their time completing a task to ensure it’s correct?
Or perhaps you just don’t want to pressure them into rushing something when they’re too busy?
Either way, you may be looking for an alternative to “please take your time” in a formal email.
Luckily, this article is here to show you how to say “please take your time” professionally.
Is It Polite to Say “Please Take Your Time”?
It is polite to say “please take your time.” It shows the email recipient that you do not expect them to rush something. So, it is not rude, and we highly recommend using it in most email formats.
The professional phrase works well to politely let someone take as much time as necessary. There are plenty of formal instances when it works (i.e., allowing someone to set their own deadline).
Here is an example to show you how it works:
Please take your time completing this, Patrick. I certainly don’t want you to make mistakes.
Pros
- It’s very polite and friendly.
- It is a professional phrase showing that you expect someone to put care and thought into something.
Cons
- It’s fairly generic.
- It does not explain why someone might need to take their time (i.e., are you looking for quality?)
“Please take your time” is one of the best phrases you can use in formal emails. However, it’s not the only one.
Keep reading to learn how to say “please take your time” to your boss or colleagues. We’ve also provided an example for each synonym.
What to Say Instead of “Please Take Your Time”
- Please consider
- It’s not urgent, but
- When you get a moment
- When you get the chance
- When you’re available
- There’s no rush
- No need to rush
- At your leisure
- At your earliest convenience
1. Please Consider
Consideration takes time. Generally, you must weigh all the relevant options before you truly “consider” an answer. So, it makes sense that “please consider” is an excellent formal synonym for “please take your time.”
Use it when emailing employees. It shows that you’re interested in hearing their thoughts, but you also want them to take their time before replying. That way, they can consider exactly what they want to say before replying to you.
You may also refer to this email example to help you:
Dear Hazel,
Please consider this information before replying. Let me know what you think about it as soon as you get the chance.
Thank you so much,
Jon Watkins
2. It’s Not Urgent, But
Usually, information shared in formal emails is urgent and requires a quick response. So, highlighting the lack of urgency is a great way to show someone can take their time.
“It’s not urgent, but” is a great synonym here. It shows that the recipient can wait before replying to you. They do not have to rush their response and can consider all options before getting back to you.
Here’s an email sample to show you how it works:
Dear Benny,
It’s not urgent, but please see the attached file when you can. I would like you to review it and reply with your thoughts.
Kind regards,
Mathew Bracken
3. When You Get a Moment
“When you get a moment” is a great synonym in this context. We highly recommend it when emailing your boss.
It shows that you respect their busy schedule and do not expect them to reply quickly.
Generally, “when you get a moment” allows someone to wait before replying. Instead of sending you a rushed response, they can consider all the options to give you a more deliberate one.
So, including this phrase when emailing your boss shows you’re willing to wait for an appropriate response. Also, “get a moment” is an indefinite period. It’s up to the recipient to decide how long they wait before replying (if at all).
If you’re still unsure, check out this sample email:
Dear Connor,
When you get a moment to do the task, please let me know. I’m very keen to see what you’ve come up with.
All the best,
Charles Xavier
4. When You Get the Chance
It’s also worth writing “when you get the chance” instead of “please take your time.” It shows that you are in no rush to collect information from someone.
Generally, this works best when emailing colleagues. It shows that you’d like them to sort something out on their end, but you don’t want to give them a specific deadline.
After all, if you’re their colleague, you don’t have any specific authority over them. It’s best to avoid ordering them around. That could cause more problems than it’s worth.
We also recommend reviewing the following example:
Dear Robert,
When you get the chance to reply to Michael, please do so. I don’t think he minds waiting, but I’m conscious it’s been two weeks.
Yours,
Rebecca Sallow
5. When You’re Available
Another great alternative to “please take your time” is “when you’re available.” It shows that a task is not urgent, and someone can complete it whenever they have the time.
Referring to availability here is a great way to respect someone’s schedule. It shows that you understand if they’re too busy to complete a task immediately.
So, you can use it when emailing employees. You may have set them a task, but you may not want to rush them because you’re looking for the best quality. So, this is a great way to encourage them to complete a task when available.
You should also check out this email sample:
Dear Sebastian,
When you’re available, I would very much like to review your work. Please don’t rush anything, though.
Kind regards,
George Woking
6. There’s No Rush
Having some conversational options that still apply in emails also helps. That’s why we recommend using “there’s no rush” when emailing colleagues.
It shows that you do not want to put pressure on them.
Generally, “there’s no rush” shows that you do not expect someone to reply immediately. It simply reminds them that you want a reply but don’t want to provide a deadline.
After all, if you’re only their colleague, you should not try to pressure them into meeting a false deadline.
If you’re still unsure, here’s an email example:
Dear Peter,
There’s no rush to reply, but I want to hear back from you. I’m hoping that you have a good insight into this problem.
Yours,
Jack Jetson
7. No Need to Rush
Remaining polite and friendly works well in most emails. Especially if you’re emailing employees you get along well with.
So, try using “no need to rush” in your emails. It’s a fun and friendly way to let someone know that you do not want to pressure them into completing a task too quickly.
Ideally, this phrase works best when the longer someone takes, the better their work becomes. It shows that you would rather see quality out of them instead of rushed work that doesn’t meet all the criteria you’re looking for.
Don’t forget to check out this example too:
Dear Pauline,
No need to rush to do this task. I would, however, appreciate it if you got on top of it as soon as your schedule frees up.
Yours,
Duncan Bedford
8. At Your Leisure
To mix things up a bit, you can also say “at your leisure.” This puts the recipient in control of how much work they choose to do when setting them a task.
You should only use this phrase when there is no deadline for a task or project. It’s very relaxed and shows that someone should be happy working at their own pace.
It’s worth using it when emailing colleagues. Perhaps you have a team project to do together and you would like them to do a specific section of it. This is a friendly way to encourage them to start working without explicitly setting them a deadline.
You should also review the following:
Dear Alex,
Please complete this task at your leisure. There is no deadline, but I’d like to see what you can come up with soon.
All the best,
Greta Keating
9. At Your Earliest Convenience
Let’s finish up with something slightly different. “At your earliest convenience” is a great alternative to “please take your time,” but it works in a different context.
You should say “at your earliest convenience” to employees. It is a fairly bossy phrase that shows you would like someone to get to work as soon as they get the time.
“Earliest convenience” suggests that there is no direct deadline for a task. However, it also suggests that you expect someone to start work immediately once they’ve finished whatever important task they’re currently doing.
That’s why this one works best if you’re the boss. You shouldn’t use it if you don’t have authority over the recipient.
Perhaps this example will help you if you’re still stumped:
Dear Andrew,
Could you get this done at your earliest convenience, please? Of course, there is no pressure. I would just like to see what you do.
Kind regards,
Kim Young