You want to affirm that you agree with a plan or idea, but is sounds good appropriate to include in a professional email?
We’ll discuss this question below. In addition, we’ll look at 10 alternative phrases to sounds good that you can use in the workplace
10 Alternative Ways to Say “Sounds Good”
Below, you’ll find 10 other ways to say sounds good in an email:
- That would be suitable
- Looking forward to it
- That should work
- Works for me
- Sounds like a plan
- Sounds great
- I’m happy with that
- I think that’s a good idea
- That seems sensible
- I’m on board
1. That Would Be Suitable
A more formal alternative to sounds good is that would be suitable. You can use this phrase in response you one of your employees if they have made a request or suggestion.
This phrase is an affirmative answer, but it may come across as a tad austere. Therefore, you can add a “thank you” directly after to keep your tone a bit lighter. It also adds a touch of politeness, which is good for keeping your employees feeling appreciated.
No one is above politeness, after all!
Therefore, let’s see this phrase in an example:
Dear Tegan,
Yes, that would be suitable. Thank you.
Regards,
Gerard
2. Looking Forward to It
Looking forward to it is a more professional way to say sounds good when you’re speaking to your employer or if you are confirming an interview.
This phrase lets the receiver know that you are enthused about a meeting or plan. Furthermore, it exhibits your positive attitude without sounding too keen.
Have a look at how we’ve used this alternative in an email sample:
Dear Mr. Quartz,
I can confirm that I am available to attend the interview on that date.
I am greatly looking forward to it.
Warm regards,
Daniel Howard
3. That Should Work
When you’re speaking to a colleague and they make a suggestion that you think sounds good, you can respond with that should work.
This phrase is a pretty tonally neutral way to give someone the go-ahead. After all, the inclusion of “should” implies that something will probably work out, but it’s not certain.
Therefore, we wouldn’t recommend using that should work with a superior. Namely, because you should avoid expressing any doubt that your boss’s ideas will work.
See the example email below:
Dear Brian,
That should work, but we may need to come up with a Plan B in case the venue is booked.
Regards,
Theresa
4. Works for Me
Works for me is a more casual alternative that you can use when you’re talking to a colleague you are close to.
If you have a friendly and genial culture at your office, you can generally do away with all the formal, stuffy email etiquette in your correspondence.
A phrase like works for me is clear and to the point. This is ideal since you’re probably all too busy for flowery prose!
Check out the sample email below to see this phrase in action:
Hi Nadia,
That all works for me.
I’ll bring a binder, just in case.
All the best,
Jeremy
5. Sounds Like a Plan
Another way to say sounds good is sounds like a plan. Like the original phrase, you can use this one to express agreement with a proposed plan.
This phrase has a very similar tone to sounds good, and you can often use them interchangeably. Therefore, like the original phrase, you should only use this one when speaking to your colleagues and not in correspondence with clients or superiors.
After all, it may come across as just a touch too casual.
Have a look at the email example below:
Hi Pris,
Sounds like a plan. I’ll meet you in Room 4 at noon.
Cheers,
Xara
6. Sounds Great
Although you are only replacing the word “good” with “great” in this alternative to sounds good, this variation comes across as significantly more effusive than the original.
Therefore, you can use it when you want to express excitement or enthusiasm at the prospect of a plan or proposal made by a coworker.
For instance:
Hi Pam,
That sounds great!
I’m really excited to get started.
All the best,
Omphile
7. I’m Happy With That
You can say I’m happy with that to let an employee know that they can proceed with a proposed plan. It’s also a potential response if they’ve asked for some feedback or suggestions, especially if you have none to give.
Essentially, this phrase is just a straightforward and moderately pleasant way to send a confirmation. Moreover, you can always add a quick “thank you” to ensure that you are being as polite as possible.
Therefore, let’s see this phrase in an email example:
Dear Precious,
Thank you, I’m happy with that.
Have a great weekend.
Regards,
Moira
8. I Think That’s a Good Idea
I think that’s a good idea is a straightforward and tonally neutral way to confirm a proposed plan. You can use it when speaking to a colleague or someone lower down in the work hierarchy.
In short, if a coworker or employee has asked your opinion on something, this phrase gives them the go-ahead. Moreover, it reassures them that they’ve done a good job!
Consider the following example:
Dear Joyce,
Okay, I think that’s a good idea.
Please ask Vincent to book Room 12 for us.
Regards,
Lacey
9. That Seems Sensible
That seems sensible is a formal way of saying sounds good and is most appropriate for when you are speaking to an employee or someone more junior in the work hierarchy.
This phrase is rather reserved, so you can use it if you want to maintain a more serious tone in your work emails. Nonetheless, it gives clear confirmation that the receiver can proceed with whatever they asked or suggested.
Have a look at this email sample:
Dear Tonia,
That seems sensible. Perhaps you can ask one of the trainees to attend with you.
Regards,
William
10. I’m on Board
If your colleague has a good idea, you can say I’m on board to let them know that you’re keen to participate.
I’m on board is a more casual and idiomatic phrase, so you should only use it if you have a friendly dynamic with your peers. Or, when speaking to a colleague you are close to.
Nonetheless, it makes you sound very friendly and energetic, which is great to have in a coworker.
Check out the example email below:
Hi Leseko,
That sounds brilliant – I’m definitely on board.
All the best,
Neil
Is It Correct to Say “Sounds Good”?
It is correct to say sounds good when you want to respond with an affirmation to an email. People commonly use this in work correspondence.
However, it is not always a good reply. After all, it can come across as somewhat informal or at least business casual, so you should use it with caution.
In particular, you should avoid using this phrase in formal emails to clients. However, it is suitable to use it in your email exchanges with your coworkers, especially if you have a friendly dynamic in your workplace.
Below, we’ll look at two example emails illustrating how you can use this phrase in practice:
Dear Jean,
That sounds good to me.
Regards,
Lydia
Dear Saphire,
Sounds good. We’ll finalize all the details on Wednesday.
All the best,
Shaun
To avoid any unfortunate grammar mistakes, we’ll look at a common error people make when they use this phrase:
Mistake: Using Sound instead of Sounds
- Incorrect: Sound good.
- Correct: Sounds good.
The phrase sounds good is a shortened version of that sounds good. Therefore, you must always use the pluralized form of “sounds.”
As we said, sounds good is correct but not suitably formal for all professional correspondence. Therefore, when you’re emailing a superior or a client, you’ll want to go with a more formal alternative. Luckily, we’ve provided some great phrases.
