If you work in an office setting, you’ve probably seen the phrase at your convenience in your emails from time to time.
But is this phrase the most appropriate one to use in a professional setting?
We’ll discuss the correctness of at your convenience below. In addition, we’ll look at 7 alternative phrases you can use to keep your work correspondence diverse.
7 Alternative Ways to Say “At Your Convenience”
Check out these 7 other ways to say at your convenience in a work email:
- At a time that suits you
- When you have a moment
- In your own time
- At your leisure
- When you can
- Whenever is most convenient for you
- At your own pace
1. At a Time That Suits You
You can use the phrase at a time that suits you in an email to a client.
This phrase will show that you are flexible and willing to work around a client’s schedule, which is sure to put them at ease.
This phrase is not particularly formal, but it uses suitably professional phrasing.
Therefore, it’s a safe option to go with whether you work at a large company or in a small business.
Have a look at how we’ve used this phrase in an email example:
Dear Miss Bordelon,
Certainly, you can schedule a consultation at a time that suits you.
Kind regards,
Deja Morn
2. When You Have a Moment
The phrase when you have a moment is a tad casual. Therefore, this alternative is best suited for an email to a colleague who is equal to you in rank.
You can use this phrase to ask for something from your coworker while letting them know that your request isn’t urgent.
In other words, they need only get on your request when their schedule allows it.
Essentially, this phrase is a great way to ask for help without coming across as demanding.
Thus, you can use it regardless of the nature of your relationship with the receiving colleague, as it is fairly tonally neutral.
Let’s see it in a sample email:
Hi David,
Could you forward the transcript to me when you have a moment?
Kind regards,
Nikko
3. In Your Own Time
In your own time is another way to say at your convenience when you are speaking to a trainee or new recruit at the office.
This phrase will let the other person know that an assignment you are giving them is not urgent and has no fixed deadline.
For instance:
Dear Glynn,
I have sent a task to your inbox.
You can complete this in your own time, but I would advise that you get it done before your schedule gets much busier.
All the best,
Vivien
4. At Your Leisure
At your leisure essentially means that the receiver can do something when they want to and when they have time to.
Therefore, you can use this phrase to make a suggestion to a client.
This phrase uses rather formal phrasing, making it a good option for your professional correspondence with clients.
However, it still makes clear that you don’t wish to be instructive in your email.
To see what we mean, have a look at this email sample:
Dear Mr. Guenever,
I have provided a list of our services below.
Please feel free to drop by the salon at your leisure to book an appointment.
Kind regards,
Tanyell Davies
5. When You Can
You can say when you can in an informal email to a coworker.
This alternative uses very plain phrasing to let your colleague know that you would like them to get something done, but only when they are willing and able.
There are a number of less casual alternatives that you should use if you’re speaking to a client or superior.
However, if you tend to have a good rapport with your coworkers, you can be more straightforward and to the point in your inter-office emails.
See the email example below:
Hi Elyse,
Here are the notes I took at the meeting.
Please get them back to me with your comments when you can.
All the best,
Natalia
6. Whenever Is Most Convenient for You
The phrase whenever is most convenient for you is suitably professional to include in an email to a fellow professional from another company.
If you are making plans to collaborate with another organization, it’s always good to be flexible and meet their representatives where they are at.
Therefore, you can use the phrase whenever is most convenient for you as a more business casual alternative to at your convenience to show that you are relaxed and easy to work with.
Check out the following email sample:
Dear Reagan,
Absolutely! We can schedule a call whenever is most convenient for you.
All the best,
Lamman
7. At Your Own Pace
At your own pace is another good phrase to use when you are issuing a task to a trainee or new recruit at the office.
This phrase will encourage the recipient not to rush on a task. Therefore, you should only use it if the request you are making is not urgent.
For example, this instruction could be helpful when you are testing the quality of a trainee’s work rather than their capacity for time management.
It’s good to see how well someone works under pressure, but seeing what a junior member of your team can produce when given time and resources is equally valuable.
Thus, let’s see this phrase in our final example:
Dear Isaac,
Attached below is a new assignment for you to complete.
You can work on this task at your own pace, so make sure that you prioritize any other assignments on your plate first.
Regards,
True
Is It Correct to Say “At Your Convenience”?
The phrase at your convenience is perfectly correct.
You can use this phrase to let someone know that they can respond to your email or carry out a suggested task at a time that works for them.
This phrase is fairly formal. Therefore, it’s suitable to use in any professional setting, whatever the size or nature of your organization.
Therefore, let’s see two email samples illustrating how you can use this phrase in practice:
Dear Alex,
I am available for an interview at your convenience.
I appreciate being considered.
Kind regards,
Maitreyi Barnet
Dear Ms. Jagannathan,
I will be in the office every day from 8 am until 4 pm.
Please feel free to contact me at your convenience.
Kind regards,
Benjamin Howard
To avoid any embarrassing grammar mistakes in the future, let’s consider a common mistake people make when employing this phrase.
Mistake: Using the preposition in rather than at
- Incorrect: You can contact me in your convenience.
- Correct: You can contact me at your convenience.
Since the term “convenience” does not suggest a scope of time, a person cannot do something in their convenience. At is the correct preposition to use in this context.
Although the phrase at your convenience is correct, it is rather standardized.
Therefore, you can diversify your professional correspondence using one or more of the alternative phrases from our list.
