So, you want to know the best way to tell someone you forgot something in a professional situation.
However, you’re worried that I forgot is too informal and, therefore, incorrect for such a context.
Well, you’ve come to the right place to learn more.
This article will teach you how to say I forgot professionally in an email.
6 Alternative Ways to Say “I Forgot”
You should refer to these 6 synonyms to learn a professional way to say you forgot to do something at work:
- It slipped my mind
- I completely overlooked that
- I failed to remember
- It escaped my memory
- I must have failed to recall
- It didn’t come to mind
1. It Slipped My Mind
Let’s start with it slipped my mind. This is an excellent alternative to I forgot that helps to keep things formal and polite.
You can use this when writing to a coworker. It suggests that you made a mistake and forgot to do something.
Generally, coworkers will appreciate you being honest with something like this. It’ll let them know that you never intended to forget to do a task, but now you have to find a way to fix things.
Feel free to review this example to learn more about it:
Dear Duncan,
I’m afraid it slipped my mind, and I didn’t get it completed on time.
Do you have any ideas that might help us remedy this situation quickly?
Best,
Alex Whitlock
2. I Completely Overlooked That
If you want to know how to say I forgot without saying I forgot, keep it simple. Something like I completely overlooked that is a great choice.
It’s polite and shows you’re willing to own up to your mistakes. So, it’s a great one to include when writing to someone important.
For instance, you can use it when emailing your employer. It lets your boss know that you regret missing some information or forgetting to do a task they might have asked for.
However, you should remember that this phrase is not an apology. If you also want to apologize, you should include an extra apologetic phrase.
So, you can check out this sample email if you need more help:
Dear Ms. Tucker,
I completely overlooked that, and I’m so sorry.
I’ll be sure to work on it immediately to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
Yours,
Freya Tissue
3. I Failed to Remember
You can also say I failed to remember. This is another way to say I forgot that shows you struggled to remember something.
Generally, this demonstrates that you had a temporary lapse in memory. It’s a great way to admit fault without directly apologizing for an error.
Try using this when emailing an employee.
As the boss, you don’t always have to apologize for forgetting something. However, it can go a long way to at least own your mistakes when they happen.
Check out the following email sample if you still need help understanding how it works:
Dear Missy,
I failed to remember to submit this form in time for the end of the quarter.
Please forgive my error, and I’ll do what I can to fix it.
All the best,
Alex Moana
4. It Escaped My Memory
Sometimes, it’s good to go with something more light-hearted or honest. That’s where it escaped my memory comes in.
It’s a great way to let someone know you forgot to do a task for them.
Generally, you can use this when admitting fault to your boss. It suggests that you would have completed a task, but you forgot about it, and now it’s too late.
While your boss won’t be happy that you didn’t do something, at least you admitted that you forgot.
This is a great way to be polite and direct when you know you messed up.
So, you can check out this sample email to learn more:
Dear Mr. Anderson,
I’m sorry, but it escaped my memory to get this task done.
I can do it tonight, but I realize that the deadline has already passed.
All the best,
Judy Treasure
5. I Must Have Failed to Recall
Everyone can forget to do things. It’s not your fault, but you need to know the best ways to own your mistakes when they happen.
Therefore, a phrase like I must have failed to recall goes a long way. It works best professionally, as it shows that something slipped your mind and you forgot about it.
Try using it when apologizing to a client. It’s a fantastic choice that lets them know that accidents happen and you didn’t mean to forget something.
Of course, this takes away from the impact of whatever you forgot.
So, you should only use this for minor errors that are easy to fix. If you use it for major mistakes, you could upset the client more.
Also, the following email sample will help you to understand more:
Dear Ms. Kitt,
I must have failed to recall what you asked of me before sending this off.
Please forgive me, and I’ll get on top of it immediately.
Yours,
Stacey Murphy
6. It Didn’t Come to Mind
Finally, you can write it didn’t come to mind instead of I forgot.
Generally, this is an honest and sincere way to show someone that you forgot.
Also, suggesting it didn’t in the phrase means you didn’t actively think of something. Therefore, it doesn’t refer to a mistake. Instead, it simply shows you did not think much of your oversight.
Of course, this will work best when writing to employees. After all, they’re less likely to get annoyed at you if you forget to do something since you’re the boss.
You should review this example to learn a bit more:
Dear Abbie,
It didn’t come to mind at the time, I’m afraid.
I’ll start working on it for you now to ensure it’s ready for when you need it again.
Best,
Sammy Cloth
Is It Correct to Say “I Forgot”?
I forgot is correct to say in friendly contexts.
It’s not professional to use this phrase. So, it’s best to avoid saying something like this in an email.
For the most part, if you wrote this in an email, it shows a lack of care of enthusiasm. This could look quite bad, especially if you’re emailing your boss. It implies you don’t care about your role.
With that said, the phrase is correct when simple accidents happen.
You can use it in a passing comment to let someone know you forgot to do something.
So, you can refer to this email sample to learn more about it:
Hi Max,
I forgot to mention the changes to the schedule.
I hope it hasn’t caused you any inconvenience since you were one of the last to find out.
Yours,
Gabriella Aplin
As you can see, the phrase still works in an email. However, it’s best to use it when you know the recipient well and don’t have to worry about writing formally.
For example:
Dear Brian,
I forgot to CC you on this email exchange.
Please review it and let me know what your thoughts are!
All the best,
Maximilian Bread
So, it’s clear that I forgot isn’t the best professional choice. Therefore, you’re going to need some alternatives to ensure you’re using an appropriate tone in your writing.
