It’s always a good idea to make sure you’ve understood something before proceeding with a task. In fact, this is one of the best ways to avoid mistakes at work.
But is the phrase just to confirm suitable to use in a work email?
In this article, we’ll show you 10 other ways to seek clarification in an email. Moreover, we’ll discuss the correctness of the phrase just to confirm.
10 Alternative Ways to Say “Just to Confirm”
Below, you’ll find 10 other ways to say just to confirm in an email:
- In the interest of clarity
- To be clear
- Just double-checking
- I just want to verify
- To reiterate
- I just want to make certain
- This is to confirm
- For clarification
- Just to make sure we’re on the same page
- So we’re clear
1. In the Interest of Clarity
In the interest of clarity is a more formal way to say just to confirm when you are speaking to a client or customer.
You can preface a question or clarify a statement with this phrase. After all, it’s always good to make sure you and the client are on the same page if you are assisting them with a business matter.
Have a look at the email sample below:
Dear Mr. Napier,
In the interest of clarity, would you like to create a shared account with your spouse, or would you like a personal account of your own?
Sincerely,
Kai Ornate
2. To Be Clear
Essentially, to be clear is a slightly more concise variation of the phrase above. It has a slightly less formal tone than in the interest of clarity.
Nonetheless, it is suitable to use in an email to an employee or junior staff member when you are issuing instructions and want to make sure that those instructions are clear and comprehensible.
For example:
Dear Paul,
To be clear, you will need to speak with each client individually to ascertain their respective needs. A group meeting won’t suffice.
Regards,
Colleen
3. Just Double-Checking
You can use the more informal phrase, just double-checking, when you’re speaking to a colleague with whom you have a friendly relationship.
This phrase is very casual and wouldn’t suit an email to a client or superior. However, if you tend to keep your inter-office emails with your peers quite relaxed and free from formalities, this phrase is a great way to confirm some information with your coworker.
See how we’ve used it in an email example:
Hi Claire,
Just double-checking my understanding of the plan.
Will I be meeting you outside the venue?
All the best,
Lamonte
4. I Just Want to Verify
I just want to verify is another term that you can use to check the accuracy of something. However, has a slightly different meaning to just to confirm.
Namely, to “confirm” something means that you believe it to be true but are double-checking to be safe. To “verify” something means you doubt the truth of something and are looking for evidence to prove it.
Therefore, you can use the phrase I just want to verify when you want to check the correctness of something with your employer, for instance.
This phrase has a suitably professional tone for an email to a superior, so you can use it to quell any uncertainties you may have.
To see what we mean, consider the email sample below:
Dear Mr. Chirjivin,
I just want to verify with you that you instructed the trainees to relocate this morning.
If so, should I set up some desks in Room 16?
Sincerely,
Cleo McCann
5. To Reiterate
You can use the phrase to reiterate when you are repeating or restating something you have already said for emphasis or clarity.
This phrase is fairly tonally neutral. However, it may come across as a tad impatient, depending on the overall tone of your email.
Therefore, you may want to avoid this phrase when speaking to a client or superior. However, you can use it if you are in a position of authority and you are instructing a trainee or junior member of your organization.
For example:
Dear Arjan,
To reiterate, I will need you to prepare that file before our meeting tomorrow.
Regards,
Aleska
6. I Just Want to Make Certain
I just want to make certain is an informal alternative that you can use in an email to a colleague, regardless of the nature of your relationship.
This phrase implies that you are fairly sure of something but want to double-check anyway.
It is a standard English phrase, but it can come across as a bit clumsy in a professional email. Therefore, you should only use it when speaking to an equal.
Check out the following email example:
Dear Liam,
I just want to make certain that we both have access to the online file.
Can you see the content I’ve attached below?
Regards,
Boikanyo
7. This Is to Confirm
Another way to say just to confirm is this is to confirm. This is a good phrase to include in an email to a customer to avoid any misunderstandings regarding an order or purchase they’ve made online.
This phrase is very tonally neutral, making it a safe option for a standard email containing a receipt or proof of purchase in tow.
See the email sample below:
Dear Alyssa,
This is to confirm your order for 14 disposable cameras.
Please check the accuracy of the receipt below.
Regards,
William Watt
8. For Clarification
Another professional alternative that you can use when speaking to your employer is for clarification.
In short, this is just another way to make sure that you’ve understood an instruction. It never hurts to check before you get started on a task, for instance. After all, it’s better to make sure than to make a mistake!
Let’s see this phrase in a sample email:
Dear Oliver,
For clarification, would you like this information set out in a memorandum?
Regards,
Agatha
9. Just to Make Sure We’re on the Same Page
As an idiomatic phrase, just to make sure we’re on the same page is too informal to include in an email to your boss.
However, you can use this phrase in an email to a colleague you are close to, especially if you have a friendly dynamic with your fellows in general.
For instance:
Hi Leanne,
Just to make sure we’re on the same page, I will be writing the report, and you will be presenting it.
Is that the plan?
All the best,
Seamus
10. So We’re Clear
A more concise informal alternative to just to confirm is so we’re clear. You can use this phrase in an email to a co-worker.
This phrase is short and to the point, which is great if you work in a busy office setting and don’t have time for wordy phrases like the one above.
However, it comes across rather casually, so you should only use it when speaking to an equal at work.
Have a look at how we’ve used this phrase in our final example:
Dear Jade,
So we’re clear, I will get the file to you tomorrow afternoon, and you can draft up a spreadsheet before Wednesday.
Does that suit you?
Regards,
Vera
Is It Correct to Say “Just to Confirm”?
It is perfectly correct to start a sentence with just to confirm when you are double-checking that your knowledge or understanding about something is correct.
This phrase is neither particularly formal nor informal. In fact, it is commonly used in business emails and can be employed no matter the size or nation of your organization.
Therefore, let’s see two sample emails illustrating how to use this phrase in practice:
Dear Bethany,
Just to confirm, will you be presenting our data at the meeting on Thursday?
Let me know if you need any assistance.
Regards,
Hila
You can also rephrase just to confirm as just confirming. The phrases can be used interchangeably, but the latter one comes across as a tad more informal.
See the example below:
Hi Rory,
Just confirming our plans for this afternoon; are we meeting at the office?
Best,
Layla
Although the phrase just to confirm is perfectly correct and commonly used in work emails, there are a few more formal alternatives that you could use.
In addition, just to confirm is common enough that it may be considered somewhat standardized.
So, if you want to mix up your language and keep your work emails free of repetition, try some of the alternative phrases from our list.
