You want to respond to an inquiry from a client, a colleague, or your employer. But is the phrase to answer your question appropriate for a work email?
In this article, we’ll discuss the correctness of this phrase. Moreover, we’ll show you how to politely answer a question using 9 alternative phrases.
9 Alternative Ways to Say “To Answer Your Question”
Have a look at these 9 ways to respond to a question in an email:
- Regarding your question
- To answer that
- Since you asked
- With regard to the question you asked
- In response to your question
- To address the question you raised
- I have an answer for you
- The answer to your question is
- Here’s an answer
1. Regarding Your Question
Regarding your question is a good formal synonym for to answer your question that you can use in an email to your employer or another superior.
This is a great way to refer back to a question they asked in a previous email or on a completely separate occasion.
It will show that you are listening and considering the questions your boss raises throughout the day, which is a great way to exhibit your competence.
Have a look at how we’ve used this phrase in an email example:
Dear Bretta,
Regarding your question: I have spoken to the finance department, and I believe that the catering company will fit into our budget.
Regards,
Angeline
2. To Answer That
You can use the phrase to answer that when you are addressing an inquiry from a client or customer.
This phrase uses plain wording, making it very comprehensible. In addition, it is very tonally neutral.
Thus, it’s generally a safe choice for a conversation with a customer since you usually know very little about them if you’ve spoken only through emails.
To see how to use this phrase, check out the email sample below:
Dear Penelope,
Thank you for your inquiry.
To answer that, I would like to direct you to our returning customer policy, which I have set out below.
Kind regards,
Anita Pérez
3. Since You Asked
The phrase since you asked is fairly informal. Therefore, you should only use it if you are speaking to a colleague with whom you have a friendly dynamic in general.
If you and your peers prefer to keep things casual in your inter-office emails, you can use plain English and more colloquial terms in your work emails to coworkers.
Therefore, since you asked is a casual way to refer to a previous question from a colleague and to provide a quick response.
See the example below:
Dear Jen,
Since you asked, I took the liberty of reaching out to a freelancer who might be able to help us with this copy.
You’re welcome!
All the best,
Chad
4. With Regard to the Question You Asked
Another way to say to answer your question in a formal email is with regard to the question you asked.
This phrase has a formal and professional tone, making it suitable for an email to your boss or anyone higher up in your work’s hierarchy. You can use it to refer to a question the receiver asked at any time in the past.
For example:
Dear Oscar,
With regard to the question you asked yesterday, I have done some research on the client’s brand, and I believe the designs we have developed will suffice.
Regards,
Kagiso
5. In Response to Your Question
In response to your question is another suitable phrase to use in a professional email when a colleague has asked you a complex question that will require an in-depth reply.
This phrase is very tonally neutral. Therefore, you can use it when you’re engaging with a coworker that you don’t know very well, perhaps because they belong to a different department.
The phrase in response to your question is a great way to set out a detailed answer to whatever was asked by the receiver. Alternatively, you can use it to redirect the other person to some helpful resources.
See the email sample below:
Dear Colette,
In response to your question, I have compiled some research that may assist you.
I have attached it below for you to consider.
Regards,
Edwin
6. To Address the Question You Raised
Another good synonym for to answer your question is to address the question you raised.
This phrase comes across fairly formally, so you can use it in response to a question from your boss or any superior.
Like many of the other alternatives on our list, this phrase works well if you are answering a question from the email immediately prior, or from any other time in the past.
To see what we mean, check out this sample email:
Dear Dumeni,
To address the question you raised this morning, here are a few responses to our most recent survey on the topic.
I hope you will find this useful.
Sincerely,
Iman
7. I Have an Answer for You
You can say I have an answer for you when you want to announce that you have found an answer but would not like to share it immediately.
For instance, you could use this phrase in an email to your employer to let them know that you have found an answer to a question they raised and redirect them to some resources or a document detailing your answer.
For instance:
Dear Miss Desmond,
I have an answer for you regarding Miss Dream’s employment issue.
Please refer to the memorandum I have provided below.
Sincerely,
Akin Royale
8. The Answer to Your Question Is
The phrase the answer to your question is a very plain and straightforward way to respond to a colleague.
Although very tonally neutral, this phrase comes across somewhat formally. Therefore, you can use it to respond directly to a colleague you don’t know very well.
In short, it directs them to the answer to their question rather than simply stating the answer immediately. This can be helpful if your email contains multiple statements or comments.
Have a look at this email example to see what we mean:
Dear Cameron,
I have attached the notes you requested below.
Additionally, the answer to your question is ‘no’ since the new Act did away with those requirements.
Regards,
Liam
9. Here’s an Answer
Here’s an answer is another way to announce that you have found an answer to a question without stating the answer directly, perhaps because it is rather complex.
You can use this phrase in an email to your boss. It isn’t particularly formal, but it is very concise and to the point, which works well in a busy work environment.
Let’s see this phrase in our final example:
Dear Chantal,
Here’s an answer to the question you raised in the meeting.
You will find that there are several potential ways we can deal with the issue.
Kind regards,
Vanessa
Is It Correct to Say “To Answer Your Question”?
It is perfectly correct to say to answer your question before providing an answer in an email. You might do this because the question was asked previously in person or because you are addressing multiple things in a single email and want to refer back to a question clearly.
This phrase is suitably formal for a professional email, whatever the size or nature of the organization you work for.
Therefore, let’s see two sample emails illustrating how you can use this phrase in your work correspondence:
Dear Maddison,
To answer your question: yes, we offer free consultations to any client who can prove that their income meets our requirements.
Regards,
Hayleigh
Dear Ivanna,
To answer your question from yesterday’s meeting, I believe the new data protection legislation might impact the content of our promotional emails.
I’ll do more research on the topic and get back to you.
Regards,
Alima
Next, we’ll look at some common punctuation mistakes people make when employing the phrase to answer your question:
Mistake: Failing to place a comma or colon after “question”
- Incorrect: To answer your question no.
- Correct: To answer your question, no.
- Correct: To answer your question: no.
As you can see, it is correct in English to follow the phrase to answer your question with either a colon or a comma.
Although the phrase to answer your question is correct, it is used very commonly and may come across as a tad standardized.
Therefore, if you want to zest up your language and avoid repetition in your professional correspondence, you can use one or more of our alternative phrases.
