So, you don’t know the answer to something.
However, you want to appear professional when saying I don’t know, but you have no idea how to go about that.
Well, that’s where we come in!
This article will teach you how to say I don’t know in a smart way to show that you’re willing to learn new information.
6 Alternative Ways to Say “I Don’t Know”
You can review these synonyms to learn better ways to say I don’t know in more professional settings:
- I’m not certain
- I have no idea
- I’m unsure
- I’m at a loss
- I’m afraid I can’t answer that
- It’s beyond my knowledge
1. I’m Not Certain
To start, we recommend using I’m not certain instead of I don’t know. This is a great way to be professional and sincere when you’re unsure about something.
For the most part, the recipient won’t judge you for using a phrase like this.
Instead, they’ll be happy to offer assistance to help you feel more certain about something.
Try using it when contacting a professor. It’ll show them that you need further guidance as you’re unsure about the answer they might be looking for.
You can also review this email sample to learn a bit more about how to use it:
Dear Dr. Martens,
I’m not certain what you want me to achieve here.
Do you mind talking me through it and letting me know what comes next?
Thank you so much,
Mary-Anne Naylor
2. I Have No Idea
Another way to say I don’t know is I have no idea. This keeps things formal yet honest when letting someone know you’re unsure how to do something.
For instance, you can use it when contacting your boss. If they’ve set you a task, but you don’t know how to complete it, this is a good chance to ask for help.
If you don’t know how to do something, it’s good to mention it early. Then, at least your boss knows you need assistance. They should be more happy to help you if this is the case.
And here’s a great email example to help you understand a bit more about it:
Dear Mr. Morrison,
I have no idea how to complete this task.
I don’t mean to be a pain, but would you be happy to sit down and talk about it?
All the best,
Joanna Smart
3. I’m Unsure
You can also simplify things by saying I’m unsure instead of I don’t know. This works really well when answering a question you don’t know.
For instance, you can use it in a job interview. It lets recruiters know that you don’t know how to answer their questions honestly or correctly.
Sometimes, honesty like this goes much further than lying about your answers. So, recruiters and employers will respond much better to this.
It’s also sincere and humble. That’s what makes it such a good choice in your writing.
You can refer to these sentence samples to learn a bit more about how it can work:
I’m sorry, but I’m unsure how to answer that. I’ll think about it more once this is done and email you if that’s okay.
I’m unsure what to say to that question. I’d like to circle back to it later if that works for you.
4. I’m at a Loss
Feel free to use I’m at a loss as an intelligent way to say I don’t know. It suggests that you’ve thought long and hard about something, but you don’t have any appropriate solutions.
Generally, this is a good option when admitting you’re unsure to your employer. It’s honest and formal, telling them that they need to assist you further before you can help them.
It works best when you’re asked a question you don’t know how to answer. After all, it’s a good opportunity to request further training if you think it’ll help.
And here’s a good email sample to help you understand a bit more about it:
Dear Miss Whitehall,
I’m at a loss as to how this happened, and I can’t answer you.
I’ll look into it some more and let you know what I find out, though.
Best wishes,
Max Rutherford
5. I’m Afraid I Can’t Answer That
Next, it’s worth saying I’m afraid I can’t answer that as a formal way to say I don’t know.
After all, it’s direct and honest. It lets someone know you have no idea how to answer their question when they present it.
Use it during an interview. It’s good because it allows you to be honest with the recruiter. They should be more understanding if you tell them this directly, and they’ll move to a new question.
Here are some great samples to help you if you still need it:
I’m afraid I can’t answer that correctly, as I don’t know the answer you’re looking for.
I’m afraid I can’t answer that at the moment. Could we please come back to it later?
6. It’s Beyond My Knowledge
Finally, you can write it’s beyond my knowledge in professional situations. It works quite well in formal correspondence when you’d like to show you don’t understand something.
For instance, you can use it when replying to a client. They might have come to you asking a question, but you don’t know the best way to answer it.
Well, this is a good chance to explain yourself. It shows you aren’t able to help at this time, but it keeps your response polite and sincere.
Here’s an email sample to show you more about it:
Dear Mr. Mackerel,
It’s beyond my knowledge to help you with that.
However, I’ll keep doing what I can to find out what you want from us.
All the best,
Sam Stokes
Is It Correct to Say “I Don’t Know”?
It is correct to say I don’t know. It’s an honest way to let people know that you haven’t been informed of something or didn’t know it was true.
Of course, it’s not professional. So, you probably shouldn’t use it in emails or other formal situations. There are always better alternatives.
Nevertheless, if you’re emailing someone you know well, you can probably use it just fine.
Check out the following email sample between two coworkers to learn how it works:
Dear Barry,
I don’t know how to do that, I’m afraid.
Do you mind explaining it to me a bit better?
All the best,
Joanna Smith
Unfortunately, there could be plenty of things you don’t know. And sometimes, you have to be honest and say I don’t know in formal situations if you simply can’t come up with an answer.
For instance, you could use it in an interview. It suggests that you don’t know how to answer a question correctly.
This example should help you to understand it better:
I don’t know the answer to that question. It’s definitely something I’m willing to look into, though.
So, I don’t know is correct, but it’s not the most formal choice. Therefore, you should explore our alternatives to learn professional ways to say I don’t know.
