📧🚨 These Are the Most Passive-Aggressive Phrases People Use in Work Emails

A new list reveals the workplace email phrases that make employees feel like they're being subtly attacked, including “Just to be clear,” “As previously discussed,” and the dreaded “Per my last email.” Plus, find out which email phrases cause the most stress, because nothing ruins your morning quite like a message that starts with “Can we chat?” 😬

10/29/20261 min read

a person in a mask using a laptop
a person in a mask using a laptop

You ever get an email that says, “Just to be clear…” and immediately know somebody is about to ruin your morning? 😂📩

A new list of the workplace email phrases most commonly perceived as passive-aggressive reveals that some of us are basically one Outlook notification away from starting a fight. The biggest offender? “Just to be clear,” which 52% of workers say usually feels passive-aggressive.

Here are the 10 most passive-aggressive email phrases, according to workers:

  1. 😬 “Just to be clear” — 52%

  2. 📌 “As previously discussed” — 40%

  3. 💀 “Per my last email” — 40%

  4. 👀 “For future reference” — 32%

  5. 🙂 “Kindly note” — 31%

  6. ⏰ “Any updates on this?” — 30%

  7. 📬 “Not sure if you saw this” — 30%

  8. 🚧 “Going forward” — 24%

  9. 👋 “Just checking in” — 22%

  10. 😊 “Friendly reminder” — 21%

Let's be honest: “Per my last email” is corporate for, “I already told you this, and I'm trying really hard not to say what I actually think.” 💀

But passive-aggression isn't the only thing making people sweat at work. There are also certain email phrases that can instantly send your stress levels through the roof.

The most stressful phrase is “Need this ASAP,” which jolts 56% of workers' stress or anxiety. Here's the rest of the list:

  1. 🚨 “Need this ASAP” — 56%

  2. 😰 “Can we chat?” — 40%

  3. ⚠️ “Action required” — 34%

  4. 🫣 “Let's take this offline” — 27%

  5. 📧 “Per my last email” — 24%

  6. 🔁 “Following up again” — 24%

  7. 👀 “Not sure if you saw this” — 13%

  8. 📝 “Please advise” — 10%

  9. 🙂 “Friendly reminder” — 10%

  10. 🔄 “Circling back” — 6%

And can we talk about “Can we chat?” with absolutely no other context? That message could mean you're getting a promotion, or you're about to find out you've been doing everything wrong for six months. Either way, you're not getting any work done until that meeting happens. 😂

So, what's the most passive-aggressive email you've ever received? And which phrase instantly makes you panic when it pops up in your inbox? 📩👇

Contacts

Dexinthemorning@gmail.com

Dex and Barbie T