Not only limited to the business world, we also reach out to people using the expression “I am contacting you…” all the time.
But as you may know, there is a multitude of ways on communicating the intent of our message to someone.
So, today, we’ll look into the variations and alternatives to the phrase “I am contacting you” to make email writing less cumbersome.
For starters, shall we go over all these expressions quickly?
- I am contacting you in regard to…
- I am contacting you in response to…
- I am contacting you in regard to the position…
- I am contacting you as I have had no answer from you…
- I am contacting you in behalf of…
- I am contacting you on behalf of X…
- I am contacting you regarding the…
- I am contacting you concerning…
- I am contacting you with regard to…
- I am contacting you to follow up on…
- I am contacting you at the recommendation of X…
- I am contacting you to verify whether…
Variant expressions, although quite formulaic at the surface, do come in handy in formal correspondence.
Why not? At times, even if we certainly know the words, we just can’t get them off our convoluted thoughts.
We’re busy creatures. So, it is normal for us not to be able to recall everything we want to say offhand.
To contribute to making this matter less of a nuisance in connection with the phrase “I am contacting you,” we have listed twelve variations of this expression below.
We have also crafted practical email examples that make use of all these phrases for contextualization purposes. Hope you like them.
1. I am contacting you in regard to your company’s…
To begin, “I am contacting you in regard to…” is a great variant because of its highly formalistic tone.
Hence, this expression is great for reaching out to a company’s product or service-related processes via email.
Example:
Dear Anthony,
I am contacting you in regard to your company’s new user account verification procedure. Your website states that you would need a billing statement from users. May I know whether an internet billing statement under the user’s name would be acceptable?
Thank you for your assistance.
Best Regards,
Carlson
2. I am contacting you in response to…
Next, “I am contacting you in response to…” is great for writing email replies to inquiries, such as job posting-related ones.
Another way of expressing the same intent is through the expression “I came across your job posting” or its alternatives in email writing.
Example:
Dear Olivia,
I am contacting you in response to your company’s job posting on Linkedin. I know somebody who might be interested in the Sourcing Associate job role you have posted this week. She is the younger sister of my coworker who is seeking an opportunity at the moment. I will forward the job posting to her, and I will let you know once she has completed the necessary steps. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Sophia
3. I am contacting you in regard to the X position…
Another great variant to “I am contacting you” in relation to job postings is “I am contacting you in regard to the X position…”
This is something we could use, for example, when replying to a Craigslist job posting or any other related job advertisement platform.
Example:
Dear Allison,
I am contacting you in regard to the Licensed Interior Designer position you have posted on Craigslist. I would like to recommend my cousin for the role, as she is looking for a job opportunity right now. Would it be okay if I share your email address with her so she can send the requirements for the job application?
Should you need any further information about her, please feel free to let me know.
Sincerely,
Kara
4. I am contacting you as I have had no answer from you…
Now, in case you are contacting the person after not receiving any response, you could also say “I am contacting you as I have had no answer from you…”
We could also achieve more or less the same tonality by using variations and alternatives to “I wanted to follow up…” in email writing.
Example:
Dear Erwin,
I am contacting you as I have had no answer from you for a couple of weeks now. Two weeks ago, I sent you an email regarding my interior design proposal for your two-bedroom condo unit. I have included the approximated bill of materials, as you requested. Should you be interested in it, I would like to hear your decision within the week so we can proceed with the next steps.
Thank you for your attention.
Respectfully,
Jessica Brown
Registered Interior Designer
5. I am contacting you in behalf of…
“I am contacting you in behalf of…” is great for reaching out to a person or an organization regarding solicitations.
Although “in behalf” is widely interchangeable with “on behalf,” seasoned writers know the difference between “in behalf” and “on behalf.”
“In behalf” particularly suggests the meaning “for the benefit or advantage of” a person or group of people, which is why it is great for donation-related outreach.
Example:
Dear Mr. Shumann,
I am contacting you in behalf of the children at XYZ Orphanage. We are raising funds for the annual leadership workshop for the children in the orphanage. We believe that conducting self-development events will not only help these children cope with parental loss-related issues but also make them socially responsible citizens in our country. In the attachment below, you will find more details of our cause as well as information on how to donate, should you consider doing so.
Sincerely yours,
Arthur McMillan
After receiving donations, it is also essential that charity organizations write a thank you letter for a donation to appreciate the kind gesture.
This will ensure that the relationship between the benefactor and the donee is well taken care of.
6. I am contacting you on behalf of X…
Meanwhile, “I am contacting you on behalf of X…” is great for reaching out to people through an agent or representative.
“On behalf” more particularly suggests the meaning “in place of” someone, which is why this expression works well in writing an email for someone via a representative.
Example:
Dear Mr. Harrison,
I am contacting you on behalf of Mr. Timothy Harlowe. I am Helen White, his executive assistant. This is to inform you that due to Mr. Harlowe’s current affiliation with one of your competitors, he is unable to join your organization. He sincerely appreciates the invitation and wants to try to connect with Mr. Justin Woodsworth instead, a good associate of his. You may reach him through the following contact information: [email address and phone number].
Thank you very much for reaching out.
Sincerely,
Helen
7. I am contacting you regarding the…
“I am contacting you regarding the…” is a nice introductory phrase to use when dealing with concerns related to products or services, as well as program registrations.
For product-related concerns, we might notice something like the statement “I am contacting you regarding the return of your order…”
This would likely be coming from online shops or physical stores where you have transacted an order, particularly if and when issues occur.
Example 1:
Dear Ms. Janie,
I am contacting you regarding the return of your order with the tracking number 8727302133PL. We sincerely apologize for the wrong item sent. You can rest assured that the right item will be delivered to you without any delivery charges within two (2) business days.
Thank you for your patience.
Sincerely,
Joshua Scotts
Meanwhile, if you are reaching out to someone for program slot availability inquiries, “I am contacting you regarding the open slots for…” certainly works well.
For example, you can use this variant when inquiring about program registration or enrollment-related procedures, like in the next example:
Example 2:
Dear Mr. Davis,
I am contacting you regarding the open slots for the group swimming class at Little Ohana Sports Center. I would like to enroll my five-year-old son Jonas in the beginner lessons. When he was only a toddler, he had already loved dipping in the water, so I and my husband have recently decided to formally hone this skill. Could you let me know how to sign up for this class?
Thank you in advance.
Kind regards,
Samantha Roberts
8. I am contacting you concerning…
The phrase “I am contacting you concerning…” is particularly great for responding to customer or client feedback. But, of course, it can be used to address any kind of concern.
Example:
Dear Ms. Rodriguez,
I am contacting you concerning your recent product review for item 87GY02. We sincerely appreciate your positive feedback on our product. In fact, we are giving out discount vouchers to those customers who have left positive reviews on our website. Please find the attached file for the instructions on how to get and make use of your voucher.
Thank you for your continued support.
Warm regards,
Iris Johnson
9. I am contacting you with regard to…
“I am contacting you with regard to…” is also a great phrase to start off our emails, especially when a previous discussion had already taken place.
This expression is great for updating the other person about our schedule availability, for instance, such as in the example below:
Example:
Dear Marcus,
I am contacting you with regard to the translation project you proposed the last time we met. I can start setting up a team from the second week of May. If you have time within the week or the next, I would like to schedule a meeting with you at your convenient time to discuss the preliminaries.
Kind regards,
Joshua
10. I am contacting you to follow up on…
If you want to prompt a response or just make informational changes related to a previous email, “I am contacting you to follow up on…” is the right variant to use.
As an example, this expression is great for giving an update after completing a particular step that has caused some interruption.
After sending an email like the one below, expect to receive a response that says “Thank you for the update” or its alternatives from the other party.
Example:
Dear Ms. Anderson,
I am contacting you to follow up on my previous email regarding the in-house loan application requirements. After discussing with my bank service provider, the issue with my checking account has already been resolved. When you have the time, kindly let me know the next steps I should take to continue with my loan application.
Kind regards,
Amelia Thomas
11. I am contacting you at the recommendation of X…
For recommendation or introduction-related emails, “I am contacting you at the recommendation of X…” is also a highly suitable variant.
You can use this one for reaching out to someone for service or product-related inquiries, as well as booking an appointment with that person.
Example:
Dear Atty. Turner,
I am contacting you at the recommendation of Ms. Annie Schwartz. She mentioned that your company provides corporate legal services, especially for start-up local businesses. I am interested to know more about the services that you offer, so I would like to schedule a meeting with you within the week or the next. Attached below is the link to my calendar. Please feel free to refer to it and book a time at your convenience.
Best regards,
Harold Peters
12. I am contacting you to verify whether…
If you are unsure whether the person you want to reach is using an active email, you can use “I am contacting you to verify whether I can reach you via email.”
This expression is great for first-time contacts because of the high level of formality of its tone.
Example:
Dear Dr. Hayden,
I am contacting you to verify whether I can reach you via email. My name is Celine Atkinson, and I am interested in continuing your study on therapeutic humor. Your dissertation has immediately caught my attention because your research approach is aligned with the study that I want to pursue. With your permission, I would like to continue the study based on the scope of your limitations and recommendations.
Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.
Respectfully yours,
Margarette Benjamins
If you are the who is unsure of how to deal with emails similar to the example above, learning how to write a “thank you reply” for an introduction email would be helpful.
7 Great Alternatives to “I am contacting you…
In actual language use, we also sometimes want to avoid sounding like a broken record. So, we constantly seek alternative expressions online.
This section covers seven other ways to say “I am contacting you” in the context of formal email writing.
1. Please consider this email as a formal notification…
If you need something with a consultative tonality, “Please consider this email as a formal notification…” is on point.
Here’s how to use it:
Example:
Dear HR,
Please consider this email as a formal notification of my planned leave of absence two weeks later. I would like to make use of my two (2) paid holidays from May 12 to May 13, 2022. I will be spending these days for my eldest son’s birthday. Rest assured, I will be back for work the following Monday, May 16, 2022. Should you need any other actions or supporting documents from me, please feel free to reach out anytime.
Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Alice Dooley
2. This is to inquire about…
Formal and direct, “This is to inquire about…” is great for reaching out to someone for the first time or when asking about a product or service for the first time.
Here’s how it might work in context:
Example:
Dear Martin,
This is to inquire about your bank’s newest investment plan. I have recently seen an advertisement while browsing on the internet, and I thought I should ask for more details from you. I would like to book a call with you so please let me know when you would be available for a virtual meeting.
Thanks in advance.
Best regards,
Alexander
3. I am writing to you with regard to…
Also highly formal in tone, “I am writing to you with regard to…” is great when language cautiousness is entailed by the context of the exchange.
Here’s how to use it in quite a sensitive form of correspondence:
Example:
Dear Ella,
I am writing to you with regard to your account verification inquiry. Upon reviewing your account transactions, I have found out that the $25 additional charge was due to your late credit payment for March 2022. Your payment was reflected in our system four (4) hours beyond the deadline. For future transactions, we highly recommend transacting the payment at least one full day before the due date to prevent similar charges. Thank you for understanding.
Should you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out.
Kind regards,
Customer Care
4. I would like to inform you…
Not overly formal in tone, “I would like to inform you…” is a great alternative that works in update-related scenarios.
Here’s how you could make use of it in an email:
Example:
Dear Miss Joyce,
I would like to inform you that the paper you submitted is now under review. The review should approximately take 4-8 weeks, so please expect feedback on or before sixty (60) days from now. Thank you very much for your interest in research publishing.
Kind regards,
Adeline Jenkins
5. I would like to let you know that…
A little less rigid than “I would like to inform you,” “I would like to let you know” is more of a softer version with the same intent.
Here’s an example to make the expression more concrete:
Example:
Dear Jeff,
I would like to let you know that your story has been chosen as one of the top 10 finalists. Congratulations! You are now a step closer to your dream scriptwriting career. Please wait for the next steps, which will be emailed to you within the week. Should you have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me anytime.
Warm regards,
Charlotte Callahan
6. I am reaching out to you…
Meanwhile, “I am reaching out to you…” is another common and easy-to-use alternative to “I am contacting you.”
In case you are the one receiving this message, you can simply respond with “Thank you for reaching out to me” to your recipient.
Here’s how to use “I am reaching out to you…”:
Example:
Dear Arnold
I am reaching out to you to ask whether you have any availability next month to hold a webinar on objection handling for a group of 25 people. Lilia Sevilla, a business development manager who is a good friend of mine happens to be looking for a sales coach so I recommended you. Please let me know whether you are available for a preliminary discussion regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
Abigail Beckham
7. I am writing to inquire about…
More formal and less direct than “This is to inquire about,” “I am writing to inquire about” is perfect for application-related emails.
Here’s how this expression works in context:
Example:
Dear Darryl,
I am writing to inquire about the full-time summer internship program at your company. My wife’s nephew Mark Sawyer is interested in applying for this. He is a BS Information Technology student at Northern Idaho Institute with a good track record. Should there be any available slots for application, could you please let me know?
Thank you in advance.
Kind regards,
Mike
Conclusion
No matter where in the world we are, writing emails is one of the fundamental activities we need to do at work.
So, learning a few variants and alternatives to email intent prompts like “I am contacting you” should make email writing more like a fun activity.
Frequently Asked Questions on “Ways to Use the Phrase ‘I am Contacting You’”
What is a casual synonym for “I am contacting you”?
Relatively casual synonyms for “I am contacting you” include “I am getting in touch with you” and “I am reaching out to you.”
How do we start an email professionally?
Apart from choosing the appropriate salutation, the default strategy in writing a professional email is to start with formal greetings like “Hope all is well with you” followed by the message of intent like “I am contacting you because” or “I would like to do x…”
What can I write instead of “I am writing to you”?
Instead of “I am writing to you,” we could meanwhile use “I am reaching out to you” to slightly reduce the formality level. To make the expression more direct, we could either use the introductory phrase “This is to do x…” or “To do x….”
Hey fellow Linguaholics! It’s me, Marcel. I am the proud owner of linguaholic.com. Languages have always been my passion and I have studied Linguistics, Computational Linguistics and Sinology at the University of Zurich. It is my utmost pleasure to share with all of you guys what I know about languages and linguistics in general.