“Looking forward to working with you” in Business Writing

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We often notice the phrase “looking forward to working with you” in business-related discourses.

But, what does it exactly mean? And, is it even grammatically correct?

I’ve covered the subtleties behind this topic in detail, so keep scrolling down to understand more.

 

Is the phrase “looking forward to working with you” grammatically correct?

This popular business expression is not only grammatically correct but also very much native-like. It is often used when either an employee or employer expects to start working with each other soon. Using this phrase means that a person intends to convey excitement or anticipation to the collaborative work that is about to take place, and thus, suggests a feeling of warmth towards the message recipient. In short, this expression is useful in welcoming a new person to build a business relationship with.

 

Looking forward to working with you: A Grammatical Background

“Looking forward to working with you” is the ellipted or shortened version of “I am looking forward to working with you.”

“I am” is flexible which means both words can be adjusted depending on the context and intention.

In particular, this means that the subject “I” can be substituted with other subject pronouns such as we or she, whereas “am” is replaceable with is or are depending on the subject.

This means that “working” is not actually the verb in the phrase even though it looks like one.

Instead, “working” is part of the noun phrase “working with you” which functions as the object of the preposition “to.”

Also, “look forward to” is a fixed phrasal verb that means “to anticipate” or “to expect” something to happen.

Hence, “to” cannot be conveniently replaced with just any other preposition that might seem suitable like “for” or “on.”

Interestingly, native speakers do not find this expression strange at all, but the case with non-natives is different.

Non-native English language users would easily get caught in the weeds when trying to dissect the grammaticality of this phrase, which is also natural.

The former is equipped with the concept of Universal Grammar (UG) in English, but the latter’s UG is embedded in their first language instead.

That said, non-natives are prone to the misperception that “to work with you” is simply an alternative for “to working with you.”

Clearly, this is also a more advanced topic in grammar, so do not worry if you haven’t fully made sense of this yet.

So, what’s the difference between the two then?

 

“Looking forward to working with you” vs. “Looking forward to work with you”

As mentioned earlier, “looking forward to working with you” is the correct expression to use, as opposed to “looking forward to work with you.”

Even my grammar checker tool winced at my use of the latter phrase, almost instantly underlining it while I was typing the last line.

Digression aside, the word “work” can actually mean a multitude of things and can function either as a noun or verb in sentences.

As a noun, it can be an activity, a place, or the measure of force exertion according to Physics, which is categorized as “uncountable” by the way.

Meanwhile, the verb “to work” is the engagement of a person, machine, or any operating system to a task or an activity.

From the syntactical perspective, the phrase “looking forward to work with you” is ungrammatical if the sentence elements are incorrectly grouped.

Again, “looking forward to” the main verb in its progressive tense, particularly a phrasal type that is already fixed per se, just like “put on” or “turn off.”

If one is rather perceiving “to” as part of the phrase “to work” in the expression being discussed, then that’s where we can draw the line.

“Working” is a gerund, a verb added with -ing, acting as a noun, but “to work” is an infinitive phrase that may act as an adjective, adverb, or noun in a sentence.

While both can be used as nouns, only gerunds can be used as the object of a preposition, which is “to” in the expression being discussed.

Thus, these reasons make “looking forward to work with you” ungrammatical and weird-sounding to the native ears.

The other commonly misconceived fixed verbal phrases similar to “to look forward” are “to accustom to,” “to admit to,” and “to be used to.”

Similarly, gerunds must be used after these fixed terms rather than infinitives.

 

When to use the phrase “looking forward to working with you”

Now that we already have a grasp of the correct structure to use, let’s also try to understand the context in which it is applicable.

As briefly stated earlier, the usage of “looking forward to working with you” most commonly occurs in business-related settings.

Although the phrase can be used in oral exchanges, it is more common to see this in emails and business letters, especially as a closing remark.

More precisely, it is used by people who are about to start a new project or job role and want to express anticipation towards the upcoming collaborative work with the new partner.

In simple words, using this verbiage generally means that one is expressing excitement in collaborating with the message recipient.

Unless the language user intends to be sarcastic, the above-mentioned denotation should always be the case.

 

How formal is “looking forward to working with you?”

The easiest, also the most objective, way to determine the formality level of this expression is by comparing it to its untruncated version.

That is, the more complete structure, which is “I am looking forward to working with you,” is more formal than the ellipted version.

This means that the shortened form is more applicable in oral conversations, whereas the complete version is more recommended in writing.

It is also noteworthy to say that although this is the case, it doesn’t mean that not being able to use “I” and “am” would be regarded as rude.

The offensive part happens only when one fails to state this expression where one is expected to do so or when the context requires the use of similar phrases.

Since I’ve just mentioned similar phrases, let’s also tackle alternative expressions to “looking forward to working with you.”

 

Sample Emails with “Looking forward to working with you”

Below you will find 5 email examples that show you exactly how to use the phrase “looking forward to working with you” in an email.

 

Looking forward to working with you: Email Sample 1

 

 

Looking forward to working with you: Email Sample 2

 

 

Looking forward to working with you: Email Sample 3

 

 

Looking forward to working with you: Email Sample 4

 

 

Looking forward to working with you: Email Sample 5

 

 

 

Alternative Expressions to “looking forward to working with you”

“Looking forward to working with you” is definitely a great verbiage choice in situations requiring one.

It is most likely the best option since it is widely used and, therefore, free from any possibilities of misconception.

But in case you want to have a variety of options, which is also a really good indicator of language fluency, I’ve listed a few other related expressions.

 

I am excited to work with you

If you want to express a more casual and personal intent, “I am excited to work with you” is a simpler alternative.

If you’ve noticed, we need to use the infinitive form this time because we’re not using a fixed phrasal verb expression anymore.

Here, “to work with you” functions as an adverb, particularly an adjectival complement, that post-modifies “excited.”

So, we should never say “I am excited to working with you” on the other hand.

Also, take note that the use of this alternative expression conveys personal language.

Therefore, this one is more appropriate for a message recipient that we have a close relationship with.

Hence, this expression is less appropriate in the initial contact with a business prospect or superior, as opposed to those we’ve already established a bond with like peers.

The personal tone of the example above will be less likely used by a job seeker who has just been hired by a company unless the relationship is quite close.

 

I can’t wait to work with you

Another expression that still conveys a personal tonality is “I can’t wait to work with you.”

Compared to the previous one, this is a better choice when the purpose is to increase the amount of enthusiasm in the language expression.

More enthusiasm means conveying a friendlier tone which is suitable for a message recipient with whom we share a more intimate connection.

For example, we can use it when the receiver is a former classmate who coincidentally got hired in the department you belong with.

Likewise, the statements above would come across as unprofessional when used under different circumstances, such as an HR recruiter to a random new employee.

 

I am eagerly looking forward to working with you

Lastly, if you want to express a strong desire yet stay professional, you may throw in an adverb in “looking forward to working with you.”

Be careful though, as the subjectivity of adverbs could easily lead to unprecedented misconceptions, which in this case is desperation.

Obviously enough, we need to pattern the way we use language to the context in which it is used, as well as the intention of the message sender.

That said, one may conveniently add “eagerly” when the message recipient has previously shown some sense of warmth in the previous interaction.

Our social acuity can guide us in perceiving and matching the psychological state shown by the other person.

 

Looking forward to collaborating with you

The definition of “collaborate” is to work jointly on an activity or project. Saying, “looking forward to collaborating with you” is therefore essentially synonymous with “looking forward to working with you.”

In fact, it comes from the Latin collaborare, which is a combination of col- (together) and laborare (to work). This alternative way of informing someone that you are happy to be undertaking a joint project with them is suitable for almost any shared venture. 

That said, the implications of the term “collaborating” have evolved since it was first coined from its Latin roots. 

In business speak, “collaborating” generally implies two equal partners putting their resources together to produce a product in common. As a result, this phrase is most appropriate when the two parties in question are separate entities. 

That said, this isn’t a hard and fast rule. If you are going to be working across department lines within a single company, or even with another member of your own team, this expression would still be appropriate. 

 

Example: How to use “looking forward to collaborating with you” in an email 

 

 

Looking forward to working alongside you

Unlike “collaborating” with someone, which implies two separate entities or individuals coming together in a joint venture, working “alongside” someone suggests that you are on the same team. 

The most common definition of “alongside” is “next to.” Saying, “working alongside” someone might bring to mind two people sitting side-by-side, working on a common problem. 

Considering that a further definition of “alongside” is “together and in cooperation with,” that image makes a lot of sense. 

Are you joining a company or institution and are corresponding with a future colleague?

If so, you can use the phrase, “looking forward to working alongside you,” to express that you look forward to working with them. 

As an aside, if you have previously with a colleague at your new company, you can still opt for the less formal, “looking forward to seeing you” in business writing. 

 

Example: How to use”looking forward to working alongside you” in an email 

 

Looking forward to a long and fruitful partnership

Looking for a way to express your hopes for the success of a collaboration and demonstrate your goodwill toward a future business partner?

If so, you can close off your correspondence with the line “looking forward to a long and fruitful partnership.” 

The initial stages of any cooperative effort between independent individuals or companies can be rocky.

Like two athletes playing a team sport together for the first time, you will both have to learn how the other party ticks to be able to run your plays smoothly. 

The best way to overcome the teething process faced by young start-ups working in collaboration is to demonstrate as much good will and readiness to listen and compromise as possible.

One way to do this is to suggest that you see your relationship as something that will last far into the future. 

Showing yourself to be dependable and seriously invested in the outcome of a joint venture will help foster the other party’s trust.

Plus, putting it a partner’s head that what you have is a long-term gig will likely cause them, whether consciously or not, to invest more heavily in it. 

 

How to use “looking forward to a long and fruitful partnership” in an email 

 

Looking forward to tackling this project together

If you have been assigned to a new team or have been tasked with a new project, you can sign off an email to a colleague who will be working alongside you with “looking forward to tackling this project together.” 

Unlike many of the other suggestions in this list, which are open-ended and speak of collaboration in general rather than on a specific task, this sign-off refers to cooperation on a specific project. This makes it perfect for a time-limited venture. 

If you will be working on a project with a new team of colleagues, this line is an ideal way to inform them that you look forward to navigating the task at hand with them. 

If the project in question is particularly difficult, you can motivate your fellow team members by using the term “tackling.” To tackle something means to make a determined effort to deal with a challenging problem.

Eliciting a sense of determination in those you’ll be working with is a great way to inspire them to work hard. 

 

Example: How to use “looking forward to tackling this project together” in an email 

 

Looking forward to putting our minds together 

If the collaborative project you’ll be working on is relatively open-ended, try to avoid time-specific language when expressing your excitement about it. 

This idiomatic phrase evokes the image of two people literally sitting with their heads together while concentrating on a shared problem. However, it also refers to people combining their mental resources and using their shared intelligence to mull over a question. 

The continuation of this phrase is generally, “…to see what we come up with,” and the expression is often synonymous with brainstorming and the early stages of designing a project’s structure. 

It is also often used in relation to the goal-setting stage of a task. 

This way of letting someone know that you look forward to seeing what the two of you come up with casts your future partnership in an optimistic light and demonstrates goodwill. 

Talking about “putting our minds together” would work particularly well if you are an academic working on a jointly authored research paper. It is also appropriate for engineers in any technologically innovative field. 

 

Example: How to use “looking forward to putting our minds together” in an email 

 

Looking forward to exploring this exciting opportunity together

If you are embarking on a speculative venture or are looking to break new ground in your professional field, you can tell your collaborators that you look forward to exploring an opportunity together. 

Every new innovation begins with a novel undertaking. In order to set new limits, you have to take risks. And of course, the more support you have when venturing into the professional unknown, the better. 

Whether you are writing a company newsletter for investors or are writing an email to a new business partner, emphasizing the forward-looking nature of your endeavor. This will surely excite your reader. 

Demonstrating your own excitement for a new project in your correspondence about it is infectious. In order to set the stage for success, it is crucial to adopt an optimistic tone. 

 

Example: How to use “looking forward to exploring this exciting opportunity together” in an email 

 

Looking forward to working side by side with you

Generally speaking, when people feel valued, they perform better. Knowing that our co-workers have faith in our abilities and trust our judgement increases our sense of self-confidence. 

If you want to make your colleagues feel that you believe in them, you can highlight the importance of workplace camaraderie. 

Emphasizing the egalitarian nature of your co-working relationship by talking about working “side by side” will inspire your colleagues to step up to the plate and do their share of the work. 

There is no better sign-off for empowering those you’ll be working with than “looking forward to working side by side with you.”  

 

Example: How to use “looking forward to working side by side with you” in an email 

 

We are looking forward to joining forces with you

Sometimes, doing business can feel like waging a war. When you’re putting in the grind to get to the top your field, you may feel like you’re doing battle. 

If your company is merging with another, or if you have just entered a new partnership, you can seek to inspire your new collaborators to hit the ground running by saying you “look forward to joining forces.”

This phrase evokes the image of two armies joining together to do battle against a shared enemy. This expression is particularly appropriate if you are looking to bring a product to market ahead of a competitor or are otherwise in a professional neck-and-neck race. 

That said, you could also use this in a more mellow situation, if you want to emphasize that you and a colleague are a force to be reckoned with. If you have been tasked with a group project at work, you can (facetiously or not) tell your fellow group members that you are “looking forward to joining forces” with them. 

 

I am looking forward to embarking on our new joint venture

Embarking on a new, collaborative start-up venture? No matter how regularly you speak to your co-founders, it is still a good idea to express your excitement about your joint endeavor. 

Because you are sharing not only in the work, but also devising the vision for your business, it is a good idea to foster a sense of excitement about the project. 

After all, if it goes well, you will be sharing in the spoils of your labor too. Establishing a positive and mutually beneficial dynamic from the get-go when starting up a business with a partner is essential for long-term success. 

 

Example: How to use “I am looking forward to embarking on our new joint venture” in an email 

 

Looking forward to doing business with you

If you have just taken on a new client or signed a partnership deal, you can opt for the formal sign-off “looking forward to doing business with you.” 

Many of the suggested alternatives to “looking forward to working with you” in this list are most appropriate for intra-company collaborations, which allow for greater informality in correspondence. 

If, however, you have just signed a new client and are not personally familiar with its executives, you should keep your tone formal and professional, at least for the time being. Need more advice about formal English? Check out these top 30 business English vocabulary terms. 

If you have just been sent the signed contracts by a company’s legal team, you can write to the representative you have been in contact with and tell them you are “looking forward to doing business” with them. 

This is a polite way to formally acknowledge that the contractual nature of your relationship is now signed and sealed. It is an appropriate and professional way to show a business partner or client that you are entering the arrangement in good faith and with optimism. 

 

How to use “looking forward to doing business with you” in an email 

 

Looking forward to teaming up with you

If you prefer to use informal language when discussing working with colleagues, you can use sports terminology. 

There are plenty of examples of sports language sneaking its way into business speak. For example, we often talk about “knocking it out of the park” when we’ve nailed a pitch. 

If we’re waiting on a response from a colleague, collaborator, client, or third-party organization, we commonly say that “the ball is in their court.”

And of course, we’re all familiar with the term “Hail Mary pass,” to describe a last-chance attempt to solve a problem. This infamous phrase comes from American Football, and refers to a quarterback attempting a long pass that has a very low chance of success in the final seconds of the game.  

In fact, we commonly refer to teams when talking about groups within a company tasked with working together to achieve a specific result. Generally, “teaming up” with someone has very positive connotations. 

A team is, by definition, a group of people with a shared goal. By using language that suggests forming a team of one or more other people, you’re characterizing all of you as being in it together. 

This language encourages people to start bonding from the early days of your working relationship. This sense of sporting camaraderie will certainly help co-workers to support each other when the going gets tough. 

 

Example: How to use “looking forward to teaming up with you” in an email 

 

Five great ways to respond to “looking forward to working with you”

1. I look forward to working with you too.
2. I anticipate we will have a long and mutually beneficial working relationship.
3. I am also looking forward getting started on this shared project.
4. I am also excited to join forces to tackle this new venture.
5. I am also looking forward to our collaboration.

Now, before we wrap this up, let us also have a look at a couple of great phrases that you can use after somebody sent you an email or a message including the phrase “I am looking forward to working with you.”

Each of the five responses given above convey that you share the sender’s enthusiasm for your upcoming collaboration. Let us have a look at these responses in some more detail now. 

 

I look forward to working with you too. 

This simple response to “looking forward to working with you,” matches the initial statement in its phrasing. 

If you have a meeting scheduled with your new collaborator to discuss the project at hand, you could also say, “looking forward to talking to you.” 

While this doesn’t directly parallel the sentiment expressed by the sender, it makes the same point and carries the same friendly implications. 

Below is an example of an email showing how you might respond to “looking forward to working with you,” using the phrase, “I look forward to working with you too.” 
 

Sample email using the phrase, “I look forward to working with you too.” 

 

 

I anticipate we will have a long and mutually beneficial working relationship.

If you think it is important to say more than some variation of “so do I,” you can opt for this formal response to “looking forward to working with you.” 

Telling a new collaborator that you think you are at the beginning of a long and mutually beneficial partnership will certainly make a good impression. 

While some people worry about appearing too enthusiastic or coming on too strong, there is no need to hesitate to express that you are optimistic about the future of a collaboration. 

After all, as long as you are using formal and professional language, demonstrating excitement about cooperating with a partner, colleague, or external organization is good practice. 

Here’s an example of how to write a formal response email to “looking forward to working with you.”
 

Sample email using the phrase “I anticipate we will have a long and mutually beneficial working relationship”  

 

 

I am also looking forward getting started on this shared project.

When you are working on a specific task with a group of colleagues, you will probably be encouraged to maintain regular communication throughout the course of your collaboration. 

If a co-worker gets in touch to let you know they are looking forward to getting started on a shared project, you can tell them you are also looking forward to getting started. 

Here is a sample email showing how to respond to a colleague saying, “looking forward to working with you.” 

 

Sample email using the phrase, “I am also looking forward to getting started on this shared project”

 

 

I am also excited to join forces to tackle this new venture. 

If you are starting up a new company with a business partner, you can express that you are also excited to work on managing your new company by saying you are excited to join forces. 

Using the phrase “tackle this new venture” makes the work ahead of you sound exciting and challenging. Most people who go into business are competitive, and most competitive people enjoy a challenge. 

Encouraging your collaborators to view the challenges facing your joint start-up as opponents to be overcome will get their fighting spirit into gear. 

Here is an example of how you could respond to “looking forward to working with you” if you want to motivate your collaborators. 

 

Sample email using the phrase “I am also excited to join forces to tackle this new venture” 

 

 

I am also looking forward to this collaboration. 

This simple statement would work as a response to “looking forward to working with you” under almost any circumstances. 

Whether you are responding to a co-worker about inter-company cooperation or are writing to a company you are collaborating with on a single product launch, this is an entirely appropriate answer. 

Here’s an example of an all-purpose response to “looking forward to working with you.”

 

Sample email using the phrase “I am also looking forward to this collaboration” 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions on “Looking Forward to Working With You”

 

How do we use “looking forward to working with you” in emails?

We use this line in expressing our anticipation or excitement towards working with a new partner, such as when joining a company, a team, or a new project. This phrase is most commonly used as a closing remark.

 

How can I reply to “looking forward to working with you?”

The simplest response to this would be “I’m also looking forward to working with you.” But, the response may also vary depending on the flow of the conversation and context.

For example, a newly-hired employee could say “Thank you very much for this opportunity,” whereas an employer might say “Welcome to the company.”

 

What is a synonym of “looking forward to working with you?”

Another way to express this phrase is by saying “I am excited to be part of the team,” “I am eagerly looking forward to our collaboration,” or “I can’t wait to start working with you.” Of course, we need to match the tonality of the expression with the context. In order to do that, always consider your relationship with the person, the mode of communication used, and the overall content of the message.

 

Conclusion

Expressions like “looking forward to working with you” play an integral role especially in business correspondence.

Although such an expression may seem to be quite overused, particularly if you work as a recruiter, its communicative function is crucial in building relationships.

Thus, use it whenever necessary and never forget to consider the overall context in deciding which specific tonality is the most appropriate.