The act of expressing gratitude is a fundamental part of building and maintaining social relationships.
Expressive statements are used in both formal and informal registers to mark the sense of reciprocity toward a favor or any act of kindness provided.
We tend to use a particular form of formalistic gratitude verbiage to people with whom we have professional relationships, such as in the business industry.
Whereas, more subtle and relaxed statements are generally applied when having a discourse with those people who are intimately close to us.
Gratitude plays a pivotal role in society wherein the failure to express it may result in outcomes that are detrimental to relationships.
The effective expression of gratitude facilitates the creation and expansion of social networks, and hence, essential in everyday interactions.
This post aims to provide variations of how to express “thank you for the update” both in formal and informal registers.
What is the meaning of “Thank you for the update?
The phrase “Thank you for the update” is a professional way to acknowledge that a client or customer has sent you new information (usually via Email) and to let them know you have noted it.
How to use “Thank you for the update” in an email
The best way to use “Thank you for the update” in an email is to include it at the start of a response to an email that contains new information.
Using “Thank you for the update” to start a professional email is a great way to acknowledge correspondence. Once you have expressed that you appreciate the information you received, you can ask any follow up questions that you have about it.
For example, if someone tells you that a meeting has been moved from 12pm to 2pm, you can say, “Thank you for the update. Is it still taking place in Conference Room B?”
When you have asked for clarification on anything confusing in the email you received, you can continue your response by adding any updates of your own.
For example, if you were told that a potential client doesn’t want to hire you, you can say, “Thank you for the update.
Would you like to provide feedback about why you have decided to go in another direction? If you happen to change your mind, I can offer you the bulk production package at a ten percent discount.”
Alternatively, you can use “Thank you for the update” in an email as a one-line confirmation of receipt. Simply say, “Thank you for the update. Best regards, [your name].”
Here are three full-length sample emails that contain the phrase “Thank you for the update.”
Example: How to use “Thank you for the update” in a formal professional email
Dear Mr. Colbert,
Thank you for the update.
Could you please provide details about when this decision was made?
I will take this information to the board and will inform you of any resulting changes to the negotiation strategy.
Kind regards,
George Norfolk
Example: How to use “Thank you for the update” in an informal email
Hey Shawn,
Thank you for the update. I’ll keep this in mind going forward.
Cheers,
Laura
Example: How to use “Thank you for the update” in a short email
Dear Dr. Jay,
Thank you for the update.
I have recorded this information in the relevant patient file.
Regards,
Harrison Anderegg
Five other ways to say “thank you for the update” formally
To start with, the formal register, or simply the formal language, entails the usage of relatively more complete sentence formats.
This language style is also marked by the avoidance of slang, jargon, idiomatic expressions, phrasal verbs, dangling prepositions, and so on.
A complete sentence format presents information clarity and comprehensiveness, thereby elucidating a sense of effort exertion as well as politeness.
For modern humans, any act of favor provided should prompt at least a brief statement response such as “thank you” or “thanks.”
These expressions are a result of the condensed sentence “I thank you” which is mainly done to aid discursive convenience.
Although the subject is omitted, modern society generally deems the ellipted subject as more natural and formal nonetheless.
This is simply because this verbiage is invariably used in day-to-day conversations, and thus, serves its function well without any syntactic misconception.
“Thank you for the update” is a formal and convenient response to any information, particularly new, provided by another person.
The usage of this expression is observable in emails as well as in oral conversations in the professional setting.
Other alternative forms of this expression are also available which are listed in the following subsections.
Thank you for the information
An “update” is, again, merely new information given either in written or oral language form.
Since this is the case, we can thereby use “thank you for the information” as a replacement expression.
For example, a certain person announces by email that an upcoming meeting shall be held and attended by a particular group of employees.
This kind of memorandum should prompt the recipients of the message to reply with “thank you for the information” or other similar expressions.
Example:
Dear Management,
Confirming receipt of general meeting announcement.
Thank you for the information.
Regards,
Andrew Greene
Thank you for the notification
Another way to express a synonymous thought is by using “thank you for the notification.”
For instance in payments, a seller sends out a message to a buyer that the payment has been successfully received and recorded in the system.
Upon the receipt of the notification, the buyer may then respond to the seller by saying “thank you for the notification” to confirm the successful receipt of the information.
This act is crucial because it also marks the final part of the payment transaction process between the seller and the buyer.
Example:
Dear Mr. Lee,
This is to confirm the successful receipt of your payment for the month of July.
Thank you for the notification. This transaction has been duly noted in the system.
Kind regards,
ABC, Inc.
Thank you for letting me know
Another simpler way to express the same meaning as “thank you for the update” is “thank you for letting me know.”
This may similarly happen after receiving new information, such as a change in the meeting schedule.
For instance, a meeting was originally set at a certain time but then, for some reason, it needs to be rescheduled to the following day.
Each meeting participant, upon knowing the information from a source, could simply respond by saying “thank you for letting me know.”
The more complete version of the message is “thank you for letting me know that the meeting has been rescheduled.”
The second clause can be conveniently omitted as long as the context is clearly understood by both interlocutors.
Example:
Dear David,
No problem at all. We can meet the following day.
Thank you for letting me know.
Warm regards,
Alice Thomas
Thank you for informing me about this matter
If we want to convey more formalism in expressing the same message, we can meanwhile say, “Thank you for informing me about this matter.”
As stated earlier, the more complete the sentence is, the more formalistic and polite it becomes.
Albeit quite verbose, this expression would be more suitable in more serious circumstances such as upon receiving complaints or reports of misconduct.
When a person files an official noise complaint or disruptive behavior, the response would be likely phrased in the most polite way possible.
This is done so as to politely and accordingly recognize the report, as well as to not reinforce any further issues.
Example:
Dear Ms. Tracy Hubert,
Thank you for informing me about this matter.
We will make sure to conduct an investigation this week to fully understand what happened.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused on your end.
Sincerely,
KWZ Learning Center
Thank you for bringing this to my attention
One last possible way to state the previous expression is by saying, “Thank you for bringing this to my attention.”
Similarly, this is also a relatively more complex way of expressing “thank you for the update” which is also more appropriate in the business arena.
Formal requests, complaints, and other forms of official reports, usually prompt this type of expression response.
The main intention of using this, again, is to elicit appropriate linguistic ethics in business communication, which is beneficial in maintaining professional relationships.
Example:
Dear Mr. Stuart,
Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
On behalf of the company, I apologize for the inconvenience this issue may have caused you with utmost sincerity. I will make sure this will not happen again.
Respectfully yours,
Felix Ronson
Thank you for the update. Much appreciated.
One of the advantages of the phrase “Thank you for the update. Much appreciated,” is that it confirms receipt of an email in a quick and concise way.
It is important to acknowledge that you have received messages from clients and colleagues, even if you literally only say, “well noted” or “thank you for your email.”
Thanking someone for the update and quickly expressing that you appreciate it covers all your bases. You don’t need to include any other information in your email unless you have something additional you want to communicate.
Example: How to use “Thank you for the update. Much appreciated” in an email
Dear Ms. Blaine,
Thank you for the update. Much appreciated.
I will be in touch shortly once I have reviewed the document you sent.
Kind regards,
Sorcha Blake
Noted and thank you for the update
Saying “Noted and thank you for the update” expands on the phrase, “Thank you for the update” by adding that the information you received has been noted.
While it is generally implied that you have read and understood the information in an email when you thank someone for the update, there is no harm in spelling this out explicitly.
Saying that something has been noted basically means that it has been made a note of, or that it has been registered or filed according to the proper procedure.
Example: How to use “Noted and thank you for the update” in an email
Dear Ms. Harrison,
Noted and thank you for the update.
Regarding your question about our company’s stance on the dispute, I am afraid I am not in a position to comment.
Kind regards,
Mallory Higgins
Thank you for keeping me updated
If someone is keeping you up to date about an ongoing situation as it unfolds, you can say, “Thank you for keeping me updated.”
This phrase contains the added implication that you are asking to be continuously told how things are progressing. You aren’t simply saying, “Thanks for telling me that one thing” or “Thanks for keeping me informed in the past.”
What you’re effectively asking for when you send an email that says, “Thank you for keeping me updated,” is a reply that says, “I will keep you posted.”
Knowing that you will be informed of any changes that occur during a negotiation process or ongoing trial or meeting will allow you to focus on the task in front of you.
If you aren’t constantly trying to source information about something occurring elsewhere, you’ll be more productive.
You can use the phrase “Thank you for keeping me updated” as an alternative to saying, “keep me in the loop,” or as an another way of saying, “keep me posted.”
Example: How to use “Thank you for keeping me updated” in an email
Dear Martha,
Thank you for keeping me updated.
I appreciate these concise summaries of how the trial is progressing.
Please let me know how things change throughout the day.
Best wishes,
Elaine
Five other ways to say “thank you for the update” casually
Apart from business communication, the colloquial discourse may also necessitate the use of gratitude expressions.
In this type of register, though, a more relaxed and friendlier tone is utilized by interlocutors.
Contrary to the formal language, the expressions used in informal communication constitute the usage of shortened words, phrasal verbs, jargon, slang, figurative speech, etc.
The colloquial language is salient in interacting with familiar people and nevertheless integral in everyday conversations.
Here are five more ways to express “Thank you for the update” in the less rigid and more comfortable register.
Thanks for the info
“Info” is the truncated version of “information” that has taken the morphological clipping process.
Clipping is the shortening of longer words without changing the part of speech they belong to which is conveniently used in colloquial English.
Meanwhile, using the shortened version of “thank you” which is “thanks” evokes informal language use all the same.
We can say “Thanks for the info” after someone provides new information, especially in direct messaging tools.
Say, for instance, a friend tells you in advance that he or she will bring another person to the party you’ve organized for the weekend.
A possible response to this message to express appreciation for indirectly asking your permission is “Thank you for the info.”
Example:
B: Sure, that would be awesome. Thanks for the info.
Thanks for the heads-up
Another similar expression is “Thanks for the heads-up” which is essentially used when someone gives a warning or informs you of a plan ahead.
The information provided should let the message receiver prepare or get oriented with an upcoming circumstance.
For example, a friend simply tells you the exact location where you can park your car before you arrive at their house.
Maybe their own lawn is already full or expected to be full before you arrive, therefore your friend tells you to park at his or her aunt’s lawn nearby.
An appropriate response to your friend would be “Thanks for the heads-up” as a form of recognition and appreciation for the act of informing in advance.
Example:
B: Thanks for the heads-up, Tin. I’ll be there around seven.
Thanks for bringing this up
The third informal alternative for “Thank you for the update” is “Thanks for bringing this up.”
This expressive response is commonly used in situations wherein a relatively meaningful form of information is shared.
For instance, a wife tells her husband that she has been having a hard time dealing with kids alone while having a full-time job at the same time.
She then suggests to her husband that they had better look for possible solutions for the problem.
After thorough consideration of their available options, the husband could then respond by saying “Thank you for bringing this up.”
It means the husband is grateful that the wife has confided her shortcomings and that she is being truthful regarding the matter.
Example:
B: Thanks for bringing this up, honey. Yeah, I think that wouldn’t be a problem.
Thanks for telling me
Another common way of expressing the same sense with “Thank you for the update” is as simple as “Thanks for telling me.”
This statement is applicable in general conversations between or among people with intimate relationships.
For instance, a friend who owes money has promised to pay on a certain date but, for some reason, is unable to do so.
This friend may inform you before or during the promised date that he or she needs more time to repay the amount borrowed.
Because of recognizing the act of sincerity and honesty done by the friend, you can simply say “Don’t worry about it and thanks for telling me” as a response.
Example:
A: Hi, Celine. I know I promised to pay you back in cash this Friday, but I won’t be back home until Saturday evening. Would it be possible to meet you Sunday morning instead? We can have breakfast together if you have the time.
B: Thanks for telling me about this, Jane. Don’t worry about it. Yes, we can have breakfast together this Sunday. Would you like to try L&F Cafe? This shop just opened yesterday.
Thanks for sharing
The last colloquial equivalent of “Thank you for the update” is “Thanks for sharing.”
This can be said after someone shares an idea, possibly an online article, an image, a meme, or any form of relevant information.
In particular, a friend sends you the link of a video that he or she thinks is relevant to your interests, for example, a recent comedy show of your favorite stand-up comedian.
This act also implies that you have come across the mind of your friend the moment he or she lands on this specific video.
And since you are grateful for this fact, you can simply respond by saying “Thank you for sharing.”
Example:
A: Here’s the link to the video you were looking for. [link]
B: Thanks for sharing, Carl.
Thanks for the update
Saying “Thanks for the update” is a more informal variation of “Thank you for the update.” It strikes the same tone as saying, “Thanks for touching base” in business correspondence.
If you’re writing to a colleague, you should say, “Thanks for the update” instead of the more formal variation of this phrase.
However, if you’re corresponding with a potential client, you should make sure you spell out “Thank you.” That added little bit of professionalism can make a big difference to a particular kind of client.
Other informal ways to communicate “Thanks for the update” include, “Got it. Thanks,” “Okay, thanks,” “Understood!”, and “Gotcha.”
Example: How to use “Thanks for the update” in an email
Dear David,
Thanks for the update. That’s great to know.
I’ll send you on those files you asked for this afternoon.
Best,
William
Bonus expressions (synonyms) similar to “Thank you for the update”
By and large, people mainly find it troublesome to identify the best expressions to use in business correspondence.
So, here are three more examples of formal messages that you can write instead of just “Thank you for the update.”
Thank you for your email, and I will wait for your further instructions.
One common situation wherein one would await an update from another person is during job applications.
In this context, you would want to steer clear of a language that bears a relatively casual tone because of the power imbalance between you and your prospective employer.
If you experience something like this, you can make use of “Thank you for your email, and I will wait for your further instructions” instead of anything shorter.
Here’s an example to demonstrate the explanation given:
Example:
Dear Ms. Baker,
Thank you for your email, and I will wait for your further instructions regarding the next stage of my application.
Enjoy the rest of your day, Ma’am.
Sincerely,
Joanna Levinson
I am pleased to receive this update, and I look forward to hearing from you again soon.
Formal language entails grammatical completeness to exemplify tact, politeness, as well as communicative competence.
You may have to stick with formalistic language use when you are interacting with authority figures like professors and superiors.
In situations like these, “I am pleased to receive this update, and I look forward to hearing from you again soon” would work well.
The example below is an email message from a student to a professor, which generally entails the use of formal language:
Example:
Dear Dr. Jones,
I am pleased to receive this update, and I look forward to hearing from you again soon. It was a pleasure to have discussed my thesis proposal with you this morning.
Kind regards,
Samantha Willard
I appreciate this update, and I look forward to your next set of instructions.
Finally, the statement “I appreciate this update, and I look forward to your next set of instructions” is also a great formal alternative for “Thank you for the update.”
You may have to make use of this message when you are communicating with a socially distant person, such as in processing some legal documents in an agency.
To see how to use this statement in context, here’s an example for your reference:
Example:
Dear Ms. Miller,
I appreciate this update, and I look forward to your next set of instructions. Your colleague, Mr. Bernard Schwartz, has already contacted me regarding my previous concern.
Thank you very much for your utmost assistance.
Sincerely,
Melissa Atkinson
Thank you for the update or updates
If you’re wondering whether to say, “Thank you for the update” or “Thank you for the updates,” the good news is that there is a simple answer: If the email you received contained multiple pieces of new information, you can say either.
If an email contained only one announcement, report, or disclosure, then you should say, “Thank you for the update.”
See? Not everything in business emailing is complicated!
Example: How to use “Thank you for the update” in an email
Dear Miss Al-Farouk,
Thank you for the update.
It is helpful for me to know the details about how the sale negotiation is proceeding, so please keep sharing these reports.
Kind regards,
Ben Foskin
Example: How to use “Thank you for the updates” in an email
Dear Ms. Newman,
Thank you for the updates regarding the development of the project.
Your comprehensive email has given me clear insight into what the process is shaping up to look like.
Kind regards,
Vera Hawkins
Conclusion
The linguistic repertoire of humans are filled with recoverable expressions that assist people in their daily societal interactions.
Particular circumstances dictate the expression of meticulously considered verbiage patterns that are dependent to the subject, context, and audience.
The successful conveyance of gratitude expressions may determine how much people value and recognize kindness that lie beneath implicatures either in words or actions.
Ergo, both the formalistic and colloquial variations of certain expressions, such as “Thank you for the update” are equally crucial in facilitating sustainable relationships among individuals.
Frequently Asked Questions on “Thank You for the Update”
How can I thank a recruiter for an update?
Two polite way to express gratitude to a recruiter is by saying “Thank you for your update. I will wait for further instructions” if you are asked to do so or “Thank you for your update. I appreciate your utmost assistance in this matter” if you are not asked to proceed to the next phase.
How can you thank a boss for an update?
To express thanks to a boss for an update, a simple message like “Thank you for your update” or “Noted with thanks” followed by the superior’s name and name title would suffice.
Should it be “thank you for your update” or “thank you for the update?
Either “thank you for your update” or “thank you for the update” is grammatically correct although the former is more personal and the latter is relatively more formal.
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