Nobody Likes Passive-Aggressive Emails
It’s no surprise that some phrases instantly annoy everyone’s inbox, especially those that come off as subtle digs or reminders.
The most hated phrase? "Not sure if you received my last email". Both sender and receiver know the message was delivered—it’s just a polite way to say, "I was expecting a reply by now."
Right behind it are "as per my last email" and "as discussed", which also really get under readers’ skin.
11% find it most frustrating when asked about "any updates" on a previously discussed topic.
10% are annoyed most by "sorry to resend this"—it’s like a little email eye-roll.
9% get thrown off by "please advise" and "as previously agreed".
6% sigh at "as we discussed" and another 6% when they see "attaching again for your convenience".
The survey didn’t explore what office workers would prefer to see instead of these phrases. When someone doesn’t reply, you have to follow up somehow, and there’s no magic fix for these tired lines. Also, it’s unclear what alternatives people use when they’re the ones sending these emails.
Emails Are Taking Up More and More of Our Time
45% of respondents said the biggest annoyance is when people email them too often. 33% get frustrated by product offers they have no interest in. 22% are irritated by expired discounts or coupons sent to them. And 17% get their blood pressure up when the sender spells their name wrong.
Despite these annoyances, the study found that emailing is taking up more of our lives than ever. On average, people spend 2.5 hours a day checking their inboxes—a 17% increase over recent years. And it’s not just during work hours: 60% glance at emails while watching TV, 40% scroll through their inbox in the bathroom, and 14% admit to checking emails even while driving.
When asked about preferred communication at work, 31% chose email, but exactly the same number said they prefer face-to-face conversations with colleagues. The trendy video conferences seem to be the least popular—they ranked last on the list.
