Response's 'respectfulness'/etiquette for an email that does not ask for a reply

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When a superior emails me to 'let me know' of something (e.g., Dear Bob, I'll be absent of the Tuesday meeting because of x.) I don't know what response has a proper tone, or if it's just OK to not respond.



My thoughts are that: "Got it, thank you.", "Message received, thank you.", and "Ok, thanks!", sound like things a superior would be responding me (rather than the other way around).



Thus, my questions are:



1) Is it ever OK to just not respond?



2) What response would be proper for a superior to 'confirm' the receipt of an email that does not ask for a reply, but not so proper that it sounds obsequious - or that you're a sycophant?







share|improve this question






















  • I never respond to such emails from my boss, unless he specifically asks a question.
    – Dave Johnson
    Mar 25 '14 at 13:19
















up vote
6
down vote

favorite












When a superior emails me to 'let me know' of something (e.g., Dear Bob, I'll be absent of the Tuesday meeting because of x.) I don't know what response has a proper tone, or if it's just OK to not respond.



My thoughts are that: "Got it, thank you.", "Message received, thank you.", and "Ok, thanks!", sound like things a superior would be responding me (rather than the other way around).



Thus, my questions are:



1) Is it ever OK to just not respond?



2) What response would be proper for a superior to 'confirm' the receipt of an email that does not ask for a reply, but not so proper that it sounds obsequious - or that you're a sycophant?







share|improve this question






















  • I never respond to such emails from my boss, unless he specifically asks a question.
    – Dave Johnson
    Mar 25 '14 at 13:19












up vote
6
down vote

favorite









up vote
6
down vote

favorite











When a superior emails me to 'let me know' of something (e.g., Dear Bob, I'll be absent of the Tuesday meeting because of x.) I don't know what response has a proper tone, or if it's just OK to not respond.



My thoughts are that: "Got it, thank you.", "Message received, thank you.", and "Ok, thanks!", sound like things a superior would be responding me (rather than the other way around).



Thus, my questions are:



1) Is it ever OK to just not respond?



2) What response would be proper for a superior to 'confirm' the receipt of an email that does not ask for a reply, but not so proper that it sounds obsequious - or that you're a sycophant?







share|improve this question














When a superior emails me to 'let me know' of something (e.g., Dear Bob, I'll be absent of the Tuesday meeting because of x.) I don't know what response has a proper tone, or if it's just OK to not respond.



My thoughts are that: "Got it, thank you.", "Message received, thank you.", and "Ok, thanks!", sound like things a superior would be responding me (rather than the other way around).



Thus, my questions are:



1) Is it ever OK to just not respond?



2) What response would be proper for a superior to 'confirm' the receipt of an email that does not ask for a reply, but not so proper that it sounds obsequious - or that you're a sycophant?









share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Mar 25 '14 at 2:20

























asked Mar 25 '14 at 1:51









Esteban

183127




183127











  • I never respond to such emails from my boss, unless he specifically asks a question.
    – Dave Johnson
    Mar 25 '14 at 13:19
















  • I never respond to such emails from my boss, unless he specifically asks a question.
    – Dave Johnson
    Mar 25 '14 at 13:19















I never respond to such emails from my boss, unless he specifically asks a question.
– Dave Johnson
Mar 25 '14 at 13:19




I never respond to such emails from my boss, unless he specifically asks a question.
– Dave Johnson
Mar 25 '14 at 13:19










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
4
down vote



accepted











1) Is it ever OK to just not respond?




Depends. I would err on the side of caution and send a response if I have any reason at all to believe one is required. If you receive it from the same person you could consult them and ask if it's useful for your to reply to there announcements of being out of contact. If the message was sent to a large group of people (for example the entire department) don't bother replying, on the other hand if it's just to you then I would reply with a brief message.




2) What response would be proper for a superior to 'confirm' the
receipt of an email that does not ask for a reply, but not so proper
that it sounds obsequious - or that you're a sycophant?




Thank them for letting you know but keep it brief. For example reply with a line saying "Ok thanks for letting me know".






share|improve this answer



























    up vote
    6
    down vote













    If the message specifically starts with "Dear Vietnhi", I reply with a single word: "Acknowledged" If the message is addressed to the group, then I refrain from replying unless specifically requested to do so - the guy's Inbox would be getting cluttered up pretty fast if we all kept acknowledging his emails. I had a boss who deluged my Inbox with so much email requesting acknowledgement that I would occasionally miss an important announcement from him, simply because it was buried in all the junk that was already in my Inbox.






    share|improve this answer






















    • I understand that technical fields might have other standards and English is not my native language but writing “Acknowledged” sounds awkward to me.
      – Relaxed
      Mar 25 '14 at 5:41










    • I use "Acknowledged" all the time. It's short, clear, easy to write (for me), easy to read (for the other person) and it conveys exactly the message and meaning I want to convey. I usually put it at the end of the "Subject" line so that the other person can read the message without having to click the email open. That's good enough for me :)
      – Vietnhi Phuvan
      Mar 25 '14 at 5:56







    • 1




      Definitely it makes a difference whether it was email directly to you, or whether you were just one of the recipients on the CC list.
      – Carson63000
      Mar 25 '14 at 8:20

















    up vote
    3
    down vote













    It is always a good to answer if the sender expects you to take some kind of action, so that he knows you received the message and will do the action (or not, of course).



    If the email is merely informing you of something that will not require you to act or change your working day, generally no response is required. It should not make a difference to you whether you read it or not, so there's little point to informing the other person.



    So if your boss let you know he wouldn't make it to the meeting because he expected you to inform others, a reply like "I have informed the team" would be a good idea.



    If he's just letting you (or the whole team) know because he wanted to sit in but would take no important/active part in the meeting, there's no real reason to respond.



    If he and you are the only two people in the meeting, a response like "Okay, we'll reschedule it when you get back" might be helpful, although I would expect him to have put that in the mail.



    (This answer hinges on that employees read all their emails, of course.)






    share|improve this answer



























      up vote
      2
      down vote













      1) Yes, there are cases where no response can make sense. "Let me know if something comes up that blocks you...." being the classic one that a boss may send in some cases.



      2) Be careful of saying anything like "Ok, thanks!" as this may be seen as answering in the affirmative to what was in the e-mail that may not be the intention. "Let me know if this can be done today to take over the world," that an "Ok, thanks!" may be seen as you didn't read the message in this case.






      share|improve this answer




















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        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

        votes








        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes








        up vote
        4
        down vote



        accepted











        1) Is it ever OK to just not respond?




        Depends. I would err on the side of caution and send a response if I have any reason at all to believe one is required. If you receive it from the same person you could consult them and ask if it's useful for your to reply to there announcements of being out of contact. If the message was sent to a large group of people (for example the entire department) don't bother replying, on the other hand if it's just to you then I would reply with a brief message.




        2) What response would be proper for a superior to 'confirm' the
        receipt of an email that does not ask for a reply, but not so proper
        that it sounds obsequious - or that you're a sycophant?




        Thank them for letting you know but keep it brief. For example reply with a line saying "Ok thanks for letting me know".






        share|improve this answer
























          up vote
          4
          down vote



          accepted











          1) Is it ever OK to just not respond?




          Depends. I would err on the side of caution and send a response if I have any reason at all to believe one is required. If you receive it from the same person you could consult them and ask if it's useful for your to reply to there announcements of being out of contact. If the message was sent to a large group of people (for example the entire department) don't bother replying, on the other hand if it's just to you then I would reply with a brief message.




          2) What response would be proper for a superior to 'confirm' the
          receipt of an email that does not ask for a reply, but not so proper
          that it sounds obsequious - or that you're a sycophant?




          Thank them for letting you know but keep it brief. For example reply with a line saying "Ok thanks for letting me know".






          share|improve this answer






















            up vote
            4
            down vote



            accepted







            up vote
            4
            down vote



            accepted







            1) Is it ever OK to just not respond?




            Depends. I would err on the side of caution and send a response if I have any reason at all to believe one is required. If you receive it from the same person you could consult them and ask if it's useful for your to reply to there announcements of being out of contact. If the message was sent to a large group of people (for example the entire department) don't bother replying, on the other hand if it's just to you then I would reply with a brief message.




            2) What response would be proper for a superior to 'confirm' the
            receipt of an email that does not ask for a reply, but not so proper
            that it sounds obsequious - or that you're a sycophant?




            Thank them for letting you know but keep it brief. For example reply with a line saying "Ok thanks for letting me know".






            share|improve this answer













            1) Is it ever OK to just not respond?




            Depends. I would err on the side of caution and send a response if I have any reason at all to believe one is required. If you receive it from the same person you could consult them and ask if it's useful for your to reply to there announcements of being out of contact. If the message was sent to a large group of people (for example the entire department) don't bother replying, on the other hand if it's just to you then I would reply with a brief message.




            2) What response would be proper for a superior to 'confirm' the
            receipt of an email that does not ask for a reply, but not so proper
            that it sounds obsequious - or that you're a sycophant?




            Thank them for letting you know but keep it brief. For example reply with a line saying "Ok thanks for letting me know".







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Mar 25 '14 at 3:56









            bobby

            95741630




            95741630






















                up vote
                6
                down vote













                If the message specifically starts with "Dear Vietnhi", I reply with a single word: "Acknowledged" If the message is addressed to the group, then I refrain from replying unless specifically requested to do so - the guy's Inbox would be getting cluttered up pretty fast if we all kept acknowledging his emails. I had a boss who deluged my Inbox with so much email requesting acknowledgement that I would occasionally miss an important announcement from him, simply because it was buried in all the junk that was already in my Inbox.






                share|improve this answer






















                • I understand that technical fields might have other standards and English is not my native language but writing “Acknowledged” sounds awkward to me.
                  – Relaxed
                  Mar 25 '14 at 5:41










                • I use "Acknowledged" all the time. It's short, clear, easy to write (for me), easy to read (for the other person) and it conveys exactly the message and meaning I want to convey. I usually put it at the end of the "Subject" line so that the other person can read the message without having to click the email open. That's good enough for me :)
                  – Vietnhi Phuvan
                  Mar 25 '14 at 5:56







                • 1




                  Definitely it makes a difference whether it was email directly to you, or whether you were just one of the recipients on the CC list.
                  – Carson63000
                  Mar 25 '14 at 8:20














                up vote
                6
                down vote













                If the message specifically starts with "Dear Vietnhi", I reply with a single word: "Acknowledged" If the message is addressed to the group, then I refrain from replying unless specifically requested to do so - the guy's Inbox would be getting cluttered up pretty fast if we all kept acknowledging his emails. I had a boss who deluged my Inbox with so much email requesting acknowledgement that I would occasionally miss an important announcement from him, simply because it was buried in all the junk that was already in my Inbox.






                share|improve this answer






















                • I understand that technical fields might have other standards and English is not my native language but writing “Acknowledged” sounds awkward to me.
                  – Relaxed
                  Mar 25 '14 at 5:41










                • I use "Acknowledged" all the time. It's short, clear, easy to write (for me), easy to read (for the other person) and it conveys exactly the message and meaning I want to convey. I usually put it at the end of the "Subject" line so that the other person can read the message without having to click the email open. That's good enough for me :)
                  – Vietnhi Phuvan
                  Mar 25 '14 at 5:56







                • 1




                  Definitely it makes a difference whether it was email directly to you, or whether you were just one of the recipients on the CC list.
                  – Carson63000
                  Mar 25 '14 at 8:20












                up vote
                6
                down vote










                up vote
                6
                down vote









                If the message specifically starts with "Dear Vietnhi", I reply with a single word: "Acknowledged" If the message is addressed to the group, then I refrain from replying unless specifically requested to do so - the guy's Inbox would be getting cluttered up pretty fast if we all kept acknowledging his emails. I had a boss who deluged my Inbox with so much email requesting acknowledgement that I would occasionally miss an important announcement from him, simply because it was buried in all the junk that was already in my Inbox.






                share|improve this answer














                If the message specifically starts with "Dear Vietnhi", I reply with a single word: "Acknowledged" If the message is addressed to the group, then I refrain from replying unless specifically requested to do so - the guy's Inbox would be getting cluttered up pretty fast if we all kept acknowledging his emails. I had a boss who deluged my Inbox with so much email requesting acknowledgement that I would occasionally miss an important announcement from him, simply because it was buried in all the junk that was already in my Inbox.







                share|improve this answer














                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited Mar 25 '14 at 13:12

























                answered Mar 25 '14 at 2:35









                Vietnhi Phuvan

                68.9k7118254




                68.9k7118254











                • I understand that technical fields might have other standards and English is not my native language but writing “Acknowledged” sounds awkward to me.
                  – Relaxed
                  Mar 25 '14 at 5:41










                • I use "Acknowledged" all the time. It's short, clear, easy to write (for me), easy to read (for the other person) and it conveys exactly the message and meaning I want to convey. I usually put it at the end of the "Subject" line so that the other person can read the message without having to click the email open. That's good enough for me :)
                  – Vietnhi Phuvan
                  Mar 25 '14 at 5:56







                • 1




                  Definitely it makes a difference whether it was email directly to you, or whether you were just one of the recipients on the CC list.
                  – Carson63000
                  Mar 25 '14 at 8:20
















                • I understand that technical fields might have other standards and English is not my native language but writing “Acknowledged” sounds awkward to me.
                  – Relaxed
                  Mar 25 '14 at 5:41










                • I use "Acknowledged" all the time. It's short, clear, easy to write (for me), easy to read (for the other person) and it conveys exactly the message and meaning I want to convey. I usually put it at the end of the "Subject" line so that the other person can read the message without having to click the email open. That's good enough for me :)
                  – Vietnhi Phuvan
                  Mar 25 '14 at 5:56







                • 1




                  Definitely it makes a difference whether it was email directly to you, or whether you were just one of the recipients on the CC list.
                  – Carson63000
                  Mar 25 '14 at 8:20















                I understand that technical fields might have other standards and English is not my native language but writing “Acknowledged” sounds awkward to me.
                – Relaxed
                Mar 25 '14 at 5:41




                I understand that technical fields might have other standards and English is not my native language but writing “Acknowledged” sounds awkward to me.
                – Relaxed
                Mar 25 '14 at 5:41












                I use "Acknowledged" all the time. It's short, clear, easy to write (for me), easy to read (for the other person) and it conveys exactly the message and meaning I want to convey. I usually put it at the end of the "Subject" line so that the other person can read the message without having to click the email open. That's good enough for me :)
                – Vietnhi Phuvan
                Mar 25 '14 at 5:56





                I use "Acknowledged" all the time. It's short, clear, easy to write (for me), easy to read (for the other person) and it conveys exactly the message and meaning I want to convey. I usually put it at the end of the "Subject" line so that the other person can read the message without having to click the email open. That's good enough for me :)
                – Vietnhi Phuvan
                Mar 25 '14 at 5:56





                1




                1




                Definitely it makes a difference whether it was email directly to you, or whether you were just one of the recipients on the CC list.
                – Carson63000
                Mar 25 '14 at 8:20




                Definitely it makes a difference whether it was email directly to you, or whether you were just one of the recipients on the CC list.
                – Carson63000
                Mar 25 '14 at 8:20










                up vote
                3
                down vote













                It is always a good to answer if the sender expects you to take some kind of action, so that he knows you received the message and will do the action (or not, of course).



                If the email is merely informing you of something that will not require you to act or change your working day, generally no response is required. It should not make a difference to you whether you read it or not, so there's little point to informing the other person.



                So if your boss let you know he wouldn't make it to the meeting because he expected you to inform others, a reply like "I have informed the team" would be a good idea.



                If he's just letting you (or the whole team) know because he wanted to sit in but would take no important/active part in the meeting, there's no real reason to respond.



                If he and you are the only two people in the meeting, a response like "Okay, we'll reschedule it when you get back" might be helpful, although I would expect him to have put that in the mail.



                (This answer hinges on that employees read all their emails, of course.)






                share|improve this answer
























                  up vote
                  3
                  down vote













                  It is always a good to answer if the sender expects you to take some kind of action, so that he knows you received the message and will do the action (or not, of course).



                  If the email is merely informing you of something that will not require you to act or change your working day, generally no response is required. It should not make a difference to you whether you read it or not, so there's little point to informing the other person.



                  So if your boss let you know he wouldn't make it to the meeting because he expected you to inform others, a reply like "I have informed the team" would be a good idea.



                  If he's just letting you (or the whole team) know because he wanted to sit in but would take no important/active part in the meeting, there's no real reason to respond.



                  If he and you are the only two people in the meeting, a response like "Okay, we'll reschedule it when you get back" might be helpful, although I would expect him to have put that in the mail.



                  (This answer hinges on that employees read all their emails, of course.)






                  share|improve this answer






















                    up vote
                    3
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    3
                    down vote









                    It is always a good to answer if the sender expects you to take some kind of action, so that he knows you received the message and will do the action (or not, of course).



                    If the email is merely informing you of something that will not require you to act or change your working day, generally no response is required. It should not make a difference to you whether you read it or not, so there's little point to informing the other person.



                    So if your boss let you know he wouldn't make it to the meeting because he expected you to inform others, a reply like "I have informed the team" would be a good idea.



                    If he's just letting you (or the whole team) know because he wanted to sit in but would take no important/active part in the meeting, there's no real reason to respond.



                    If he and you are the only two people in the meeting, a response like "Okay, we'll reschedule it when you get back" might be helpful, although I would expect him to have put that in the mail.



                    (This answer hinges on that employees read all their emails, of course.)






                    share|improve this answer












                    It is always a good to answer if the sender expects you to take some kind of action, so that he knows you received the message and will do the action (or not, of course).



                    If the email is merely informing you of something that will not require you to act or change your working day, generally no response is required. It should not make a difference to you whether you read it or not, so there's little point to informing the other person.



                    So if your boss let you know he wouldn't make it to the meeting because he expected you to inform others, a reply like "I have informed the team" would be a good idea.



                    If he's just letting you (or the whole team) know because he wanted to sit in but would take no important/active part in the meeting, there's no real reason to respond.



                    If he and you are the only two people in the meeting, a response like "Okay, we'll reschedule it when you get back" might be helpful, although I would expect him to have put that in the mail.



                    (This answer hinges on that employees read all their emails, of course.)







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered Nov 5 '15 at 7:39









                    Erik

                    26.2k187199




                    26.2k187199




















                        up vote
                        2
                        down vote













                        1) Yes, there are cases where no response can make sense. "Let me know if something comes up that blocks you...." being the classic one that a boss may send in some cases.



                        2) Be careful of saying anything like "Ok, thanks!" as this may be seen as answering in the affirmative to what was in the e-mail that may not be the intention. "Let me know if this can be done today to take over the world," that an "Ok, thanks!" may be seen as you didn't read the message in this case.






                        share|improve this answer
























                          up vote
                          2
                          down vote













                          1) Yes, there are cases where no response can make sense. "Let me know if something comes up that blocks you...." being the classic one that a boss may send in some cases.



                          2) Be careful of saying anything like "Ok, thanks!" as this may be seen as answering in the affirmative to what was in the e-mail that may not be the intention. "Let me know if this can be done today to take over the world," that an "Ok, thanks!" may be seen as you didn't read the message in this case.






                          share|improve this answer






















                            up vote
                            2
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            2
                            down vote









                            1) Yes, there are cases where no response can make sense. "Let me know if something comes up that blocks you...." being the classic one that a boss may send in some cases.



                            2) Be careful of saying anything like "Ok, thanks!" as this may be seen as answering in the affirmative to what was in the e-mail that may not be the intention. "Let me know if this can be done today to take over the world," that an "Ok, thanks!" may be seen as you didn't read the message in this case.






                            share|improve this answer












                            1) Yes, there are cases where no response can make sense. "Let me know if something comes up that blocks you...." being the classic one that a boss may send in some cases.



                            2) Be careful of saying anything like "Ok, thanks!" as this may be seen as answering in the affirmative to what was in the e-mail that may not be the intention. "Let me know if this can be done today to take over the world," that an "Ok, thanks!" may be seen as you didn't read the message in this case.







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered Mar 25 '14 at 2:07









                            JB King

                            15.1k22957




                            15.1k22957






















                                 

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