20 Email Expressions to Ask for Clarification — Tannia Suárez (2024)

  1. If I understood you correctly, are you suggesting that we…?

  2. Referring to our previous discussion…

  3. Could you clarify your statement on…?

  4. Apologies for any confusion. My intent was to convey that…

  5. In line with the details mentioned in my previous email…

  6. Kindly confirm my understanding. Did you mean that…?

  7. Your guidance on how to prevent this in the future would be appreciated.

  8. Could you provide additional insights on…?

  9. I just want to confirm, are you implying that…?

  10. As you are likely aware from our last meeting…

  11. If further clarification or assistance is needed, please feel free to reach out.

  12. Could you elaborate on what you mean by…?

  13. I have re-attached the document for your reference.

  14. I was under the impression that our agreed approach was…

  15. It seems there may have been a miscommunication regarding…

  16. In future instances, my preference would be…

  17. I would like to clarify…

  18. I'm not sure if this message was intended for me. Were you asking me to…?

  19. Could you specify the exact details of…?

  20. Apologies for any misunderstanding. Just to confirm, your request is for…, right?

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20 Email Expressions to Ask for Clarification — Tannia Suárez (2024)

FAQs

How do you politely ask for clarification in an email sample? ›

A well-crafted expression for this scenario could be: "I humbly request your clarification on [specific aspect]. Your expertise in this area is highly valued, and your prompt response would be greatly appreciated."

What is the expression to ask for clarification? ›

Examples of formal phrases when asking for clarifications include: "I beg your pardon, could you please repeat that?" or "Excuse me, would you mind elaborating on what you just said?" These phrases show respect and politeness towards the person speaking.

Which is the politest way of requesting clarification? ›

Here are five polite ways to seek clarification in professional settings:
  • I want to be sure I got it right; can you explain your idea again? Perfect for confirming your understanding. ...
  • Oops, I missed that. Could you repeat it, please? ...
  • Can you share more context on this point? ...
  • If I understood correctly, you mentioned XYZ.
Jan 26, 2024

What can I say instead of just to clarify? ›

  • explain.
  • illustrate.
  • demonstrate.
  • simplify.
  • elucidate.
  • interpret.
  • illuminate.
  • explicate.

How do you ask for clarification in communication? ›

The appropriate response is to make it clear that you didn't understand, and request clarification from the speaker. One option is to politely explain that you didn't understand a part of the message, and ask for the speaker to repeat all of it. Read and listen to these possible responses.

Which one of these phrases used for clarification is grammatically accurate? ›

Answer: Let's listen to a few useful phrases: i) I'm sorry but I'm not sure (that) I understand. ii) Sorry, I'm not sure (that) I know what you mean.

How do you ask for clarification without sounding rude? ›

If you need clarification on what an interviewer asks you, politely requesting clarification is entirely reasonable. You can say, "I want to ensure that I give you the information you're looking for; please, could you re-phrase the question?" It's unlikely that you'll need to ask this more than once in an interview.

What is an example of a clarification question? ›

Clarifying Questions
  • What do you mean by…....?
  • What is your main point?
  • How does............ relate to .............?
  • Could you put that another way?
  • What do you think is the main issue?
  • How does this relate to our discussion/problem/issue?
  • Can you summarise what you have read or heard?
  • Can you give an example?

What is an example of giving clarification? ›

Sedangkan contoh ungkapan expression of giving clarification (memberi klarifikasi) adalah sebagai berikut:
  • Sorry, let me explain… (maaf, biar saya jelaskan…)
  • Let me explain it to you… (biar saya jelaskan kepadamu …)
  • In other words … ...
  • Yes, that's true (ya, itu benar)
  • I'm sure (saya yakin)
  • Exactly (tepat sekali)
Aug 4, 2022

What are two expressions to ask for clarification? ›

Let's listen to a few useful phrases: I'm sorry but I'm not sure (that) I understand. Sorry, I'm not sure (that) I know what you mean. Sorry but I don't quite follow you.

What is a clarification phrase? ›

Here are some common phrases and expressions that will help you ask for clarification or express your lack of understanding. CLARIFYING INFORMATION: checking that you've understood. Does that mean … / Do you mean … ? If I understand correctly, you're asking me to … I don't think I quite understand what you mean.

How do you ask a question without sounding accusatory? ›

Fortunately, you can use lines of questioning other than bluntly asking “why” to learn the purpose or reason for something.
  1. “Help me understand.” ...
  2. Ask about motivation, not provocation. ...
  3. Ask “how” to focus on the underlying process. ...
  4. Use “what” as a buffer. ...
  5. How do you mean? ...
  6. A query that's not a question.
May 3, 2022

How do you say I'm confused professionally in an email? ›

Instead, a professional response entails acknowledging the misunderstanding and respectfully seeking clarification. Using phrases like, “I want to ensure I grasp this concept correctly. Could you elaborate on the steps involved?”, demonstrates a constructive and proactive approach.

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