“At your earliest convenience” asks someone to complete a task as quickly as they can. It’s a good way of showing that something is urgent. It would be useful to know of some good synonyms that can work. This article will explore the best ones.
The preferred alternatives are “as soon as possible,” “as quickly as possible,” and “at the earliest opportunity.” These phrases are very polite, and they work well to show that you would like something done as soon as someone gets the chance to do it.
As Soon as Possible
“As soon as possible” is the best alternative you can use. It’s polite, and it works well in both formal emails and informal English. You can use it to show that something must be completed as “soon” as someone is able to get around to it.
This phrase usually lets someone know that you need something done. It creates a sense of urgency, which allows them to put more value on the task you set for them to get it done quickly.
- I need this as soon as possible. Is there any way that you’ll be able to get this done quickly to help me out with the situation?
- I need this on my desk as soon as possible. I can’t wait any longer. I need to make sure you’re working with me here.
- Is there anything you need from me to help you? I want this done as soon as possible. Do you think you’re going to be able to do that?
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As Quickly As Possible
“As quickly as possible” is a great choice in many cases. You can replace “soon” from the last example with “quickly” to ask that someone gets something done as soon as they have a chance.
- You should do this as quickly as possible, please. I don’t have much time left before the deadline to hand it in.
- I want it done as quickly as possible. Please ensure everything is done and handed in before it’s too late. We need this win.
- She told me to do it as quickly as possible. I told her it wasn’t as simple as that, but she ignored my message.
At The Earliest Opportunity
“At the earliest opportunity” is a great way to remain polite in your writing. It’s common to see this phrase used in an email to ask someone to complete a task once they have the time to do so.
“Earliest opportunity” is used here to show that someone should get to work on something when they can. Once they have completed whatever they are currently working on, they must work on the task you set them.
- Can you do this at the earliest opportunity, please? I want to ensure that we’re on the same page before moving forward.
- At the earliest opportunity, can you please find a way for us to get through this? We need to make sure we know what comes next.
- It should be completed at the earliest opportunity. Do not sit on this for longer than you need to. Do you understand?
At Your Convenience
“At your convenience” is another great choice for a formal email. It shows that you appreciate that someone might be busy, but you still need them to get on with a task that was previously set.
- At your convenience, I’d appreciate an update on this. I need to know what’s happening before letting the shareholders know.
- I will need this at your convenience, I’m afraid. I don’t have much time left to wait. You have got to give me what I’m looking for.
- I thought you might be able to do this at your convenience. Did I underestimate you with that judgment call?
Whenever You Can
“Whenever you can” is another great alternative that accepts that someone has a busy day. “Whenever” is used here to show that you’d appreciate that they get around to it once they get the chance.
There isn’t time pressure on this one as much as on the others. It doesn’t state that something must be completed soon, but it is implied based on how the phrase is used.
- Can you please do this whenever you can? I’d like to see that you’ve put the work in and handed this in before the end of the day.
- Get around to it whenever you can. I don’t mind waiting for it, but it would be handy if you could speed it up slightly.
- Whenever you can, I need that file on my desk. I must get it soon. Please, make sure that it’s all sorted before you clock out.
When It Pleases You
“When it pleases you” is a polite way to ask someone to do something. It allows them to choose the appropriate time for them to get something done, as the time has to “please” them.
When time “pleases” someone, it means they have done everything else that they need to do in a day. They have found some extra time and decided to make the most of it by completing a task for you.
- I need all of this completed when it pleases you. Don’t expect me to be waiting around for too long. Could you help me here?
- If you could do all this when it pleases you, that would be great. I’ll let you know the deadlines when I know more.
- It needs to be done when it pleases you. It can’t be kept waiting until Friday, so make sure it’s done by then.
If You Don’t Mind
“If you don’t mind” is a good choice if you’re speaking to someone. It’s best to avoid writing this one, but it shows that you would like something to be done quickly as long as someone doesn’t “mind” doing it.
- If you don’t mind, could you please hurry this one along? Please get it completed on time before you do anything else.
- If you don’t mind, can you get to work on this? There are a few things that I need you to help me with once this is completed.
- I need it on my desk now, if you don’t mind. I don’t have much more time to waste on this. Can you get it done?
As Soon As You Get A Chance
“As soon as you get a chance” is a great way of showing that you need something completed. Once someone has “a chance,” you want them to get to work on the thing you’re asking about. It must be done quickly to account for this.
- As soon as you get a chance, can you please send the email to her? She needs to know the situation, and I want you to explain it.
- As soon as you get the chance, could you please help me out with this? I want to make sure that things go smoothly moving forward.
- I will need this done as soon as you get a chance. Don’t sit on this for too long. It is an urgent matter that you need to attend to.
ASAP
“ASAP” is the acronym for “as soon as possible.” You can use it in formal emails if you want to be concise and show that you’re waiting on something. You can also use “ASAP” in spoken English, pronounced as it is written.
- It must be done ASAP. I can’t keep being impatient with this. I want you to make sure everything is ready and on my desk by tonight.
- If you can’t do it ASAP, I might need to ask someone else for help. Sorry, but that seems to be my best option right now.
- I want it ASAP. I can’t keep waiting around for answers from them. Whatever it takes to get it done, please do it.
Expedite
“Expedite” is a great alternative that shows you need something to hurry along. It shows that something is very important, and you need whoever is in charge of the task to get it done before a deadline hits.
- Please expedite this task to show the boss that you’re working on it? He’s getting very angry with us.
- I’m going to need you to expedite this process. We don’t have much more time to waste. You’ve got to get this done quickly.
- Let’s expedite this before it becomes too much of a problem. I’ll let you know what else you need to do to complete the project.
Sharpish
“Sharpish” is a great way of showing that something must be completed quickly. It’s a colloquial term, so you’re more likely to hear it in spoken English rather than written English.
- I want this on my desk sharpish. I expect you to know what that means. Please, don’t make any more mistakes before handing it in.
- It needs to be done sharpish. The boss has instructed me to remind you that you have got to get on top of this for him.
- Can you do it sharpish? I don’t have long left now. I need to make sure this is all completed before the boss comes and asks for it.
Martin Lassen
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
Related posts:
- 6 Polite Ways To Say “As Soon As Possible”
- Chance vs. Opportunity – What’s the Difference? (+Examples)
- 9 Polite Ways to Ask for a Quick Response in an Email
- “Are You Done” vs. “Have You Done – Difference Explained (+Examples)
FAQs
What's a better way to say at your earliest convenience? ›
At your earliest convenience
Although there's nothing wrong with this phrase, it might actually be too polite, or at least too open-ended. Although you could use softer, less jaron-laden language like “whenever you have time” or “as soon as you're able”, once again, we prefer specificity.
“As this matter is urgent, I would appreciate a reply as soon as possible.” “I would be grateful for your prompt reply.” “I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.”
How do you say reply at your convenience? ›How is it used in a sentence? When you need something done right away but you have no authority to make it a command or, if you do, you are extremely polite, then you say 'at your earliest convenience. It literally means 'the first time it is easy/practical for you to do this. '
How do you say I appreciate your quick response? ›- Thank you for responding so quickly. ...
- Thank you for your prompt response. ...
- Thank you for getting back to me so fast. ...
- I appreciate your swift reply. ...
- We appreciate your prompt response. ...
- Thanks for getting back to us so soon. ...
- Thank you for providing that information quickly.
- first.
- initial.
- original.
- foremost.
- inaugural.
- maiden.
- previous.
- early.
- Thank you so much for the speedy reply.
- Thank you so much for your speedy reply.
- Thank you for the/your quick reply.
- Thank you for the/your quick response.
- Thanks so much for....
- quick.
- swift.
- immediate.
- responsive.
- willing.
- ready.
- expeditious.
- alert.
For example, the sight of a shark in the water may prompt people to run from the beach as quickly as possible.
What are different ways to say reply? ›- respond.
- answer.
- comment.
- retort.
- react.
- riposte.
- remark.
- return.
The phrase “at my earliest convenience” isn't inherently impolite. It is, however, somewhat ambiguous, and may be used politely, indifferently, or rudely.
How do you say appreciate it professionally? ›
- I wanted to thank you for helping me today.
- Thank you so much for your assistance.
- I sincerely appreciate your help with the project today.
- Thank you for being a valuable member of our team.
- Thanks for helping me accomplish my goal.
- I wanted to express my gratitude for your training today.
- I'm so grateful. Thanks is an expression of gratitude, so cut to the chase. ...
- I appreciate it. ...
- Thanks for your hard work on this. ...
- I couldn't have done it without you. ...
- I owe you one. ...
- Much obliged. ...
- Thanks for having my back. ...
- Please accept my deepest gratitude.
- The large size and quick response time helped to give its political polls a reputation for accuracy. ...
- South Africa aim for quick response to trying defeats. ...
- Leicester needed a quick response and they grabbed their chance seven minutes from the interval.
“Please let me know if you have any questions.” “If you have any other problems, just let me know.” “If there is anything else you need, please let me know.”
How do you ask someone to do something professionally? ›- Lead with the ask. ...
- Establish your credibility. ...
- Make the way forward clear. ...
- If you're asking a question, propose a solution. ...
- Be scannable. ...
- Give them a deadline. ...
- Write your subject lines like headlines. ...
- Edit your messages ruthlessly.
- Whenever you can.
- It's not (terribly) urgent.
- No rush.
- daybreak.
- early morning.
- first blush.
- first flush of morning.
- first light.
- matinal.
- originally.
- initially.
- primarily.
- at first.
- to start with.
- incipiently.
- primitively.
Save this answer. Show activity on this post. No, saying "at your convenience" is generally understood to be a polite way of saying that you recognize that the other person is very busy, and so asking them to choose a time for a meeting instead of you selecting a time.
How do you say someone said something quickly? ›- expeditiously.
- hastily.
- hurriedly.
- immediately.
- instantaneously.
- instantly.
- promptly.
- rapidly.
What is a quick text response time? ›
The fact is that 95% of texts will be read within 3 minutes of being sent, with the average response time for a text being a mere 90 seconds. This comes to show that if you're not getting the response you're waiting for, either the person you've texted hasn't yet seen your message or is purposefully avoiding you.
What are the three 3 types of responses? ›In order to better understand what emotions are, let's focus on their three key elements, known as the subjective experience, the physiological response, and the behavioral response.
What are some examples of response? ›Response: how the organism reacts to a stimulus and results in a change in behavior. (It is a fancy way of saying “effect”.) Example: Getting a drink when you are thirsty.
What is a prompt response? ›(a) prompt (response, reply): (a) swift, quick, efficient, speedy, immediate (response, reply) adjective. I would appreciate a prompt reply so that I can take action immediately.
How do you give a perfect response? ›- Make sure they're paying attention to you so you don't have to repeat yourself.
- Recognize if someone else wants to speak and allow them room to talk as well.
- Allow the person to respond to what you've said as well.
- You're my whole world.
- I'd be lost without you.
- Just wanted you to know I'm thinking about you right now.
- I wish I was in your arms.
- I love you more than you will ever know.
- You make my heart beat out of my chest.
- I'm getting butterflies just thinking about seeing you later. ...
- I feel so safe when I'm with you.
Their is the possessive pronoun, as in "their car is red"; there is used as an adjective, "he is always there for me," a noun, "get away from there," and, chiefly, an adverb, "stop right there"; they're is a contraction of "they are," as in "they're getting married."
What is a fancy way to say said? ›Five formal alternatives of said are: announced, commente, explained, replied, and stated. Five creative alternatives of said are: whispered/exclaimed, rambled, chimed, bemoaned, and scolded.
How do you say all the best in reply? ›- Good luck.
- Best of luck.
- I hope things will turn out fine.
- You were made for this!
- You are going to be amazing!
- You'll do great!
- Wishing you all the best.
- Wishing you lots of luck.
- at a suitable time.
- at your leisure.
- in your own time.
- whenever you like.
- in your spare time.
- in a spare moment.
Is at your earliest convenience professional? ›
Some people might find it more polite to say "at your earliest convenience" than simply "please," while others may not see much of a difference. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide what they believe is more polite.
How do you use the phrase at your convenience? ›- The goods will be delivered at your convenience.
- The machine records your messages and you can answer them at your convenience.
- There's no urgency, so please don't make the journey other than at your convenience.
- The documents are ready for you to pick up at your convenience.
Much obliged, much appreciated, I'm grateful, I appreciate it, I owe you one. If you think about when you might have to say “thank you” throughout the day, you'll notice that the possible situations are endless.
How do you say kindly appreciate? ›- Thank you very much. Your support is greatly appreciated.
- We greatly appreciate everything you've done for the company.
Some common synonyms of appreciate are cherish, prize, treasure, and value. While all these words mean "to hold in high estimation," appreciate often connotes sufficient understanding to enjoy or admire a thing's excellence.
How do you say thank you without sounding cheesy? ›- Thanks a million/ Thanks a bunch. Thanks a million, you have helped me so much!
- I really appreciate it. ...
- That means a lot to me. ...
- That's really kind of you. ...
- I don't know what to say. ...
- You shouldn't have. ...
- I owe you one. ...
- I couldn't have done it without you.
- Thank you again, I really appreciate working with you.
- Even though I may not say it all the time, I appreciate all you do.
- Thank you again for your support, it made a real difference for me.
- Thank you for all that you do.
- Thank you!
The three sentence rule means you have to ask yourself a series of questions for every email you read before you reply. Is this an email I should be responding to? If you can't answer it in three sentences or less, you have to decide what to do with it.
How do I send a quick text response? ›It's the icon with three dots in the upper-right corner of your list of messages. The menu panel will pop up. Tap on Quick responses.
What's another way to say for your convenience? ›anytime | whenever |
---|---|
when you can | when you have a minute |
in your spare time | anytime you like |
in a spare moment | whenever it pleases one |
in your own good time | without haste |
How do you professionally say please get back to me? ›
- I will get back to you soon. ...
- I will follow up with you. ...
- I will have an answer on that shortly. ...
- I'll investigate this and let you know what I find out. ...
- Let me research that and get back with you. ...
- Let me get back to you on that. ...
- I'll get back to you on that ASAP.
It is polite and quite formal to say “at your convenience”, “when it is convenient for you”, or more informally “when it suits you”. This phrase can mean “when it is suitable for you”, but is never said.
How do you say right now professionally? ›- at present.
- directly.
- forthwith.
- presently.
- pronto.
- right away.
- right now.
- straightaway.
...
Polite Ways to Say Yes in English
- Yeah, sure. Here you go.
- No problem! I'm always happy to help.
- Yep! I will be right there. ...
- Yeah, I'd be happy to!
- Cool. ...
- You got it.
- Okay.
- first thing.
- firstly.
- foremost.
- immediately.
- in the first place.
- primo.
- up front.
Which is correct, "Please call at your earliest convenience" or “Please call when it's convenient"? Both are correct. “Please call me back when you can,” would be correct. “Please call be back as soon as you can,” would be correct.
How do you say at your most convenient time? ›- at a suitable time.
- at your leisure.
- in your own time.
- whenever you like.
- in your spare time.
- in a spare moment.
It's very convenient for me to get to the station. It's not really convenient for you to come this afternoon. The house is in a convenient location for traveling to London. It would be more convenient if I could pick up the children at four.
How do you professionally say could you please? ›- Would it be possible to ...
- Please could you,
- Ideally, we'd like this by.
- If you could X, it would be very much appreciated.
- “Hello” ...
- “Please” ...
- “Thank you” ...
- “You're welcome” ...
- “Excuse me” ...
- The other person's name. ...
- “I'm happy to see you” ...
- “That's so kind of you”