Jonathan from California wrote to me last week asking and then answering his own question. I like it when readers are so efficient!
Here is what Jonathan grappled with:
Today I was looking for an answer to my question about the correctness of the term “please see attached,” but I could not find a post about it. So I am writing to ask you, but in thinking about it a little more, I think I know the answer. Even though people use the term all the time (at least in my industry), it is an incomplete sentence and should be avoided. It takes a few seconds longer to type out “please see the attached document (or spreadsheet, proposal, etc.)”, but it is the right thing to do.
I agree, Jonathan. "Please see attached" sounds incomplete.
To people who send nonstop text messages or emails, the phrase probably seems efficient. But I suggest boosting efficiency with more energetic, focused sentence starters such as:
The attached diagram shows . . .
The attached spreadsheet contains . . .
When you review the attached proposal, you will notice . . .
As promised, I have attached a revised . . .
Please let me know if the attached draft . . .
"Please see attached" is simply too dull--and it's inaccurate. We don't want our readers to "see" the attachment. (I "see" a pile of papers on my desk, but my next step is to hide it in a file drawer.)
We want our readers to review, improve, approve, save, forward, or recommend it--not "see" it.
We also don't want them to find it. (It's not lost or hidden, is it?) So "Please find attached" is no improvement.
Are people at your organization, like Jonathan's, attached to "Please see attached"? Perhaps you can ask them to please see consider this blog post.
Lynn
Visit my website at www.syntaxtraining.com.
I read "PFA is XYZ" in one of mails I received, and I was thinking to myself the same thing - How much time does it take to write, "Attached document is XYZ"
Moreover, "PFA is XYZ" doesn't even make sense! Please find the attached is XYZ? Hmm... I need a break.
Posted by: Srikanth | July 21, 2009 at 02:17 AM
Srikanth, thanks for giving me my first big laugh of the day!
Posted by: Lynn | July 21, 2009 at 08:34 AM
Thanks, Lynn!
I really like your suggestion to do away with "see" and "find". Creative writing is more effective AND efficient!
Posted by: Jonathan | July 21, 2009 at 02:10 PM
Hi, Jonathan. Thanks a bunch for inspiring the post!
Posted by: Lynn | July 21, 2009 at 04:42 PM
Hi Lynn,
Love all your posts. This one hit the home. I do "PFA" all the time because I am sending invoices every week.
Some how could not come up with a better alternative to that when sending invoices.
Do you have any suggestion.
Once again million thanks for your wonderful blog.
AC
Posted by: AC | July 24, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Hi, AC. Well, imagine that I have just banned your use of "PFA." What plain language would communicate better?
How about "I have attached" or "Attached is" or "Your most recent invoice is attached" or "The attached invoice covers the dates xx to xx"?
Depending on the circumstances, you may want to try "When you review the attached invoice, you will see that . . . "
Remember: I have banned your use of "PFA"! No cheating!
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn | July 27, 2009 at 04:50 PM
Hi Lynn,
Great advice, will keep that in mind.
Thanks a lot
AC
Posted by: AC | July 28, 2009 at 11:18 AM
I was told today that my sentence was incorrectly written.
"Please see attached for today's US & International refund report". The person said I should write it without the word "for".
Please tell me if I was writing it incorrectly. I think I write pretty well and really shocked me.
Posted by: Elena | January 10, 2011 at 11:57 PM
Hi, Elena. If the entire attachment is the refund report, then the feedback you received is correct.
If the attachment includes more than the refund report, your version is correct.
A cleaner version is "Today's US & international refund report is attached," or "Attached is today's US and international refund report." Unless you need to direct your reader to "please see" the attachment, you can drop those words.
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn Gaertner-Johnston | January 11, 2011 at 01:44 PM
Should I use OR, or WITH in the below sentence?
We will keep you apprised of further developments OF the application. Or
We will keep you apprised of further developments WITH the application.
Posted by: sherri | April 22, 2011 at 02:13 PM
Hi, Sherri. It depends on your meaning. "Developments of the application" means the application is being devleoped.
"Developments with the application" may mean something is being developed that works with the application.
I hope that response helps.
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn Gaertner-Johnston | April 26, 2011 at 03:57 PM
YEAH,YOU ARE RIGHT
SO NEXT TIME MAYBE I SHOULD
WRITE "The attached diagram shows . . . "
Posted by: peterdai | July 18, 2011 at 07:54 PM
Yes, give it a try.
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn Gaertner-Johnston | July 21, 2011 at 09:13 AM
Hi,
I used to send emails with this common line "please see attached the statement of your account...."
Yet, few days back while teaching my trainee she insisted that it is wrong. she said it should be "please see the attached statement of your account..."
I believe using "the" before "attached" is not necessary. Or does it matter if "the" comes before or after.
Posted by: meryl | August 22, 2011 at 01:46 AM
Hi, Meryl. To an American ear, "Please see the attached statement of your account" sounds more natural than "Please see attached the statement of your account."
My purpose in writing this blog post was to offer alternatives to "Please see attached." Did you consider the sentence starters listed above?
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn Gaertner-Johnston | August 22, 2011 at 08:54 AM
Nice observation.These sentence formations are helpful and knowingly or unknwingly, I've been using them for quite a while.
The only time I use PFA/PSA is when I have to send an attachment referred during a discussion..The
context is clear and I don't want to send a blank mail ;)
While composing a mail for wider audience, I try using the additonal word "herewith" to make it clearer - call it old school :)
Eg,
Attached herewith is XYZ
or - XYZ is attached herewith.
Posted by: Abhishek | September 19, 2011 at 10:30 PM
Abhishek, I would not add "herewith" unless I wanted to sound terribly old school--so old school as to be shriveled and dusty.
I just checked "Garner's Modern American Usage." Garner says, "Business-writing texts have consistently condemned the phrases ['enclosed herewith,' etc.] since the late 19th century."
What's wrong with "As promised, here is the ________"?
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn Gaertner-Johnston | September 21, 2011 at 08:42 PM
Agree Lynn- so much old school as obsolete but ,somehow, seems to give a completeness to a mere "Attached".
Refreshing to see more ways enlisted to refer to the attachment indirectly in this article and subsequent comments..Quite refreshing!Nothing wrong with "As promised, here is the __" but the word "attach" has to be accommodated somewhere in the text- more importantly in the multiple attachment scenarios! Your views please?
Posted by: Abhishek | September 22, 2011 at 12:11 AM
Hi, Abhishek. I agree it is a good idea to refer to an attachment in the body of the message.
The examples I gave in the original post (above) all do that job.
Good luck!
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn Gaertner-Johnston | September 22, 2011 at 08:09 AM
i want to search relevant sentences of below
"Please See Attached"
Guide me please
Posted by: husnain Aanar | September 30, 2011 at 02:45 PM
hi
Please let me know as to whether we can write in the body of e-mail or after the necessary closing?
Posted by: Aman | September 30, 2011 at 10:46 PM
Hello, Husnain. I apologize that I do not understand your question.
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn Gaertner-Johnston | October 02, 2011 at 07:05 PM
Aman, the sentences I recommended would be in the body of the email. In an email, you do not refer to attachments after the closing.
In email, the closing is the end of the message. It is followed by only the signature. Business letters are different. In letters, attachments are noted after the signature.
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn Gaertner-Johnston | October 02, 2011 at 07:08 PM
Hi Lynn,
Thank you for your blog which provides a lot of useful information about business writing.
In some of our business correspondences, I notice that people start their sentence with " herewith attached is.......". I wonder if it is a correct way to use "herewith attached".
I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you,
Posted by: Ileen | October 20, 2011 at 10:16 AM
Hi, Ileen. When I was growing up, people started sentences with the expression "Attached herewith please find." "Herewith attached" is not quite as bad, but it isn't good.
Why not use plain, clear English?
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn Gaertner-Johnston | October 20, 2011 at 08:59 PM
Hi, Lynn. I appreciate you taking time to reply me. I totally agree with your suggestion.
Ileen
Posted by: Ileen | October 21, 2011 at 09:38 AM
Hi Lynn,
I'm thinking about how I can make improvement with the "please see attached" problem in the following sentence:
"There is a paid parkade located at the corner of XX Street and XX Street (see map attached for directions)."
Thanks for your time.
Amy
Posted by: Amy | October 27, 2011 at 04:55 PM
Hi, Amy. I would use "See attached map for directions," since the map isn't "attached for directions."
There is nothing wrong with referring readers to an attachment. The problem is the "Please see attached" that appears alone, when other constructions would be more accurate and helpful.
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn Gaertner-Johnston | October 28, 2011 at 08:22 AM
Please find the attached invoices from G T F for September and October,2011.is it corect?
Posted by: ibrahim | October 31, 2011 at 01:36 PM
Hello, Ibrahim. You do not need a comma between the month and the year. Otherwise, your sentence is correct.
I do not use "Please find the attached." To me, "Please find" suggests that I have lost something. Why not simply say "The invoices are attached" or "I have attached the invoices"?
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn Gaertner-Johnston | October 31, 2011 at 02:06 PM
Thank yoy so much,but he is my boss.
i need to be formal with him
Please find the attached invoices from G T F for September and October,2011.is it corect?
G T F is another company
how can say that and Mention the month of the invoices
i am greatful for your help
Ibrahim
Posted by: Ibrahim | November 01, 2011 at 11:16 AM
Ibrahim, please see my response above.
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn Gaertner-Johnston | November 01, 2011 at 03:49 PM
Thank you so much Lynn
Ibrahim
Posted by: ibrahim | November 02, 2011 at 01:11 PM
Dear Lynn,
I have the exact opposite problem. We are a world wide company. Many of our email recipients are contractors and do not spend hours in front of computers. Therefore, to be clear, we want to let them know that there is an attachment to "this" email. In fact, I DO explain all the pages content in bullet form when necessary. However, since I use the term "see attached" SO OFTEN, I want to find a shortcut text term to "see attached". So, Q: is there a text or symbol that I can use that my email recipients would understand as "see attached" or "attached" or "attachment" ? Does a term need to be invented for me and others?
Sincerely,
Pat Schultz
Posted by: Pat Schultz | December 01, 2011 at 05:31 PM
Hi, Pat. Thanks for the interesting question. You don't have to invent an abbreviation.
I just checked three reference books on my shelf, all of which give "att." as the abbreviation for "attached" or "attachment."
I wonder though whether your readers have any problem with your repeated use of "See the attached report" or "The spreadsheet is attached." I would not mind your using such terms repeatedly in a complex message.
If you do choose to abbreviate, be sure you define the abbreviation the first time you use it in a message, for readers who may not recognize it.
Good luck!
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn Gaertner-Johnston | December 04, 2011 at 07:17 PM