To Communicate More Effectively, Avoid These Passive-Aggressive Words and Phrases

To successfully navigate the modern workplace, communication is key. And today, much of that communication is no longer done verbally—it’s through email and direct messaging. These technologies have created huge opportunities for improved efficiencies and productivity; however, they’ve also opened the door for new forms of miscommunication. One of the main reasons for this is that it’s sometimes difficult to determine tone through written communication. There are certain words and phrases, though, that experts recommend people avoid. These include “please advise,“ “noted,“ “friendly reminder,“ “thanks in advance,“ “as promised,“ “as discussed,“ and the infamous “as per my last email.“ Experts from WordFinder, an online word search tool, say these are among the most-used passive-aggressive words and phrases. “For better or worse, digital communication, whether it’s through email or direct messages on platforms like Slack, doesn’t let us see each other’s immediate reactions—which is why we look for ways to ‘politely’ express irritation,“ WordFinder representative Joe Mercurio tells