Say it like this
- Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
- I'll reach out to the vendor today.
- Thanks for reaching out!
Use it at work
Ending an email
- Feel free to reach out with any questions.
- Don't hesitate to get in touch.
Planning next steps
- I'll reach out to legal today.
- Can you reach out to the customer?
Replying
- Thanks for reaching out!
- Great to hear from you.
Don't say this
You always "reach out to" someone.
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| reach out | contact someone, friendly | everyone, mainly US | email, LinkedIn |
| get in touch | contact someone | UK and global | email, phone |
| ping | send a quick message | tech teams | Slack, chat |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. You want to end a client email in a friendly way. Which is best?
2. I'll reach _______ to the security team and ask about the audit.
3. Which sentence is correct?
4. Rewrite in friendly email English using 'reach out': 'Contact me if you need help.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"Feel free to reach out if you have any questions."
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More about reach out
Real examples(3)
- ending an email
"If anything is unclear, feel free to reach out."
- replying to a recruiter
"Thanks for reaching out. I'd be happy to chat next week."
- in a standup
"I'll reach out to the data team about the missing events."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. Some people find "reach out" overused. Mix in "get in touch" or "contact".
- ✕I reached out the client.✓I reached out to the client.
Don't forget "to".
- ✕Reach out to me ASAP!!!✓Please contact me today if you can.
Reach out is soft and friendly. It sounds odd with strong urgency.
Other forms(3)
- reached out past
"She reached out last week."
- reaching out -ing
"Thanks for reaching out!"
- outreach noun
"We're doing outreach to new customers."
Often used with(3)
- feel free to reach out · invite questions
- reach out to · contact someone
- thanks for reaching out · reply to a first message
Similar words(3)
- get in touch · common in UK English
- contact · neutral, formal
- ping · casual, chat
Opposites(2)
- ignore
- go quiet
Questions(4)
- What does reach out mean at work?
- It means to contact someone to ask for something, offer help or start a conversation.
- Is reach out formal?
- It is neutral and friendly. It works in most business email.
- Is it reach out to or reach out with?
- You reach out to a person, and you can reach out with a question: "I reached out to Sam with a question."
- What can I say instead of reach out?
- "Get in touch", "contact" or, in chat, "ping".
