Whoops! We’ve all hastily sent an email only to realize seconds later that it contains mistakes, incorrect information, or was prematurely sent before properly reviewing the contents. Sending a quick follow-up message asking the recipient to please ignore previous mail can help minimize any confusion or fallout. But what’s the best way to gracefully ask someone to ignore an email you wish you could take back? Here, we’ll explore twenty professional yet approachable phrases for retracting an email, along with tips to craft an effective “please ignore previous mail” message.
Why You May Need to Send a “Please Disregard” Message
Mistakenly sending an errant email happens more often than we’d like to admit. Here are some common reasons you may need to ask the recipient to please ignore previous mail:
Sending an Email to the Wrong Recipient
We’ve all been there – dashing off a quick email to a client or colleague only to realize after clicking send that it was addressed to the wrong “John Smith” or distribution list. Asking the unintended recipients to ignore your message can save some embarrassment.
Including Incorrect Information or Attachments
Despite your best proofreading efforts, sometimes a fact, figure, or document in your email ends up being outdated, inaccurate, or attached in error. A quick “please ignore previous mail” note can set the record straight.
Sending an Email Prematurely
Ever start drafting an email only to accidentally hit send mid-composition? Requesting the recipient ignore your half-baked message avoids confusion about missing content still being composed.
Realizing the Email is No Longer Relevant or Necessary
Whether a situation changes or you have second thoughts about the need to even send the message, asking recipients to please ignore previous mail that’s no longer applicable can be prudent.
20 Best Ways to Write a “Please Disregard My Previous Email” Message
So you need to gracefully ask a contact to ignore your last email that should never have been sent. Here are twenty professional yet straightforward messages for cleanly retracting your inaccurate message:
1. “Please disregard my previous email, as it was sent in error.”
If you accidentally sent your message to the wrong person or prematurely, this to-the-point phrase works well.
2. “I apologize for any confusion, but please ignore the previous mail.”
A polite apology coupled with a simple disregard request covers your bases if some of the errant email’s content raises questions.
3. “Kindly ignore my last email, as it contained outdated information.”
When asking contacts to overlook inaccurate details sent in error, this cordial wording makes it clear updated data will follow.
4. “Please ignore the previous mail, as I have attached the correct file in this message.”
Made a mistake attaching the wrong file? This transparent language owns up to the error and clarifies the proper version is now attached.
5. “I apologize for the multiple emails, but please ignore previous mail and refer to this message instead.”
If your email snafu resulted in a deluge of messages being sent, this phrasing apologizes for the barrage while directing recipients to focus only on your most recent communication.
6. “Please note that my previous email should be disregarded, as the situation has changed.”
When circumstances shift, rendering your last correspondence no longer valid, this prompt makes that context clear.
7. “I would like to retract my previous email, so please ignore previous mail.”
Made a statement you no longer wish to stand behind? Be upfront in fully retracting your position while unambiguously asking the recipient to ignore that communication.
8. “Apologies for the confusion, but please ignore the previous mail I sent a few minutes ago.”
If your mistaken email could create chaos for the recipient, lead with an apology for sparking uncertainty followed by a courteous request to simply overlook your flawed dispatch.
9. “Please ignore previous mail, as I have since received updated information.”
Learn key details changed since incorrectly informing someone via email? Notify them newer intel supersedes your prior erroneous communication they should ignore.
10. “I apologize for the error in my previous email. Please ignore previous mail and refer to this message instead.”
Keep it simple and take ownership of your mistake by apologizing while clearly stating they should follow the guidance in the current correspondence in their inbox rather than your last flawed email.
11. “Kindly disregard the email I sent earlier, as it was intended for another recipient.”
Accidentally addressed your message to the wrong person? Politely tip them off it wasn’t meant for them and they should delete it from their inbox rather than act on it.
12. “Please ignore my previous email (disregard meaning in English), as I inadvertently hit ‘send’ before completing my message.”
Partially composed draft emails can confuse recipients. Confirm you mistakenly sent prematurely while still drafting to validate why your initial correspondence is fragmented.
13. “I would appreciate it if you could please ignore previous mail, as it is no longer applicable.”
When your previous guidance ceases to be relevant, kindly say so while noting that you would be grateful if they simply erased your obsolete perspectives from their mindshare.
14. “Please disregard the previous email, as I have made some corrections and will send an updated version shortly.”
If your communication contains easily fixable inaccuracies, notify the recipient improved guidance incorporating those edits is imminent so they should wait for that updated email and ignore your last draft.
15. “I apologize for any inconvenience, but please disregard the email I sent earlier today.”
Keep your retraction courteous and accepting of responsibility for their time wasting with this simple yet effective phrasing.
16. “Kindly ignore the previous email, as I have since found the information I was looking for.”
Originally asked them an open-ended question that is now moot? Politely share you located the intel needed yourself so they can skip putting thought into crafting any response.
17. “Please disregard my last email, as I have decided to take a different approach to the matter at hand.”
Change strategies mid-stream? Give the recipient a heads-up that your guidance has pivoted, so they should erase any recollection of your previous input from their planning process.
18. “I would like to withdraw my previous email, so please disregard its contents and any attachments.”
Sound formal in entirely rescinding your communique down to any files transmitted as no longer applicable by pointedly stating that none bears consideration.
19. “Apologies for the confusion, but please disregard the email I sent earlier and refer to the following information instead.”
If your erroneous guidance could lead contacts astray, say sorry and provide the accurate details you do want them to follow while confirming they should ignore your wrong intelligence.
20. “Please ignore the email I sent a moment ago, as I have realized it is not relevant to our current discussion.”
Succinctly clarify only just discovering your commentary has no bearing or importance, so the recipient should erase it from their working memory.
Tips for Writing Effective “Please Disregard” Messages
To ensure your “please ignore my previous email” request is clearly received and well accepted, keep these tips in mind:
1. Be Clear and Concise in Your Request
Get straight to the point in asking them to disregard your last correspondence without burying that directive under excessive apologies or equivocating why it should be ignored.
2. Apologize for Any Confusion or Inconvenience Caused
While keeping it simple, acknowledge if your blunder caused chaos for the recipient. Say sorry before cleanly asking them to delete and ignore it.
3. Provide a Brief Explanation for Why You Are Asking to Disregard
A quick context sentence or two explains the circumstance (wrong attachment, premature send), necessitating they ignore your flawed email. This transparency helps them more readily comply.
4. Include Any Necessary Corrections or Updated Information
Where applicable, briefly summarize for them the gist of the accurate information that supersedes your error to reduce likelihood the faulty details get improperly relied on.
5. Maintain a Professional and Courteous Tone
As with any sensitive communication, be thoughtful by remaining professional in your word choice and framing while projecting a grateful and gracious tone.
How to Avoid the Need for “Please Disregard” Messages
While a politely worded “please ignore my previous email” can remedy most mistakes, avoiding dispatching erroneous communications in the first place is ideal. Some tips:
1. Double-check the Recipient, Subject Line, and Content Before Sending
That extra glance confirms who it’s addressed to and that the subject line and messaging match can prevent mishaps.
2. Take a Moment to Review Attachments and Links
Ensure documents and connections transmitted perfectly align with your email narrative intent before firing it off.
3. Consider the Timing and Relevance of Your Email Before Sending
Will your input still seem salient if situations shift while your correspondence is in transit? If relevance depends greatly on exact timing or fragile context, consider holding off sending until confirmation conditions remain stable.
4. Use Email Drafts to Compose Messages and Review Them Later Before Sending
Rather than rush, distracted real-time drafting, pour your thoughts into email drafts you can thoroughly review and correct the next business day with fresh eyes to spot flaws.
Conclusion
While we all try diligently to only distribute polished, relevant communications, mistakes happen. Hopefully, these tips will help you gracefully recover by retracting your regrettable emails and avoiding those faux pas in the first place via more foolproof message composition practices. Remember, clearly and concisely, own up to the error while maintaining a professional, courteous tone. With some thoughtfulness on both the sending and cleanup ends, you’ll have people disregarding your disregard requests less frequently over time.
FAQs on Best Ways to Write “Please Disregard My Previous Email”
Q1. Is it necessary to explain why I’m asking them to disregard my last email?
A1. While optional, offering, at minimum, a quick clarifying detail or two makes your “disregard” request seem more reasonable and likely to be accommodated.
Q2. What if my email contained sensitive company or customer information sent in error?
A2. In such cases, apologize profusely for the high-risk error and note exactly which data needs deleting right away with confirmation once they’ve done so. Follow all corporate data breach protocols.
Q3. What’s the best way to apologize for a disregard request without seeming overly embarrassed?
A3. Stay matter-of-fact with a simple “I apologize for any inconvenience” statement, and avoid excessive apologies or self-deprecation so your retracting email maintains a professional tone overall.
Q4. How can I confirm if they have indeed disregarded my previous flawed email?
A4. Reaching out for direct verbal or written confirmation is best, but if that’s awkward, at minimum, ensure no further communications incorrectly reference or act upon your retracted guidance.
Q5. What’s better – Asking them to ignore vs delete my email sent in error?
A5. Request they please “disregard” or “ignore” rather than definitively asking them to “delete” your message from their records without review. Your preference they overlook could conflict with corporate retention policies prohibiting deletion.
