In business, per my last email means “as I said in my previous email” or “please refer to the message I sent earlier.” It can be a straightforward reminder, especially when someone needs to repeat information or point to a request that has not been answered. But the wording can also sound impatient or passive-aggressive, as if the sender is calling attention to the fact that the recipient missed or ignored the earlier message. The meaning depends on context, tone, and the relationship between the people communicating.
What “per my last email” means
The phrase points backward to an earlier email in the same conversation or a previous exchange. A sender may use it to restate a deadline, clarify a decision, or direct a colleague to information already provided. In plain language, it usually means something like “I mentioned this before” or “please see my earlier message.”
For example, if a colleague asks when a report is due, a reply might say, “Per my last email, please send the draft by Friday.” The sender is referring to a prior email that presumably contains the date. The phrase does not itself establish that the recipient read the message, agreed to the request, or understood it. It only signals that the sender believes the information was already communicated.
That distinction matters. An earlier email may have been overlooked, buried in a busy inbox, or unclear. Saying “per my last email” points to the earlier communication, but it does not resolve why the message was missed or whether the recipient had a reasonable chance to act on it.
Is it a word, slang, or standard business English?
Per my last email is a phrase, not a single word or a special technical term. Its grammar is standard: per is a preposition, and my last email is the noun phrase that follows it. In this use, per means “according to” or “as stated in.” The construction is understandable and widely used in workplace writing.
It is not inherently slang or nonstandard English. However, it can feel like workplace jargon because it is a familiar formula in professional email. It is also often used humorously online to imitate a curt office message. That comic use can make the phrase seem sharper than the writer intended. In ordinary business writing, it is best described as a standard but potentially pointed expression, rather than as slang.
Where the phrase comes from
The word per comes through English from Latin, where it carried senses such as “through” and “by means of.” In modern English, it appears in phrases including “per person,” “per the agreement,” and “per your instructions.” In “per my last email,” it introduces the source of the information: the sender’s earlier message.
The full expression is a practical workplace formula built from that established use of per and the familiar habit of referring to earlier correspondence. There is no widely established, documented origin point for the exact phrase. It is safer to describe it as a conventional email expression that developed through everyday business communication than to assign it to a particular person, company, or moment.
Why it can sound passive-aggressive
The phrase is often neutral in its literal meaning, but it can carry an implied criticism: “I already told you this.” That implication becomes stronger when the message repeats a simple request, uses a terse sentence, or arrives after the sender has been waiting for a response. A recipient may hear frustration even if the sender meant only to save time.
Several details can change how it lands:
- The relationship: A brief reminder between close colleagues may feel ordinary; the same wording from a manager to a direct report may feel like a reprimand.
- The history: If there have been repeated unanswered messages, the phrase can signal mounting frustration. If this is the first follow-up, it may seem unnecessarily sharp.
- The surrounding language: A courteous explanation and a clear next step soften the reminder. A bare “Per my last email” can read as dismissive.
- The stakes: When timing or accountability matters, explicitly pointing to a previous decision may be useful, though a neutral reference is often clearer.
It is not automatically passive-aggressive. A writer may use it sincerely as concise shorthand, and some workplaces use it routinely without a hostile intent. Still, because readers cannot hear vocal tone in an email, a more specific and courteous reference is usually less likely to be misread.
How it is used in a sentence
The phrase commonly appears at the beginning of a sentence, followed by a comma. It can introduce a reminder or a statement that relies on information in an earlier message. These examples show the difference between a blunt version and a more helpful one:
- Blunt: “Per my last email, the draft is due Friday.” This is clear, but may suggest that the recipient should already know.
- More specific: “As noted in my email yesterday, the draft is due Friday. Please let me know if that timing has changed.” This identifies the earlier message and leaves room for a practical update.
- For a decision: “Per our email exchange, we’ll use the revised estimate for the client proposal.” This refers to an agreement rather than scolding someone for missing a task.
- For a missing attachment: “I’m resending the file mentioned in my earlier email, in case it did not come through.” This addresses a likely problem without assuming the recipient ignored the message.
In many cases, “as noted in my earlier email” or “I’m following up on my message about the draft” communicates the same information with less edge. If the earlier email is difficult to find, forwarding it or linking to the relevant thread is more useful than relying on the phrase alone.
How to respond when you receive it
A reply does not need to match the sender’s tone. The practical goal is to understand the request and move the work forward. If the earlier message was missed, a brief acknowledgment is usually enough. If the sender has not made the next step clear, ask a focused question rather than debating the wording.
- If you overlooked the message, say so plainly: “Thanks for the reminder—I missed the earlier email. I’ll send the file this afternoon.”
- If you need the earlier details, ask for them: “Could you forward the message with the revised figures? I can’t locate it in the thread.”
- If you disagree about what was agreed, refer to the record calmly: “I read the earlier exchange differently. My understanding was that the date was still tentative.”
- If the request is unclear, ask what action is needed: “I see the earlier note. Would you like me to update the document or just confirm receipt?”
Responding to the substance is often more effective than replying, “There’s no need to be passive-aggressive.” If the phrase is part of a repeated pattern that is affecting collaboration, a private conversation about communication expectations may be more productive than escalating the tone in the email thread.
Clearer alternatives for the sender
When writing a follow-up, name the earlier topic and state what you need now. This approach saves the recipient from searching and reduces the risk that the message sounds like a reprimand. Choose wording that fits the situation rather than relying on a stock phrase.
- “I’m following up on my note about the schedule. Can you confirm the revised date?”
- “As mentioned in my earlier message, the client needs the final copy before the meeting.”
- “I’m resending the details below so they’re easy to find.”
- “Could you let me know whether you’ve had a chance to review the proposal?”
- “To keep the project moving, please send your comments by Friday.”
When the email is important, include the relevant information again instead of assuming the recipient will locate it. A concise recap can identify the decision, owner, and requested action. If the situation calls for a formal record, quote or forward the earlier message accurately and describe the outstanding point without adding blame.
Common misconceptions and practical limits
One misconception is that the phrase proves the recipient was told something. It shows that the sender is referring to a previous email, but it does not prove that the email arrived, was read, or was clear. Another is that the expression is always rude. It can be neutral, though its pointed implication makes it worth using carefully.
It also does not replace a useful subject line, a direct request, or a clear deadline. If an email says only “Per my last email,” the recipient may still not know which message matters or what action is expected. A specific reference—such as “the budget draft I sent on Monday”—is more helpful. If the earlier message contains sensitive or changing details, restate the current information so that an old version is not mistaken for the latest instruction.
Finally, a sender should not treat silence as proof of refusal or deliberate avoidance. People miss messages for many reasons. A neutral follow-up gives them a chance to respond while maintaining a professional record of the request.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does “per my last email” mean the sender is angry?
Not necessarily. It refers to an earlier email, but can imply impatience or criticism depending on the context and wording. A short, unexplained version is more likely to sound pointed than a specific reminder with a courteous next step.
Is “per my last email” rude?
It is not inherently rude, but some readers interpret it as a reprimand because it emphasizes that the information was already sent. If you want to avoid that reading, refer to the earlier topic directly and state what you need.
Is “per my last email” grammatically correct?
Yes. Per is a standard preposition, and the phrase is grammatically sound. Its possible problem is tone, not grammar.
What is a polite alternative to “per my last email”?
Try “As noted in my earlier email,” “I’m following up on my message about…,” or “I’m resending the details below.” These alternatives identify the reference without implying that the recipient should have remembered it.
How should I reply if I missed the earlier email?
Acknowledge that you missed it, then answer the request or give a realistic update. For example: “Thanks for the reminder—I missed that message. I’ll review the document and reply this afternoon.”