Ever read a work email and wondered if someone was politely telling you off? You're probably not alone.
A new survey reveals which common workplace email phrases come across as the most passive-aggressive, and some of them might sound very familiar.
Email verification company ZeroBounce surveyed 2,000 professionals across the United States and Europe in August 2026 to find out which phrases rub people the wrong way.
Surprisingly, "Per my last email" didn't claim the top spot. That honor went to "Just to be clear."
More than half of respondents (52%) said "Just to be clear" sounds passive-aggressive, while 21% picked it as the single worst offender.
The Most Passive-Aggressive Email Phrases
Here's the percentage of respondents who said each phrase comes across as passive-aggressive:
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"Just to be clear" — 52%
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"As previously discussed" — 40%
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"Per my last email" — 40%
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"For future reference" — 32%
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"Kindly note" — 31%
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"Any updates on this?" — 30%
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"Not sure if you saw this" — 30%
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"Going forward/Moving forward" — 25%
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"Just checking in" — 22%
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"Friendly reminder" — 21%
The funny part? Some of the same phrases people find annoying are ones they admit to using themselves.
For example, 30% of respondents said "Any updates on this?" sounds passive-aggressive, but the same percentage admitted it's one of the phrases they use most often.
And Then There Are the Emails That Stress Us Out
The survey also asked which email phrases cause the most workplace stress.
"Need this ASAP" topped that list, with 56% saying it increases their stress or anxiety. Another 40% pointed to the dreaded "Can we chat?" while 34% mentioned "Action required."
And if your inbox feels particularly overwhelming on Mondays, you're not alone. Nearly half of respondents (45%) named Monday as the most emotionally draining day for work emails.
Of course, not every "friendly reminder" is secretly a warning. Sometimes people really are just following up.
So, which email phrase immediately makes you roll your eyes?
