Revealed: The cringeworthy words and phrases you should NEVER use in a work email - including 'Happy Friday' and 'reaching out'

Whether you work in marketing, PR, or sales, many jobs require you to send dozens of emails every day. 

But it turns out you've probably been making some cringeworthy mistakes in your messages.

Experts from ZeroBounce have uncovered the most overused email buzzwords.

After combing through over one million real emails, the team found that 'reaching out' is the reigning champion of corportate jargon. 

Other common offenders include 'Happy Friday', 'hope all is well', and the dreaded 'circle back'. 

'These aren't just phrases people say they hate – they're the phrases people actually use,' ZeroBounce explained. 

'And we know, because we looked at the data and saw just how often they show up.'

So, are you guilty of using any of these buzzwords? Here's how to ditch them once and for all. 

For the study, ZeroBounce analysed 1,000,967 emails sent between January 2024 and October 2025. 

The team tallied specific buzzwords, as well as their close variations – for example, 'follow up' also included 'to follow up', 'following up', and 'will follow up'. 

Their analysis showed that around one in 50 emails include a buzzword. 

'Reaching out' was the most common phrase, featuring in 0.61 per cent of all emails. 

'Follow up' was next (0.57 per cent), followed by 'check in' (0.43 per cent), 'aligned' (0.17 per cent), 'please advise' (0.15 per cent), and 'hope you're doing well' (0.13 per cent). 

While these safe, familiar words and phrases can come in handy when you don't know what else to say, they lose their meaning and impact over time, according to ZeroBounce. 

'By the millionth repetition, they're not just clichés, they're white noise,' it warned.   

To help, software company has suggested some easy swaps for the most common phrases. 

Instead of saying 'hope this finds you well,' you could ask 'how's your week going?' or simply start with 'Good morning – quick one.'

'Reaching out' can be replaced with 'quick question about...', while 'just checking in' can be ditched for the more direct 'what are your thoughts on the proposal?' 

'Buzzwords won't tank your emails, but they will make you blend in,' ZeroBounce added. 

'So maybe, armed with this list, you'll think twice before "circling back".

'Language shapes how we connect, and email is still where business gets done.

'Forget touching base or aligning on low–hanging fruit – clarity is what moves the needle. Cleaner, clearer writing gets faster replies. And that's how your email can be one in a million.'

The news comes shortly after a survey by Sky Mobile revealed the most embarrassing phone faux pas in the UK. 

The tech giant quizzed 2,000 Britons to find out the phone mistakes that make us cringe the most. 

Texting the wrong person topped the list, with 61 per cent of respondents admitting to this humiliating error. 

This was followed by pocket dialling someone (34 per cent), sending an accidental typo (29 per cent), and dropping your phone in public (24 per cent). 

Meanwhile, eight per cent admitted to having stalked a new partner's ex and liking their post.

'Phone mishaps can get the best of us,' said Ben Case, Managing Director of Connectivity at Sky.