{"id":8237,"date":"2024-09-23T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-23T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/?p=8237"},"modified":"2024-09-11T09:07:52","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T09:07:52","slug":"i-dont-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/i-dont-know\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Avoid Saying \u201cI Don\u2019t Know\u201d Directly"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/i-dont-know\/#Ill_look_into_it\" >I\u2019ll look into it.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/i-dont-know\/#Let_me_get_back_to_you\" >Let me get back to you.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/i-dont-know\/#Ill_find_out\" >I\u2019ll find out.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/i-dont-know\/#Please_give_me_time_to\" >Please give me (time) to ~<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/i-dont-know\/#Im_probably_not_the_best_person_to_ask\" >I\u2019m (probably) not the best person to ask.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/i-dont-know\/#Thats_not_my_area_of_expertise\" >That\u2019s not my area of expertise.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/i-dont-know\/#I_dont_know_but_I_know_who_mightdoes\" >I don\u2019t know, but I know who might\/does.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/i-dont-know\/#Wrap-up\" >Wrap-up<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>If you don't know the answer to a question, how do you respond? In professional settings, it's often better to say you don't know in a less direct way. This is especially true when you are asked about something that perhaps you <em>should<\/em> know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Luckily, there are phrases you can use that sound more positive and productive than simply saying \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d Each of the following expressions will be useful in your office or in any other formal situation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ill_look_into_it\"><\/span><strong>I\u2019ll look into it.<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/09\/11090054\/i_dont_know_1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Two orange question marks among a group of black question marks\" class=\"wp-image-9584\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/09\/11090054\/i_dont_know_1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/09\/11090054\/i_dont_know_1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/09\/11090054\/i_dont_know_1-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLook into\u201d is one of the many phrasal verbs you can make with \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/12-phrasal-verbs-using-look\/#Look_into\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">look<\/a>.\u201d It means to research or investigate something, and it\u2019s a great alternative to \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I\u2019ll <strong>look into it<\/strong> and let you know as soon as I find out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Let me <strong>look into that<\/strong> and contact you when I know more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Let_me_get_back_to_you\"><\/span><strong>Let me get back to you.<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGetting back\u201d to someone is contacting them again at a later time. With this response, you are giving yourself time to get the answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I'm not sure. Let me <strong>get back to you<\/strong> on that.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I don't know, but <strong>let me get back to you<\/strong> later today.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ill_find_out\"><\/span><strong>I\u2019ll find out.<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This phrase is quite simple, and it shows that you are taking positive steps to get the information you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>That's a good question. <strong>I\u2019ll find out<\/strong> and report back by the end of the day.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>I'll find out<\/strong> for you and call you back shortly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Please_give_me_time_to\"><\/span><strong>Please give me (time) to ~<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Another alternative to \u201cI don\u2019t know\u201d is to simply ask the other person to wait while you find the answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I\u2019m not sure, but <strong>please give me a moment<\/strong> to find out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Give me an hour<\/strong> and I'll follow up with the answer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Im_probably_not_the_best_person_to_ask\"><\/span><strong>I\u2019m (probably) not the best person to ask.<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/09\/11090018\/i_dont_know_2-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Two women working on a computer in an office environment\" class=\"wp-image-9583\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/09\/11090018\/i_dont_know_2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/09\/11090018\/i_dont_know_2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/09\/11090018\/i_dont_know_2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/09\/11090018\/i_dont_know_2-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/09\/11090018\/i_dont_know_2-840x560.jpg 840w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If a question isn\u2019t related to what you do at work, you can suggest that it would be better to ask someone else.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I wish I could help, but<strong> I'm not the best person to ask<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if you don't have a full answer, you can share the information you do have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>I\u2019m probably not the best person to ask<\/strong>, <strong>but<\/strong> I think that department is on the fourth floor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Thats_not_my_area_of_expertise\"><\/span><strong>That\u2019s not my area of expertise.<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Another choice is to directly say that something is not your speciality. Again, this is best when you can add some information, even if it is incomplete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I'm sorry, but <strong>that's not my area of expertise<\/strong> and I don't want to give you bad information.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>That's not my area of expertise<\/strong>, but I think this solution should work.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"I_dont_know_but_I_know_who_mightdoes\"><\/span><strong>I don\u2019t know, but I know who might\/does.<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A great way to avoid a simple \u201cI don\u2019t know\u201d is to mention who you think <em>does<\/em> have the answer. This way, you are still being helpful to the other person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>I don\u2019t know, but I think Louis might.<\/strong> His office is down the hall.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternatively, you can simply mention the other person first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Actually,<strong> I think Petra would be a better person to ask.<\/strong> I want to make sure you get accurate information.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Adding the follow-up phrase lets the other person know that their question is important and deserves a quality answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wrap-up\"><\/span><strong>Wrap-up<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Saying that you don't know something doesn't have to be a short and negative end to a conversation. With these phrases, you can professionally ask for time to find the answers, or you can guide the other person to a better source of information. As long as you speak with a smile and a friendly tone of voice, you are communicating effectively and professionally.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you don't know the answer to a question, how do you respond? In professional settings, it's often better to say you don't know in a less direct way. This is especially true when you...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":432,"featured_media":8240,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"unified_meta_tagline_field":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8,6],"tags":[58],"class_list":["post-8237","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-work","category-language-tips","tag-other-ways-to-say"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Avoid Saying \u201cI Don\u2019t Know\u201d Directly | Engoo Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Knowing some handy alternatives to &quot;I don&#039;t know&quot; can be very useful, especially for professionals in business or formal situations.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/i-dont-know\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Avoid Saying \u201cI Don\u2019t Know\u201d Directly | Engoo Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Knowing some handy alternatives to &quot;I don&#039;t know&quot; 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