FYI stands for for your information. It labels a message that simply shares news or forwards a document and usually doesn't require any action. In work emails and chats with colleagues, it's a familiar abbreviation, especially when forwarding emails.
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fyi, + news or fact; just fyi, + detail; fyi + forwarded email
- fyi, the lift is out of order today, so take the stairs.
- Just fyi, Anna moved the team meeting to 3 pm on Thursday.
- fyi, the shop closes early on Sundays, so let's go on Saturday.
What changed
First versionDear Professor Kim, fyi, I will miss Tuesday's seminar because of a medical appointment.
RevisionDear Professor Kim, I wanted to let you know that I will miss Tuesday's seminar because of a medical appointment.
You can write fyi to a colleague, but in an email to a professor it sounds curt, as if you were forwarding an announcement. It has been replaced with I wanted to let you know that: the same meaning, but a polite tone.
Said out loud, the full phrase for your information often sounds sharp, even defensive: For your information, I've already paid the bill. To give someone a gentle heads-up, people say just so you know. FYI isn't written in an IELTS essay, and in Speaking just so you know works well too.
Your turn
Kate forwarded me the new holiday calendar with a short note: ___, no action needed.
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fyi — Kate is simply sharing the calendar and says directly that nothing needs to be done, which is what fyi is for. Asap asks for something to be done urgently and clashes with no action needed.
Write a short message to a colleague with fyi: tell them about a change in the schedule and say from which day it applies.
fyi, the office opens at 9:30 instead of 9 from next Monday.
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