21 Better Ways to Say "As Discussed"

Why "As Discussed" Sounds Like a Legal Memo

"As discussed" is not wrong. It is functional. But it has a stiffness that makes emails feel like meeting minutes rather than communication between actual people. The phrase creates a transactional tone that implies paperwork rather than partnership.

Part of the problem is frequency. "As discussed" appears in so many follow-up emails that it has become invisible. Recipients skim past it without registering the reference, which defeats the purpose of mentioning the conversation at all.

The best alternatives reference prior conversations in a way that feels natural, adds context, and moves the email forward. They remind the recipient of what was agreed without sounding like a court reporter.

21 Alternatives That Sound Human

Casual and Natural

1. "Following up on our conversation."

The simplest replacement. It references the prior exchange without the formality of "as discussed."

2. "Building on what we talked about."

Implies progress. The word "building" suggests the email advances the conversation rather than merely restating it.

Example: "Building on what we talked about yesterday, I have drafted a project timeline for the first phase."

3. "Picking up where we left off."

Conversational and warm. It frames the email as a continuation of an ongoing dialogue.

4. "Going back to our chat about [topic]."

Informal and specific. Naming the topic helps the recipient recall the context quickly.

5. "Here is what we agreed on."

Direct and purposeful. It moves past the reference and gets to the substance immediately.

Providing Context

6. "Based on our conversation, here is the plan."

Bridges the discussion to action. The word "plan" signals that the email contains decisions and next steps.

7. "You mentioned [specific point] -- here is my take on that."

References something the recipient specifically said, which shows active listening and personalizes the follow-up.

Example: "You mentioned wanting to consolidate your email tools -- here is my take on how to approach that without disrupting your current workflows."

8. "To follow up on what you raised about [topic]."

Credits the recipient for bringing up the topic. The word "raised" is professional without being stiff.

9. "After thinking more about our discussion, here is where I landed."

Shows that you invested additional thought after the conversation. Recipients appreciate knowing their words prompted deeper consideration.

10. "Here is the summary of what we covered."

Practical and clear. It sets expectations that the email will recap key points, which is useful after complex discussions.

Action-Oriented

11. "As a next step from our meeting, I have [action]."

Connects the email directly to a post-meeting action. The recipient sees that the conversation led to concrete progress.

12. "To move this forward, here is what I am proposing."

Forward-looking and decisive. It takes the conversation from discussion to proposal.

13. "Putting our plan into motion -- here is where things stand."

Implies that execution has already begun. The recipient sees momentum rather than a recap.

Example: "Putting our plan into motion -- I have scheduled the kickoff call for next Tuesday and drafted the initial scope document."

14. "Here are the action items from our call."

Structured and efficient. It tells the recipient that the email contains tasks they need to be aware of. For more guidance on structuring post-meeting emails, see our guide on writing effective follow-up emails.

15. "I have started working on what we outlined -- here is a quick update."

Combines initiative with transparency. The recipient sees that you are already executing while keeping them informed.

Professional and Polished

16. "Per our conversation earlier today."

A lighter version of "as discussed" that specifies when the conversation happened. The time reference adds freshness.

17. "Reflecting on our meeting, I wanted to share a few thoughts."

Thoughtful and measured. The word "reflecting" implies careful consideration rather than automatic follow-through.

18. "In alignment with what we discussed, I have prepared [deliverable]."

Formal but purposeful. The phrase "in alignment" confirms that your actions match the agreed direction.

When Revisiting or Adjusting

19. "I have been thinking more about [topic from the conversation] -- here is a new angle."

Introduces fresh thinking. It references the prior conversation while signaling that the email brings something new.

20. "After our discussion, I realized we should also consider [new point]."

Adds to the conversation constructively. The word "also" makes it clear this is an addition, not a contradiction.

21. "Coming back to something you said about [specific detail] -- I want to build on that."

Flattering and collaborative. It tells the recipient that their specific input was valuable enough to revisit.

When to Reference Prior Conversations

Not every follow-up email needs to reference the prior conversation explicitly. If the email is a simple delivery -- "here is the file you requested" -- the reference is self-evident. Adding "as discussed" to a straightforward delivery is unnecessary padding.

Reference prior conversations when the email requires context to make sense, when you are confirming agreements or decisions, or when you want to remind the recipient of commitments made during the discussion. In these cases, the reference adds value. In all other cases, skip it and get to the point. Good email etiquette means knowing when a reference is helpful and when it is redundant.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using "as discussed" to create a paper trail. If the primary purpose of writing "as discussed" is to document that a conversation happened, the email reads like a legal maneuver rather than a follow-up. If you need a paper trail, be direct about it: "Putting this in writing so we have a clear record."

Referencing a conversation without adding anything new. An email that says "as discussed, here is the thing we discussed" adds zero value. Every follow-up should move the conversation forward -- with new information, action items, or decisions.

Over-referencing. "As discussed... as we talked about... per our conversation... building on what we agreed..." Multiple references to the same conversation in one email are redundant. One reference is enough.

Being vague about which conversation. "As discussed" without specifying when or what was discussed leaves recipients guessing. "Following up on our call about the vendor selection" is far more useful. For more on strong email opening lines, we have an in-depth guide.

FAQ

Is "as discussed" passive-aggressive?

It can read that way in certain contexts -- particularly when used to remind someone of a commitment they have not followed through on. "As discussed, the report was due Friday" has a pointed quality. If that is not your intent, use a softer alternative: "Following up on the report we talked about -- any update?" For more on navigating these situations, see our guide on how to write a friendly reminder email.

When should I use "as discussed" versus "as per our conversation"?

Both are formal, but "as per our conversation" is slightly more dated. "As discussed" is the more common modern usage. For less formal contexts, skip both and use something more natural.

How do I follow up on a meeting without sounding like I am just repeating what was said?

Add something new to every follow-up: a decision you have made since the meeting, an action you have taken, a question that emerged from further thinking, or a resource that supports the discussion. The reference to the meeting is the bridge -- the new content is the destination. For complete follow-up strategies, see our guide on how to end a professional email.