When you need to refer back to something you already discussed, Other Ways to Say Regarding Our Previous Conversation can help your writing sound more natural and appropriate for the situation. The phrase itself is professional, but it can feel formal or repetitive when used too often. You might need a better option for an email, workplace message, follow-up, customer service reply, or casual conversation. The best alternative depends on how formal you want to sound and how closely you want to connect your new message to the earlier discussion.
Other Ways to Say Regarding Our Previous Conversation
Here are some of the most useful alternatives, ranging from professional email wording to simple everyday expressions:
- Following our previous conversation
- As we discussed earlier
- Further to our conversation
- Referring to our earlier discussion
- Following up on our conversation
- In reference to our earlier discussion
- Based on our previous conversation
- With reference to our earlier conversation
- As mentioned during our conversation
- As discussed previously
- Regarding our earlier discussion
- Concerning our previous conversation
- About our earlier conversation
- To follow up on our discussion
- In connection with our previous conversation
- As we talked about earlier
- Returning to our earlier discussion
- Picking up from our previous conversation
These options let you choose wording that matches the relationship, purpose, and level of formality instead of repeating the same phrase.
Professional Alternatives for Business Emails
For workplace emails, choose language that is direct without sounding unnecessarily stiff. These alternatives work well when contacting a colleague, manager, client, or business partner.
- Following our discussion, I wanted to share the requested information.
- As discussed earlier, I have attached the updated document.
- Further to our conversation, I am sending the details below.
- Based on our previous discussion, we can move forward with the next step.
- Referring to our earlier discussion, could you please confirm the timeline?
- As mentioned during our meeting, I will send the final version tomorrow.
- Following up on our conversation, I wanted to clarify one point.
- In reference to our earlier discussion, please review the attached file.
- As discussed previously, the deadline remains unchanged.
- With reference to our earlier conversation, I have included the additional information.
These phrases are especially useful when the previous discussion directly affects the purpose of your email.
Formal Alternatives for Official Communication
More formal wording can be appropriate for official correspondence, business proposals, applications, and other situations where a professional tone matters.
- With reference to our previous conversation
- In reference to our previous discussion
- Further to our earlier correspondence
- With regard to our previous discussion
- In connection with our earlier discussion
- Concerning our previous correspondence
- Following our earlier discussion
- As per our previous discussion
- In continuation of our earlier discussion
- With respect to our previous conversation
Use formal expressions selectively. A simple phrase such as following our discussion often sounds more natural than an overly formal construction.
Casual Alternatives for Everyday Conversations
You don’t need formal language when you’re talking to a friend, classmate, teammate, or familiar coworker. These options sound more relaxed:
- About what we talked about earlier
- Going back to what we discussed
- About our earlier chat
- Following up on what we talked about
- As we talked about before
- Coming back to our earlier discussion
- About what we mentioned earlier
- Picking up where we left off
- On the topic we discussed earlier
- Back to what we were discussing
For casual communication, shorter wording usually sounds more natural and less scripted.
Alternatives for Following Up on a Previous Discussion
Sometimes you aren’t simply mentioning the earlier conversation. You want to continue it, request an update, or move toward a decision.
- I wanted to follow up on our earlier discussion.
- I am following up on what we discussed.
- I wanted to revisit our previous conversation.
- I am checking in about our earlier discussion.
- I wanted to continue our discussion about this.
- I am reaching out regarding our earlier conversation.
- I wanted to circle back to our previous discussion.
- I thought I would follow up on our conversation.
- I wanted to return to the point we discussed earlier.
- I am writing to continue our earlier conversation.
Following up on our earlier discussion is particularly useful when you expect a response or action from the other person.
Alternatives for Referring to Something You Already Discussed
If your goal is simply to remind someone about an earlier point, you can make the reference more specific.
- As we discussed earlier
- As we mentioned before
- As noted in our previous conversation
- As we talked about previously
- As discussed during our meeting
- As mentioned in our earlier conversation
- As we agreed earlier
- As outlined in our previous discussion
- As previously discussed
- As we covered earlier
Specific references often make an email clearer. For example, instead of saying as discussed earlier, you can mention the actual topic when there could be confusion.
Alternatives for Workplace Meetings
The right wording can help you connect a current meeting or message to something previously discussed.
- As we discussed in our last meeting
- Building on our previous discussion
- Following our last meeting
- As mentioned in our previous meeting
- Returning to the issue we discussed
- Picking up from our last meeting
- Based on what we discussed
- As agreed in our earlier meeting
- Continuing from our previous discussion
- Revisiting the point we discussed earlier
For meeting notes, agendas, and follow-up emails, as discussed in our last meeting is usually clearer than a vague reference to a previous conversation.
Alternatives for Customer Service and Client Communication
Customer-facing communication should sound professional, helpful, and clear. Avoid wording that feels unnecessarily formal or distant.
- Following up on our recent conversation
- Regarding our recent discussion
- As discussed during our call
- Following our recent call
- Based on our recent conversation
- I am following up on our discussion
- Referring to our recent conversation
- As mentioned during our call
- Continuing from our recent discussion
- In response to our earlier conversation
When writing to a customer or client, adding a specific subject makes the message easier to understand.
Example:
Instead of: Following our previous conversation, I am writing to update you.
Try: Following our recent call about your order, I wanted to confirm the updated delivery date.
Short Alternatives for Emails and Messages
If you want something concise, these phrases can replace a longer expression without losing the meaning:
- As discussed
- As mentioned
- Following our discussion
- Following up
- As agreed
- As noted earlier
- As previously discussed
- Regarding our discussion
- About our earlier discussion
- Based on our conversation
Short phrases work particularly well when the surrounding sentence already provides enough context.
Polite Alternatives for Requesting an Update
When you need information from someone after a previous conversation, your wording should make the request clear without sounding demanding.
- I wanted to follow up on our earlier conversation.
- Could you please provide an update on what we discussed?
- I was wondering if there has been any progress since our last discussion.
- I wanted to check in regarding our previous conversation.
- Could you please let me know where things stand?
- I am following up to see if you have had a chance to review this.
- I wanted to revisit our earlier discussion and ask for an update.
- May I ask if there has been any progress on this matter?
These versions make the purpose of the message clearer than simply writing regarding our previous conversation.
Alternatives for Returning to an Unfinished Topic
Sometimes a previous conversation ended before an issue was resolved. These expressions make that connection clear.
- I wanted to revisit our earlier discussion.
- I’d like to return to the point we discussed.
- Let’s pick up where we left off.
- I wanted to continue our conversation about this.
- I’d like to come back to the issue we discussed earlier.
- Returning to our earlier discussion, I wanted to clarify one point.
- I wanted to pick up our conversation from where we left off.
- I’d like to revisit the topic we discussed previously.
These options work well when the previous conversation still requires clarification, a decision, or another step.
Natural Alternatives That Sound Less Formal
Regarding our previous conversation is grammatically correct, but it can sound somewhat formal. If you want a warmer and more natural tone, try:
- About what we discussed earlier
- Following up on our chat
- About our earlier conversation
- As we talked about before
- Going back to our earlier discussion
- I wanted to follow up on what we discussed
- I wanted to come back to something we talked about
- Just following up on our earlier conversation
- I wanted to check back about our discussion
- Coming back to what we discussed
The best choice depends on the relationship. A client email may need following up on our earlier conversation, while a message to a friend might simply use about what we discussed earlier.
How to Choose the Right Alternative
The phrase you choose should match both the situation and your purpose.
| Situation | Best alternatives |
|---|---|
| Formal business email | With reference to our previous discussion |
| Professional email | Following our discussion |
| Follow-up email | Following up on our conversation |
| Workplace message | As discussed earlier |
| Client communication | Following our recent conversation |
| Meeting follow-up | As discussed in our last meeting |
| Request for an update | I wanted to follow up on our earlier discussion |
| Casual message | About what we talked about earlier |
| Unfinished topic | I wanted to revisit our earlier discussion |
| Very concise email | As discussed |
A useful rule is simple: the more formal the situation, the more structured your wording can be. But even in formal communication, clarity usually matters more than complicated language.
How to Use These Alternatives Naturally
A good alternative should connect the previous conversation to the reason you’re writing now.
- Identify the previous discussion.
Mention the earlier conversation, meeting, call, or message. - Explain why you’re referring to it.
Tell the reader what you want them to know, confirm, review, or do. - Add the relevant detail.
Don’t make the reader search through an old email to understand your point. - End with a clear next step.
If you need a response, ask for one directly.
For example:
Following our discussion, I’ve attached the revised proposal for your review. Please let me know if you’d like any changes.
This works better than using a formal phrase without explaining why the previous conversation matters.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A few small wording choices can make these phrases sound less natural.
- Don’t repeat the same phrase in every email. Rotate between natural alternatives when appropriate.
- Don’t use extremely formal wording for casual conversations. It can create unnecessary distance.
- Don’t say as discussed when the reader may not remember what you mean. Add a brief topic reference.
- Don’t use previous when recent or earlier is clearer. Choose the word that accurately reflects the timing.
- Don’t make the opening unnecessarily long. Get to the purpose quickly.
- Don’t rely on vague references. Mention the subject when several conversations have taken place.
- Don’t use formal expressions just to sound professional. Natural, direct language usually works better.
When Is Regarding Our Previous Conversation Appropriate?
Regarding our previous conversation is appropriate when you want to formally connect a new message with an earlier discussion. It works especially well in professional emails, business communication, client correspondence, and other situations where a neutral tone is suitable.
However, it isn’t always the most natural option. Following our discussion, as we discussed earlier, or following up on our conversation may sound smoother depending on what you want to accomplish.
The phrase is not inherently rude or incorrect. Its main limitation is that it can sound formal and slightly impersonal when used in a casual setting.
Regarding Our Previous Conversation vs. Following Our Discussion
These expressions have similar meanings, but they aren’t always interchangeable.
| Phrase | Tone | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Regarding our previous conversation | Formal, neutral | Business correspondence |
| Following our discussion | Professional, natural | Email follow-ups |
| As we discussed earlier | Direct, conversational | Workplace communication |
| Following up on our conversation | Professional, purposeful | Requests and updates |
| About what we discussed earlier | Casual | Everyday communication |
| With reference to our previous discussion | Very formal | Official correspondence |
| As previously discussed | Concise, professional | Emails and documents |
If you’re unsure, following our discussion or as we discussed earlier will often sound more natural than a highly formal alternative.
How to Make the Phrase More Specific
One of the easiest ways to improve this type of sentence is to identify the subject of the earlier conversation.
Instead of:
Regarding our previous conversation, I wanted to follow up.
Try:
Following our discussion about the project timeline, I wanted to confirm the revised deadline.
Or:
As we discussed during Monday’s meeting, I’ve updated the proposal.
Specific wording reduces ambiguity and gives the reader useful context immediately.
Conclusion
There are many useful Other Ways to Say Regarding Our Previous Conversation, and the best choice depends on your audience and purpose. Following our discussion, as we discussed earlier, and following up on our conversation work well in most professional settings, while simpler phrases such as about what we talked about earlier suit casual communication. When possible, make your wording specific by mentioning the topic or next step. That small change can make an email or message clearer, more natural, and easier for the reader to act on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is another way to say regarding our previous conversation?
Common alternatives include following our previous conversation, as we discussed earlier, following up on our conversation, referring to our earlier discussion, and based on our previous conversation. The best option depends on whether you need a formal, professional, or casual tone.
Is regarding our previous conversation professional?
Yes. Regarding our previous conversation is professional and grammatically correct. It works well in business emails, workplace communication, and formal correspondence. However, alternatives such as following our discussion can sound more natural and less stiff.
What is the best alternative for a business email?
Following our discussion is a strong choice for most business emails because it sounds professional while remaining natural. If you’re specifically asking for an update, following up on our conversation makes the purpose of the email clearer.
What can I say instead of regarding our previous conversation in a casual message?
For casual communication, try about what we talked about earlier, as we discussed before, about our earlier chat, or following up on what we talked about. These options feel more conversational than formal business language.
How do I refer to a previous conversation professionally?
You can write as discussed earlier, following our discussion, based on our previous conversation, or referring to our earlier discussion. Choose the expression that matches your purpose, then explain the specific topic or next step.
Is as discussed earlier too informal for work?
No. As discussed earlier is widely suitable for workplace communication. It is concise and professional. For highly formal correspondence, you might choose with reference to our previous discussion, but most workplace emails don’t require such formal wording.
How do I politely follow up after a conversation?
You can write I wanted to follow up on our earlier conversation, I wanted to check in regarding our discussion, or I am following up on what we discussed. These phrases clearly signal that you’re continuing an earlier conversation without sounding demanding.
What is the difference between previous conversation and earlier conversation?
Both expressions refer to a conversation that happened before the current moment. Previous conversation can sound slightly more formal, while earlier conversation often feels more natural and conversational. In many contexts, either one works.
How can I avoid repeating regarding our previous conversation?
Use alternatives based on your purpose. Try as discussed, following our discussion, as mentioned earlier, based on our conversation, or I wanted to follow up on our discussion. You can also mention the specific subject instead of referring vaguely to the entire conversation.
Should I mention what the previous conversation was about?
Usually, yes, especially when the reader may have had several recent conversations with you. Adding the topic makes your message easier to follow. For example, Following our discussion about the project schedule is clearer than simply saying regarding our previous conversation.