# Do you consider these phrases passive-aggressive? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 22, 2022, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-consider-these-phrases-passive-aggressive/970097 "2022-08-22T16:33:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 18
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-consider-these-phrases-passive-aggressive/970097/18 "2022-08-22T21:00:35Z")
1. Please advise - definitely passive and could be PA in a lot of situations 2. Noted - Just WTF does this mean exactly? Almost always PA when compared to “Thanks for the information”, “Great catch, I’ll incorporate this new information”, etc. 3. Friendly Reminder - almost an oxymoron. Definitely PA. Reminders are reminders, neither friendly nor hostile. 4. Will do - When is this PA? I definitely use this when getting a request from my boss. An immediate acknowledgement is expected and if I can’t do what is asked, some explanation, but if I can, short and sweet is the expected reply. 5. Thanks in advance - Thanks works (when making a request of a subordinate, always lead with please and end with thanks) but TIA has a hint of PA. 6. Per our last conversation - A little convoluted, but I routinely use something along this line when sending an email which includes colleagues who weren’t party to some discussion/decision, so as to bring everyone up to speed. 7. Circling back - no…just no 8. As per my last email - see 7. Also, if you want to reference the previous email, just make sure it’s part of this email. 9. As promised - Certainly redundant, but hard to stretch to full PAness. 10. As discussed - see 6. Certainly a little passive. “As we discussed” get’s it more into an active voice, but if you are bringing someone new into the conversation, this phrase is the opposite of PA. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-consider-these-phrases-passive-aggressive/970097)._