This common email apology makes your co-workers hate you

Office communication can be tricky (Picture: Getty Images)

From ‘I hope you’re well’ to ‘happy Friday!’ navigating the modern office inbox can feel like a minefield. There are unspoken rules around everything.

But there is one phrase in particular which seems to be getting professionals riled up.

‘Friendly reminder.’

Software company ZeroBounce analysed more than 1.6 million real emails to find out which phrases professionals use most to apologise and soften communication, and ‘friendly reminder’ is top of the list.

It seems harmless, and universally used, but it may actually be rubbing your colleagues up the wrong way. Because let’s be honest, is it actually friendly? Or is it your colleague ch...