B2 Expression Formal 3 min de leitura

Thank you for your patience in this matter

Formal business communication expression

Use this to professionally acknowledge a delay and thank someone for not complaining about it.

Em 15 segundos

  • A professional way to thank someone for waiting during a delay.
  • Best used in business emails, legal documents, or customer service.
  • Acknowledges a slow process while maintaining a polite, respectful tone.

Significado

This is a polite way to thank someone for waiting or being understanding during a slow or complicated process. It acknowledges that a situation has taken a long time and expresses gratitude for the other person's calm attitude.

Exemplos-chave

3 de 6
1

Closing a long email chain with a client

I will send the final contract tomorrow; thank you for your patience in this matter.

I will send the final contract tomorrow; thank you for your patience in this matter.

💼
2

A customer support agent resolving a slow ticket

Your account is now active. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

Your account is now active. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

💼
3

A manager explaining a delay to a team

The budget approval is taking longer than expected. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

The budget approval is taking longer than expected. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

👔
🌍

Contexto cultural

This phrase is a staple of 'Corporate English' in the UK, US, and Canada. It reflects a culture that prioritizes politeness and conflict avoidance in professional settings. Interestingly, it is often used as a 'pre-emptive strike' to prevent a customer from complaining about a delay that has already happened.

💡

The 'In This Matter' Part

Adding `in this matter` makes the phrase sound much more official. Use it when you want to sound like a professional expert rather than just a person saying sorry.

⚠️

Don't Overuse It

If you use this phrase in every single email, it starts to feel insincere. Save it for situations where there has actually been a significant delay or a complex problem.

Em 15 segundos

  • A professional way to thank someone for waiting during a delay.
  • Best used in business emails, legal documents, or customer service.
  • Acknowledges a slow process while maintaining a polite, respectful tone.

What It Means

Think of this as the professional version of saying "sorry for the wait." It is a way to acknowledge that a situation is taking longer than expected. By saying this, you are telling the other person that you value their time. It also implies that the person has been calm and hasn't complained yet. It turns a potentially negative delay into a positive moment of gratitude.

How To Use It

You will mostly see this phrase in written form, like emails or formal letters. It usually appears at the end of a message after you have provided an update. For example, if you finally send a report that was due two days ago, you might end with this phrase. In spoken English, you can use it at the end of a long customer service call. It acts as a polite closing that leaves a good impression.

When To Use It

Use this phrase in any professional setting where a delay has occurred. It is perfect for customer support when solving a complex technical issue. It works well in legal or financial contexts where things move slowly. You can also use it when you are waiting for a third party to give you information. It keeps the relationship smooth while you work behind the scenes.

When NOT To Use It

Avoid using this with close friends or family members. If you are late for dinner, saying thank you for your patience in this matter sounds like a robot. Your friends might think you are being sarcastic or cold. Also, do not use it if the delay was caused by your own laziness. If you simply forgot to do something, a sincere I am so sorry is much better than this formal phrase.

Cultural Background

In Western business culture, time is seen as a valuable resource. Keeping someone waiting is often considered rude or unprofessional. Because of this, English speakers use "buffer phrases" to soften the impact of delays. This specific phrase became a standard corporate cliché in the late 20th century. It helps maintain a sense of mutual respect between service providers and clients. It is a polite way to say "I know this is taking forever, but thanks for not yelling at me."

Common Variations

If you want to sound slightly less formal, you can say thanks for your patience. For a more personal touch, try I appreciate your patience while we fix this. In very formal settings, you might hear we appreciate your continued patience. If you are in the middle of a task, you can say thank you for bearing with us. All of these carry the same basic message of gratitude for the wait.

Notas de uso

This phrase is strictly formal. It is best suited for professional emails, customer service interactions, and official correspondence. Avoid using it in casual settings as it can sound cold or sarcastic.

💡

The 'In This Matter' Part

Adding `in this matter` makes the phrase sound much more official. Use it when you want to sound like a professional expert rather than just a person saying sorry.

⚠️

Don't Overuse It

If you use this phrase in every single email, it starts to feel insincere. Save it for situations where there has actually been a significant delay or a complex problem.

💬

The Politeness Secret

In English business culture, saying 'thank you for your patience' is often considered better than saying 'sorry for the delay.' It focuses on the other person's virtue (patience) rather than your mistake (the delay).

Exemplos

6
#1 Closing a long email chain with a client
💼

I will send the final contract tomorrow; thank you for your patience in this matter.

I will send the final contract tomorrow; thank you for your patience in this matter.

This provides a clear timeline and ends on a polite note.

#2 A customer support agent resolving a slow ticket
💼

Your account is now active. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

Your account is now active. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

Used here to close the interaction after a long wait.

#3 A manager explaining a delay to a team
👔

The budget approval is taking longer than expected. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

The budget approval is taking longer than expected. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

Used to keep the team calm during an administrative delay.

#4 Sarcastic text to a friend who waited 5 minutes
😄

I finally found my keys! Thank you for your patience in this matter.

I finally found my keys! Thank you for your patience in this matter.

The extreme formality makes this funny in a casual context.

#5 A lawyer updating a client on a slow case
👔

We are still waiting for the court's response. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

We are still waiting for the court's response. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

Very standard in legal correspondence where things take months.

#6 Apologizing for a slow response to a sensitive issue
💭

I know this has been a difficult week. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

I know this has been a difficult week. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

Combines empathy with the standard professional phrase.

Teste-se

Choose the best word to complete this formal email closing.

The technical team is still working on the bug. Thank you for your ___ in this matter.

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: patience

`Patience` is the standard word used in this specific idiomatic expression.

Complete the phrase with the correct prepositional phrase.

Thank you for your patience ___.

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: in this matter

`In this matter` is the formal way to refer to the specific situation or problem being discussed.

🎉 Pontuação: /2

Recursos visuais

Formality Levels for 'Thanks for Waiting'

Casual

Used with friends for short delays.

Sorry for the wait!

Neutral

Polite but not overly stiff.

Thanks for waiting.

Formal

Standard business communication.

Thank you for your patience in this matter.

Very Formal

Legal or high-level corporate letters.

We extend our gratitude for your continued patience regarding this affair.

Where to use 'Thank you for your patience in this matter'

Formal Patience
🎧

Customer Support

After fixing a long-term billing error.

⚖️

Legal Letters

Updating a client on a slow lawsuit.

📄

Job Applications

When a hiring manager is late with a decision.

🏠

Real Estate

During a long house-buying process.

Perguntas frequentes

11 perguntas

It is a formal way of saying 'regarding this specific situation' or 'about this problem.' It helps define exactly what you are thanking them for.

Only if you are texting a client or a boss in a very formal industry. Otherwise, it will sound too stiff and robotic for a text.

In modern business, thank you for your patience is often preferred. It sounds more positive and professional than focusing on the apology.

Not necessarily. It just acknowledges that the process took a long time, which might be due to outside factors like slow paperwork or technical bugs.

Yes, in this case is a common variation, especially in legal or medical contexts. However, in this matter is the most standard business version.

You can add a specific reason, like Thank you for your patience in this matter while our team investigated the server error.

No, patience is used as an uncountable noun in this phrase. You never say 'patiences'.

Yes, it is very common in both British and American business English. It is a universal corporate expression.

Ironically, you can still use it! It acts as a polite way to calm them down and signal that the wait is finally over.

Yes, it is a great way to start an email if you are finally replying to someone after a long time. For example: Thank you for your patience in this matter. Here is the info you requested.

Probably. If the problem was just a 5-minute delay, in this matter is too much. Just say thanks for waiting instead.

Frases relacionadas

Thank you for bearing with us

A slightly more active way to thank someone for staying with you through a difficult process.

We appreciate your understanding

Used when a situation is difficult or inconvenient, not just slow.

Sorry for the inconvenience

A standard apology for any trouble caused, often used alongside the patience phrase.

Thank you for your cooperation

Used when the other person had to do some work or follow rules to help solve the matter.

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