Decode a message
What does “per my last message” mean?
Short answer
It's workplace shorthand for “I already answered this.” Polite on the surface, it signals mild irritation that you missed or forgot something. The best reply thanks them, confirms the information, and moves on. No long explanation needed.
The screenshot
Daniel K.
hey, when is the deck due?
Per my last message, as previously mentioned… Friday.
What SnapCue read
Tone · Passive-aggressiveRisk · LowReply
What's happening
Daniel K. is responding to a question about a deadline with a passive-aggressive 'per my last message' tone.
Subtext
The sender is annoyed that you asked a question they believe they already answered, signaling frustration with your attention to detail.
What to do
Acknowledge the information briefly and move on to avoid escalating the tension.
Replies you could send
Best reply
Got it, thanks for clarifying.
Shorter
My apologies, must have missed that. Thanks for the reminder.
Another angle
Thanks, got it.
Why these work
- Acknowledging it closes the loop, which is all they actually want.
- One line keeps a small slip from becoming a thread.
- A light apology is optional; over-apologizing makes it bigger.
What to avoid
- Explaining why you asked again.
- Firing back with a “per my last message” of your own.
- Silence: they'll assume you still haven't read it.
You might also see
“As previously mentioned…”Same message, slightly more formal.
“Just circling back”A nudge: you haven't replied yet.
“Friendly reminder”Often not that friendly; a deadline is close.
“Going forward…”Please don't do that again.
The read and the replies above are SnapCue's actual output for this screenshot (run 2026-10-27), shown as returned.