A colleague asks you a question in a meeting and you do not have the answer. Or a client emails you a request that needs input from your team before you can respond. You need to say “I will check and get back to you” without sounding vague or dismissive.
This is one of the most common situations in work communication. Someone asks you something, and the honest answer is “I do not know yet.” The challenge is saying that in a way that sounds helpful, not evasive.
Why this phrase matters
“I will check and get back to you” is a useful phrase, but it can also be a weak one. If you say it without any specifics, the other person has no idea when they will hear from you or whether you actually intend to follow up.
The difference between a strong and a weak version of this phrase is specificity. “I will check and get back to you” is vague. “I will check with the finance team and get back to you by Thursday” is specific. Both say the same thing, but the second one tells the other person exactly what to expect.
The basic formula
A good “I will check” response has three parts:
- Acknowledge the question
- Say what you need to check (and who you need to check with, if relevant)
- Give a specific time when you will follow up
For example:
“That is a good question. I need to check with Sarah about the budget numbers. I will get back to you by Thursday.”
This works in email, in meetings, and in chat messages. The formula is the same every time — only the details change.
Wording for different situations
In a meeting when you do not have the answer: “I do not have that number off the top of my head. Let me check with the finance team and I will follow up by end of day.”
In an email when you need input from someone else: “Thanks for your question about the project timeline. I need to check with the team before I can give you a firm answer. I will get back to you by Wednesday.”
When the question is complicated and needs thought: “This is a good question and I want to give you an accurate answer. Let me look into it and I will follow up by Friday.”
When you are not sure you are the right person to answer: “I am not sure I am the best person to answer this, but I will check and point you in the right direction. I will follow up tomorrow.”
When you need to look something up: “I do not have that information in front of me right now. Let me check and I will send it over this afternoon.”
In each case, the pattern is the same: acknowledge, explain what you need to do, give a time.
Setting a clear follow-up time
The most important part of “I will check and get back to you” is the follow-up time. Without it, the other person is left wondering when they will hear from you.
Be specific. “I will get back to you by Thursday” is better than “I will get back to you soon.” “Soon” could mean today, tomorrow, or next week.
Be realistic. If you need to check with someone who is out of the office until Friday, do not promise an answer by Wednesday. Give yourself enough time to actually get the information.
If you cannot give a date, explain why. “I am waiting on some figures from the finance team. I expect to have an answer by Wednesday, but it might be Thursday if they are delayed. I will keep you posted.”
The goal is to manage expectations. The other person does not need an instant answer — they need to know when to expect one.
What to avoid
“I will check.” This is too short. It does not say what you are checking, who you are checking with, or when the person will hear from you.
“I will try to find out.” This sounds like you might not actually do it. “I will check and get back to you by Thursday” sounds like you are committing to a follow-up.
“Let me get back to you on that.” This is fine in casual conversation, but in a professional setting it is too vague. Add a time: “Let me get back to you on that by tomorrow.”
“I am not sure.” On its own, this sounds unhelpful. Follow it with what you will do: “I am not sure, but I will check with the team and follow up by Thursday.”
When you cannot commit to a timeline
Sometimes you genuinely do not know when you will have an answer. Maybe you are waiting on a client, or the information requires research, or the situation is changing.
In these cases, be honest about the uncertainty:
“I need to check with our legal team on this. I am not sure how long they will take, but I will follow up with you by Monday with an update — even if I do not have the final answer yet.”
This does two things: it sets a date for the next update, and it acknowledges that the final answer might take longer. The other person knows when they will hear from you, even if the answer is “still working on it.”
Related guides
- How to Reply When You Need More Time — buying yourself time when you do not have an answer yet
- How to Apologize for a Late Reply — what to do when you have already waited too long to respond
- How to Write a Clear Email Subject Line — writing subject lines that tell the reader what to expect