How do I follow up on an email when nobody has replied?

Start by replying in the same email thread. That keeps your follow-up beside the original request and makes it easier for the recipient to see the context. Keep it short: a friendly opening, a one-line reminder of your question, and a specific next step. If you need an answer by a certain date, say so plainly and briefly explain the reason. Avoid implying that the recipient deliberately ignored you.

Use the situation, not a rigid rule. For a routine request with no stated deadline, waiting a few business days before one follow-up is a reasonable starting point. If the original email mentioned a decision date, follow up when that date is approaching. If a delay could hold up work, you can write sooner, but acknowledge the timing and say what depends on the answer. For an urgent matter, use an appropriate faster channel as well, rather than assuming an email will be seen in time.

Use this adaptable template. Replace the bracketed parts with your details; they are placeholders, not facts to leave in the finished email.

Subject: Re: [original subject]

Hi [name],

I’m following up on my note about [topic]. Could you let me know [specific question or decision]?

If possible, please reply by [day, date], since [brief reason or next step]. If that timing doesn’t work, please let me know when you expect to have an answer.

Thanks, [your name]

The key is to state one answerable question. “Any update?” can be hard to act on; “Could you confirm which option you prefer?” gives the recipient a concrete response to make.

Without a firm deadline, do not invent one. You can ask for an update and invite the recipient to suggest a suitable time: “Could you let me know when you expect to decide? That will help me plan the next step.” If you do have a genuine timing constraint, name it without making it sound like a threat: “I’m aiming to send the draft on [date], so an answer by [earlier date] would help me include your preference.”

For a worked example, suppose you asked a colleague to choose between two meeting times and have heard nothing after several business days. A concise follow-up could be:

“Hi [name]—I’m following up on the meeting-time options below. Which works better for you: [option A] or [option B]? If you can let me know by [day, date], I can send the calendar invitation. Thanks, [your name]”

That message brings the choice back into view, gives a reason for the date, and makes the reply easy.

First, check that the address and thread are correct and that you did not already receive a response in another channel. Then decide whether one more attempt is warranted. If the matter is important, send a brief final note or use a suitable alternative channel, such as a call or an agreed project channel. State what you will do if you cannot get an answer, when that is appropriate—for example, whether you will pause the work or proceed with a stated assumption. Do not present an assumption as the recipient’s approval. For a low-priority request, it may be better to leave it there rather than keep sending reminders.