“Please Find Attached”: Is It Correct? Plus 15 Modern Alternatives
Is “Please find attached” correct? What it means, how to use it, what PFA stands for, and simpler alternatives for mentioning attachments in an email.
2 min read
Quick answer
“Please find attached” is grammatically correct and still common in formal emails, but it sounds old-fashioned to many readers. Simpler alternatives like “I’ve attached…” or “Here is…” are clearer and work in almost every situation. “PFA” is an abbreviation of the phrase; avoid it outside of very informal internal emails.
“Please find attached” has been the standard way to mention attachments in business email for decades. It isn’t wrong, but there are clearer ways to say it.
What does “Please find attached” mean?
It means “I’ve attached a file to this email, please look at it.” The phrase comes from formal business letters, where “Please find enclosed” referred to documents in the envelope.
Is it correct?
Yes. All of these are correct:
- Please find attached the report.
- Please find the report attached.
- Please find attached my CV.
It’s just a bit stiff. In modern email, most readers prefer simpler phrasing.
15 alternatives to “Please find attached”
Simple and clear (recommended)
- I’ve attached [the report].
- Here is [the report].
- Attached is [the invoice].
- Attached are [the photos].
- I’m attaching [the draft] for your review.
Polite and professional 6. I’ve attached [the proposal] for your review. 7. Please see the attached [document]. 8. You’ll find [the agenda] attached. 9. I’ve included [the slides] as an attachment. 10. For your reference, I’ve attached [the contract].
Friendly 11. Here’s [the file] you asked for. 12. Sending over [the photos] now. 13. [The doc] is attached. Let me know what you think.
When there are several files 14. I’ve attached three files: [A], [B] and [C]. 15. Attached are the documents you requested.
Examples
Don’t forget the attachment
Gmail and Outlook can warn you if you mention an attachment but haven’t added one. It’s still worth a quick check before you hit Send.
Frequently asked questions
Is “Please find attached” grammatically correct?
Yes. It’s an old-fashioned but correct imperative, meaning “please look at what is attached.” “Please find the attached report” and “Please find the report attached” are both correct.
What does PFA mean in an email?
PFA stands for “please find attached.” It’s common in some workplaces but can look rushed; writing it out or using “I’ve attached” is better.
Is it “attached is” or “attached are”?
Match the verb to what’s attached: “Attached is the invoice” (one file), “Attached are the invoices” (several files).
Should I mention an attachment in my email?
Yes. Always mention it so the reader knows to look for it, and say briefly what it is.