Level 1 · simple request
Ask for a day off: an annotated email example
Ask Nadia to approve your day off.
The situation
Nadia HassanYour team lead
You'd like to take Friday the 14th off. Hugo can cover your ongoing files that day. The team schedule is locked on Wednesday.
Kind but organised: before saying yes, she wants to know nothing will be left hanging.
Goal
Ask Nadia to approve your day off.
The winning structure
A good email for this situation includes these elements, in this order:
- A greeting with the recipient's first name.
- The date (Friday 14th)
- Who covers for you (Hugo)
- A request for approval
- A clear ask at the end: a question or an action with a deadline.
- A short sign-off, then your name.
Common mistakes
- Leaving out the date (Friday 14th) : « Which day, exactly? »
- Leaving out who covers for you (Hugo) : « And who handles your work while you're out? »
- Leaving out a request for approval : « Are you asking me or telling me? »
- Opening with padding ("I hope this email finds you well") instead of getting to the point.
- A vague subject line like "Question" or "Request".
Write your own version: the recipient reacts and you get a score out of 100.
The annotated example
Try it yourself first: you'll remember more. Click to show the example.
Subject : Day off request – Friday 14th
Hi Nadia,
- Greeting by first name: the reader knows it's for them.
I'd like to take Friday the 14th off. Hugo has agreed to cover my ongoing files that day.
- Includes: the date (Friday 14th).
- Includes: who covers for you (Hugo).
Could you approve it by Wednesday, before the schedule is locked?
- Includes: a request for approval.
- Clear ask: the reader knows what to do.
Thanks,
Alex
- Short sign-off, then the name.
Why it works : 33 words against a target of 70, 6 words per sentence on average, no filler phrases.