We are pleased to inform you

You will mostly use this in written English. It is a classic opening for letters and emails. You usually follow it with the word that or a preposition like of. For example, We are pleased to inform you that your application was successful. It works best at the very beginning of a message. It sets the tone immediately. Do not hide it in the middle of a paragraph! It is meant to be the headline of your message. Use it when you are representing a company or a team. If you are writing as just yourself, it might sound a bit too formal. In that case, I am happy to tell you might fit better. But for official business, stick to We. It sounds more established and credible.

This phrase sits high on the formality ladder. It is very_formal to formal. You will find it on LinkedIn messages, university acceptance letters, and job offers. You won't hear people say this at a backyard BBQ. If you said this to a friend while handing them a soda, they would think you are joking! It belongs in the world of PDFs, official letterheads, and Zoom call follow-ups. It is the language of 'The Professional World'. It avoids slang and contractions completely. Notice there is no We're here. We use the full We are to keep that polished look. It is like wearing a freshly ironed shirt for an interview.

Imagine you just applied for a dream internship. You check your inbox and see: We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected for the role. That is a classic B2-level win! Or perhaps you are a frequent flyer. The airline sends an email: We are pleased to inform you of your upgrade to Gold Status. It makes the news feel earned and important. You might also see it in an automated message from a bank. We are pleased to inform you that your loan has been approved. Even a computer can sound polite! It shows up on Netflix too, usually in historical dramas or legal shows. A lawyer might read a letter aloud starting with these exact words. It adds a touch of drama and class to the scene.

Use this when the news is 100% positive. It is perfect for job offers, scholarship wins, or contest results. Use it when you want to show respect to the person you are writing to. It is great for 'cold' professional emails where you don't know the person well. It acts as a safety net of politeness. If you are a customer service agent, this is your best friend. It makes the customer feel like their request was handled with care. It is also useful in academic writing. If a professor is inviting a guest speaker, they might start this way. It shows that the invitation is an honor. Basically, if you want to sound like a serious professional, use this.

Never use this for bad news! If you say We are pleased to inform you that your house is on fire, you will sound like a movie villain. For bad news, we use We regret to inform you. Also, avoid it in casual texts. If you text your partner We are pleased to inform you that I bought milk, they might think you’ve been replaced by a robot. It is too heavy for small, everyday updates. Don't use it with close friends or family unless you are being intentionally funny. Avoid using it if you want to sound 'cool' or 'disruptive' in a tech startup. Those companies often prefer Big news! or You're in!.

Learners often mix up the preposition or the tone.

• ✗ We are pleased to informing you → ✓ We are pleased to inform you
• ✗ We are pleased to inform you that you failed → ✓ We regret to inform you that you failed
• ✗ I am pleased to informing you → ✓ I am pleased to inform you
• ✗ We pleased to inform you → ✓ We are pleased to inform you

Remember that inform needs an object (the person you are telling). You can't just say We are pleased to inform. You must inform you or the team. Don't forget the verb to be (are). Without it, the sentence falls apart like a cheap umbrella in a storm.

You can tweak this phrase to fit different moods. We are delighted to inform you is even more enthusiastic. It is like the 'extra sprinkles' version of the phrase. We are happy to announce is slightly less formal but still professional. It works well for public social media posts. I am pleased to let you know is a softer, more personal version. It is perfect for a boss talking to an employee they like. In British English, you might see We are pleased to advise you, which sounds very traditional. On social media, you might see people just say Pleased to share that... followed by a link. It is the 'lite' version for the digital age.

Is this phrase only for emails? Mostly, yes. It is very rare to say it out loud unless you are reading a formal speech. Can I use I instead of We? Yes, if you are the sole person responsible for the news. But We sounds more like an official organization. Is it too old-fashioned? Not at all! It is still the standard for professional success stories. Millions of people receive an email starting with this every single day. Does it have to be about 'informing'? Yes, the word inform is key here. It implies a transfer of official knowledge. If you are just saying hello, this is not the right phrase. Stick to a simple Hello for that!