من المفيد الإشارة

The structure is actually quite fixed, which is great news for your brain. You almost always follow it with إلى أن (to that) or just إلى (to) followed by a noun. For example, من المفيد الإشارة إلى أن الوقت قصير (It is useful to point out that time is short). You start with the phrase, add the preposition إلى, and then drop your knowledge bomb. It works beautifully at the beginning of a sentence or as a transition between two paragraphs in an email. If you're feeling fancy, you can add هنا (here) to make it من المفيد الإشارة هنا إلى.... It is like adding a little garnish to a dish; it does not change the flavor much, but it looks a lot more professional.

This phrase lives in the 'Formal' to 'Professional Neutral' neighborhood. You will see it all over LinkedIn articles, news reports on Al Jazeera, and corporate PowerPoint presentations. It is the kind of language used by people who wear blazers or at least use high-quality webcam filters for Zoom calls. You probably wouldn't use it while shouting to your friend across a busy street or while arguing about whose turn it is to wash the dishes. If you use it in a very casual WhatsApp group, your friends might ask if you have recently been promoted to a CEO position. It is polite, polished, and very safe for any situation where you want to be taken seriously.

Imagine you are writing a caption for a travel vlog on Instagram. You’ve posted a beautiful photo of Petra, and you want to add a tip about the weather. You could write: من المفيد الإشارة إلى أن الجو بارد في الليل (It is useful to note that it's cold at night). In a job interview, if you want to mention a skill that wasn't on your resume, you might say: من المفيد الإشارة إلى خبرتي في التصميم (It is useful to point out my experience in design). Even in a Netflix subtitle for a historical drama, you'll see this phrase used when a vizier is trying to give the Sultan some advice without losing his head. It is the universal 'I'm being helpful, please don't be annoyed' phrase.

Use this phrase when you want to be the smartest person in the room without being the loudest. It is perfect for professional emails when you want to add a caveat to a project timeline. It is great for academic papers when you are citing a secondary source. It is also very handy for social media when you are sharing 'life hacks' or 'explainer' content. Basically, anytime you are providing information that adds value to a previous statement, this is your go-to opener. It is also a fantastic way to transition when you feel the conversation is getting a bit off-track and you want to bring it back to a specific, useful point.

Avoid using this phrase in highly emotional or urgent situations. If your house is on fire, do not turn to your roommate and say, من المفيد الإشارة إلى أن هناك دخانًا (It is useful to note that there is smoke). Just run! Also, don't use it in very intimate settings; it can make you sound like you are giving a lecture to your partner. 'It is useful to note that you forgot the milk' is a great way to start a very long and unnecessary argument. Finally, try not to over-use it in a single email. If every sentence starts with من المفيد الإشارة, you will start to sound like a repetitive chatbot from 2015.

The most common 'oops' moment for learners is forgetting the preposition إلى. Arabic is a bit obsessed with prepositions, and this phrase is no exception. ✗ من المفيد الإشارة أن... → ✓ من المفيد الإشارة إلى أن.... Another mistake is using it as a question. It is a statement, not an inquiry. Also, make sure you don't confuse مفيد (useful) with مستفيد (beneficiary). Saying 'from the beneficiary pointing out' will just result in a lot of confused blinking from your conversation partner. Keep it simple, keep it مفيد, and don't forget your إلى!

Arabic is a rich language, so there are plenty of ways to say almost the same thing. تجدر الإشارة (It is worth noting) is the 'big brother' of our phrase—it's even more formal and serious. Then you have من الجدير بالذكر (It is worth mentioning), which is extremely common in news and journalism. If you want to be a bit more casual, you could use بالمناسبة (By the way). For a very quick 'FYI' in a text message, you might just use للعلم (For your information). Think of these like different font sizes; من المفيد الإشارة is your standard 12pt Arial—reliable, clear, and professional.

Is this phrase used in all dialects? While it is Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), almost every educated speaker across the Arab world will use it in professional or formal contexts. Will I sound like a textbook? Only if you use it while ordering a shawarma. In an office, you'll sound like a pro. Can I use it in a tweet? Absolutely, it’s a great way to introduce a 'thread' or a specific fact. Is it the same as 'By the way'? Sort of, but 'By the way' is often more random, while this phrase specifically highlights something 'useful'. Does it require a specific verb tense? No, the phrase itself is a fixed nominal sentence, but the verb following أن can be in any tense that fits your message.