Please be advised that

You almost always place this phrase at the very beginning of a sentence. It acts as a formal 'intro' or 'header' for the main point. Grammatically, it is followed by a full clause starting with that. For example, Please be advised that the office is closed. You should use it when you want to sound authoritative or when the situation requires a paper trail. It is common in emails, public notices, and automated app alerts. Think of it as a flashing yellow light on a dashboard. It says, 'Pay attention to the next five words.'

This phrase is sitting at the very top of the formality mountain. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being 'Yo' and 10 being 'Supreme Court Justice,' this is a solid 9. It is 'Very Formal.' You use it in 'Register 4'—the professional and legal sphere. It is the opposite of 'slang.' In fact, using it in a casual setting sounds like a joke. If you tell your roommate, Please be advised that I ate your yogurt, they will think you are being sarcastic or weirdly aggressive. It is designed to be cold, clear, and professional.

You will see this on Netflix when they update their terms of service. You might see it on Uber if a specific road is closed for an event. A LinkedIn recruiter might use it to tell you a position has been filled. In Slack, a manager might use it to announce a mandatory meeting. Even Google Translate uses formal strings like this in its documentation. It is the language of systems, businesses, and legal entities. If a human says it to you in person, they are probably about to fire you or give you a ticket.

Use it when you are writing a professional email to someone you do not know well. Use it when you are delivering news that is non-negotiable, like a deadline or a price increase. It is perfect for 'Terms and Conditions' or official 'Public Service Announcements.' If you are a developer, use it in system alerts for users. If you are a manager, use it for policy changes. It helps you sound like a 'serious person' who follows the rules. It provides a layer of protection by making the communication sound objective.

Never use this with friends, family, or partners unless you want to start a fight. It is too cold for people you love. Do not use it for small, unimportant details. If you say, Please be advised that I am wearing blue socks, you sound like a robot. Also, avoid it in 'friendly' marketing. If a brand wants to be your 'buddy,' they will say 'Just so you know' or 'Heads up.' Using Please be advised makes you sound like a giant, faceless corporation. Use it sparingly, or you will sound like a 'Bureaucracy Bot.'

A common error is forgetting the that after the phrase. Another mistake is using the wrong preposition. Some people try to say Please be advised about... but that is much less common than the that clause.

• ✗ Please be advised for the delay. → ✓ Please be advised that there is a delay.
• ✗ I advise you that... → ✓ Please be advised that... (The first one sounds like a threat!)
• ✗ Please be advise that... → ✓ Please be advised that... (Don't forget the -ed!)

Using it for good news also feels a bit 'off.' For example, Please be advised that you won a free pizza sounds like the pizza might be poisoned.

If Please be advised that feels too stiff, you have options. Please note that is the slightly friendlier cousin. It is still professional but less 'legal.' Kindly be informed that is common in British English and South Asia; it adds a touch of politeness. In the US, Please be aware that is used when the information is a warning about a potential problem. If you are on WhatsApp, you would just use FYI (For Your Information). If you are writing a blog post, you might use Note: or Pro Tip:.

Is it rude? No, it is not rude, but it is very distant. It can feel 'cold' if used in a warm relationship. Is it only for bad news? Mostly, yes, or at least for 'serious' news. You rarely use it for 'The sun is shining!' Can I use it in a text? Only if you are being funny or if you are a landlord texting a tenant about a rent increase. Why not just say 'I want to tell you'? Because in business, 'I' is often too personal. Please be advised focuses on the information, not the person.