We feel obliged to mention

You usually see this phrase at the start of a sentence or a paragraph. It acts as a polite "heads-up." Grammatically, it is almost always followed by a that clause or a direct object. For example, we feel obliged to mention that the pool is closed. You are setting the stage for the information that follows. Think of it as a formal wrapper for your message. It is very common in written English, especially in emails, reports, and official notices. If you are writing a professional letter, this phrase is your best friend for introducing necessary but potentially annoying details. It shows you are being thorough and honest without being blunt. It is like saying, "I'm telling you this because I'm a professional, not because I'm nosy."

This is high-level formal English. You definitely do not want to use this while grabbing tacos with your friends. If you said, "I feel obliged to mention that you have salsa on your chin," your friend might think you have been watching too many period dramas. This phrase lives in the world of B2B emails, corporate HR announcements, and customer service disclaimers. It belongs to the formal register. It is designed to create a professional distance. It says, "We are following the rules here." On the spectrum of formality, it is right next to we would like to inform you but with an extra sprinkle of "we have to do this."

You will find this all over the place once you start looking. Think about those long Terms and Conditions windows you usually skip on apps like Instagram or Spotify. Buried in there, you will likely find something like, we feel obliged to mention our data sharing policy. Or imagine you are booking a staycation on Airbnb. The host might write, we feel obliged to mention that there is construction next door. They are being honest so you do not complain later. It is also common in YouTube sponsorship disclosures. A creator might say, I feel obliged to mention that this video is sponsored by... to stay ethical and follow the law. It is the language of transparency.

Use this when the stakes are professional. It is perfect for job interviews when you need to bring up a scheduling conflict. "I feel obliged to mention that I have a pre-planned vacation in July." It is also great for customer service. If a product has a slight delay, saying we feel obliged to mention the delay sounds much more professional than "Sorry, we're late." Use it whenever you need to deliver information that feels like a requirement. It protects you because it proves you were being upfront. If you are a travel vlogger and a hotel gave you a free room, you should definitely feel obliged to mention that fact to your audience to keep their trust.

Avoid this phrase in casual settings at all costs. Do not use it with your partner, your siblings, or your gaming buddies on Discord. It sounds cold and robotic in a personal context. For instance, do not say to your mom, "I feel obliged to mention that I ate the last cookie." Just say, "Sorry, I ate the cookie!" Also, do not use it for things that are actually optional. If you just want to share a fun fact, use by the way or I should also say. Using obliged implies a heavy weight of duty. If there is no duty, the phrase feels weirdly dramatic. It is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut—way too much power for a small job!

One big mistake is mixing up obliged and obligated. While they are similar, obliged often carries a sense of moral or social duty, while obligated feels more like a legal requirement. In formal British English, obliged is the gold standard for this specific phrase. Another mistake is using it without a clear reason. ✗ I feel obliged to mention I like your shoes. → ✓ I just wanted to say I like your shoes. Don't use it for compliments! Another one: ✗ We feel obliged for mentioning the price. → ✓ We feel obliged to mention the price. Always use the infinitive to mention. It is a set structure, so don't try to get creative with the grammar here or you might end up sounding like a broken robot.

If we feel obliged to mention feels a bit too stiff, you can try we should mention or we would like to point out. These are slightly softer but still professional. In very legal settings, you might see it is our duty to inform you. That is the "final boss" of formality. For something a bit more modern and common in corporate North America, you might hear we want to be transparent about. This is very popular in tech companies like Google or Meta. If you are writing a quick email and want to stay polite but less "lawyer-like," just use it's worth noting that. It gets the job done without making it sound like you're about to sue someone.

Is this phrase common in American English? Yes, though it sounds slightly more "British" or traditional, it is used in US business contexts frequently. Should I use it in a text message? Almost never, unless you are being ironic or funny with a close friend. Is it the same as 'I have to say'? Not quite. 'I have to say' is often used for opinions, while 'obliged to mention' is for necessary facts. Can I say 'I feel obliged to mention'? Yes, if you are speaking as an individual rather than representing a company. Is it polite? It is extremely polite, sometimes to the point of being a bit cold. It’s the "polite" you use when you want to be very clear and professional.