Email reschedule meeting: 11 Request to Reschedule Meeting Email Samples

Опубликовано: June 8, 2020 в 11:12 am

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11 Request to Reschedule Meeting Email Samples

Sample templates for sending an email request for rescheduling a meeting

By Dylan Cable

What’s on this Page

There’s always a chance that something will come up and get in the way of a scheduled meeting. When that happens, it’s essential to craft an appropriate request to reschedule a meeting via email.

Different scenarios might call for vastly different types of tone or language. Of course, it’s up to you to decide how professional or casual to be, but here are some general rules you can follow that will leave a good impression each time.

Check out our Common Work Emails and Gmail pages for more templates you can use today!

How to Request to Reschedule a Meeting?

  • Be descriptive in the email subject line – Make sure you state the purpose of your email in the subject line, or it may go unnoticed until it’s too late. It should be brief but provide the relevant details

  • Give as much advance notice as possible – No one likes to change their schedule at the last minute. Respect the other person’s time by giving at least a 24-hour notice or more. If you are running late, it’s still important to send them a message letting them know you haven’t forgotten about the meeting and are on your way.

  • Provide specific time and date alternatives – Since you are the one requesting a change, you need to provide specific alternatives for the proposed rescheduled meeting. Offer a few different options so that they can choose the one most convenient for them. If you leave it up to them to suggest an alternative, make sure that your schedule is free enough to accommodate their suggestions.

  • Offer a substitute form of communication – If it proves too challenging to reschedule at a specific place, consider conducting the meeting over the phone or a video call.

  • Be sincere in your apology, and express gratitude – Apologize for any inconvenience this has caused the other party and thank them for considering your request. A sincere apology goes a long way to smoothing over any frustration caused by a rescheduled meeting.

  • Use technology to help you automate your email Text Blaze’s keyboard shortcuts allow you to paste preset email messages quickly (like the templates here). Form fields and dynamic content help you personalize each email to fit your needs, as well as create templates that you can use anywhere online. You can get value out of your Text Blaze account without needing a subscription too!

Here’s a video that shows you how you can use Text Blaze to use Gmail more efficiently.

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  • To customize these email templates to your needs and then insert them anywhere with a keyboard shortcut, click on the “copy to Text Blaze” button.

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Request to reschedule email 1

Dear {formtext: name=Alex; cols=9},

Regarding our meeting tomorrow at {formtext: name=time1; cols=5}, I’m unfortunately no longer available to attend due to {formtext: name=reason; cols=6}. I’m wondering if it’s possible to reschedule our meeting to {formdate: LL; name=date1}. If this doesn’t work with your schedule, would any of these times be suitable – {formdate: LL; name=date2}, {formdate: LL; name=date3} or {formdate: LL; name=date4}?

I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused and would be grateful to find an alternative date.

Best regards,
Warren B. Thornhill

_

Postpone Meeting Email Sample

Request to reschedule email 2

Hi {formtext: name=Alexa; cols=9},

Unfortunately, {formtext: name=reason; cols=6} has come up, and I can no longer make it to our meeting on {formdate: LL; name=date1}.

Kindly confirm if you’re available for any of the following alternative times:
{formdate: LL; name=date2}, {formdate: LL; name=date3} or {formdate: LL; name=date4}?

Please accept my apologies and write back to me at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,
Warren B. Thornhill

_

Request to reschedule email 3

Dear {formtext: name=Sharon; cols=9},

I’m sorry to inform you that due to a conflict in my schedule, I must request that we reschedule our meeting initially planned for {formdate: LL; name=date1}.

Allow me to suggest {formdate: LL; name=date2} as a suitable alternative. I’ll be available that entire afternoon, so please feel free to let me know what time works best for your schedule.

I apologize for any inconvenience this will cause. Nevertheless, I look forward to meeting you, so please get back to me as soon as possible.

Thank you,
Ollie G. Barron

_

Request to reschedule email 4

Dear {formtext: name=Francis; cols=9},

I’m writing you concerning the scheduled team meeting on {formdate: LL; name=date1}. Unfortunately, due to {formtext: name=reason; cols=6}, the meeting cannot go ahead as originally planned.

Please take a look at the following alternatives and let me know which one suits your schedule.
{formtext: name=time1;cols=5}, {formdate: LL; name=date2}
{formtext: name=time2;cols=5}, {formdate: LL; name=date3}
{formtext: name=time3;cols=5}, {formdate: LL; name=date4}

I appreciate the time that has gone into preparation for this meeting and apologize for any inconvenience this will cause you. Thank you for understanding.

Sincerely,
Ollie G. Barron

_

Request to Reschedule Meeting to a Different Time

Request to reschedule email 5

Hi {formtext: name=Clark; cols=9},

I’m wondering if it’s possible to reschedule our meeting set for tomorrow at {formtext: name=time1; cols=5}. I must attend to {formtext: name=reason; cols=6} and have no choice but to request that we postpone.

Would you be available instead on {formdate: LL; name=date1}? If not, please let me know what works best for you, and I’ll fit it into my schedule.

I’m very sorry for any trouble this has caused you. I hope we can find a new time that works for both of us. Thanks for understanding.

All the best,
Ollie G. Barron

_

Request to Reschedule Meeting Due to Unforeseen Circumstances

Request to reschedule email 6

Dear {formtext: name=Cynthia; cols=9},

Due to unforeseen circumstances, I must request that our meeting at {formtext: name=time1; cols=5} on {formdate: LL; name=date1} be rescheduled. I apologize for the inconvenience and hope that we can find a suitable alternative.

I suggest that we reschedule for {formtext: name=time2; cols=5} {formdate: LL; name=date2}. If that does not work for you, please let me know if a day between {formdate: LL; name=date3} and {formdate: LL; name=date4} fits your schedule.

Once again, please accept my apologies. I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Sincerely,
Ollie G. Barron

_

Request to reschedule email 7

Dear {formtext: name=Allie; cols=9},

I’m afraid that we will have to reschedule our meeting at {formtext: name=time1; cols=5}, on {formdate: LL; name=date1} due to {formtext: name=reason; cols=6}. I’m terribly sorry for the late notice, but the situation is beyond my control.

Are any of these {formdate: LL; name=date2}, {formdate: LL; name=date3} or {formdate: LL; name=date4} okay with you? If not, I am open to your suggestions.

Thank you very much for understanding.

Sincerely,
Ollie G. Barron

_

Request to Reschedule Meeting by Two Hours

Request to reschedule email 8

Hi {formtext: name=Daniel; cols=9},

Can we please push back tomorrow’s meeting by two hours? I hate to ask this at the last minute, but {formtext: name=reason; cols=6} came up, and I just can’t make it at the scheduled time.

If not, let me know if it’s more convenient for you to talk over the phone or computer. I’m open to anything you suggest.

Thanks!
Ollie G. Barron

_

Request to reschedule email 9

Dear {formtext: name=Carol; cols=9},

I would like to reschedule our meeting on {formtext: name=time1; cols=5}, {formdate: LL; name=date1} to {formtext: name=time2; cols=5}, {formdate: LL; name=date2}, due to {formtext: name=reason; cols=6}.

I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you. Please let me know if the suggested time does not work for you.

Sincerely,
Ollie G. Barron

_

Reschedule Meeting Due to Unanticipated Schedule Conflict

Request to reschedule email 10

Dear {formtext: name=Emily; cols=9},

I am writing to inform you that I will no longer be able to attend our meeting on {formtext: name=time1; cols=5}, {formdate: LL; name=date1} due to an unanticipated conflict in scheduling.

Please accept my apologies for the inconvenience caused. It would be much appreciated if it’s possible to reschedule to {formtext: name=time2; cols=5}, {formdate: LL; name=date2} or any other day that week.

Sincerely,
Ollie G. Barron

_

Request to reschedule email 11

Hi {formtext: name=Kristin; cols=9},

Due to unavoidable circumstances, our annual project review meeting will be rescheduled from {formtext: name=time1; cols=5}, {formdate: LL; name=date1} to {formtext: name=time2; cols=5}, {formdate: LL; name=date2} in meeting room 2.

Can you please confirm if you can make it to the annual project review meeting at {formtext: name=time2;cols=5} on {formdate: LL; name=date2}?

Thank you very much for your understanding. We look forward to your presentation on our key projects.

Sincerely,
Warren B. Thornhill
Executive Director, Special Projects

_

Conclusion

Sometimes things come up or change, and that’s why it is important to remain flexible. Changing the times of scheduled meetings is just something that you’ll have to deal with. There are many ways to craft your meeting reschedule email. Here, we provided some templates to help you get started. We truly believe that Text Blaze can help you out.

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How to Reschedule a Meeting: Tips and Email Examples

  • Fellow
  • Blog
  • Meetings
  • How to Reschedule a Me…
  • Brier Cook

  • 03/31/2022
  • 7 minute read

Learn to effectively communicate with your team the next time you’re unable to attend a scheduled meeting.

Picture this: you wake up on a Monday morning ready to conquer the week. As you make your morning coffee, your dog starts whimpering and you realize they’re unwell. Or maybe you aren’t so chipper on this particular Monday. Perhaps you’ve woken up feeling under the weather or have looked outside to discover that mother nature didn’t know you had planned on making a long commute to the office when she brought several inches of snow to your city. 

No matter how well you’ve planned your work calendar, you’re bound to need to reschedule a meeting every now and then. As a team player, you’ll want to notify those whom you know planned on attending of any last minute changes. Don’t fret– life happens and rescheduling a meeting doesn’t need to be stressful. Let’s discuss when and how you should reschedule a work meeting, and how to best communicate a change in plans with your colleagues. 

  • Reasons to reschedule a meeting
  • Tips for rescheduling a meeting 
  • When is it ‘too late’ to reschedule?
  • Email examples for rescheduling a meeting

Reasons to reschedule a meeting

There are many reasons you may need to reschedule an important meeting. Some common examples include: unexpected or urgent issues at home, feeling ill or having an ill family member, bad traffic or weather that prevents you from traveling to work, a change of plans that makes the original meeting irrelevant, or accidentally having double-booked yourself. 

While you may not always be as prepared as you’d like, you should never reschedule a meeting at the last minute due to a lack of preparation. Make sure your reason for rescheduling is urgent and compelling. You don’t want to be an employee or manager who constantly reschedules because of your own issues with time management. 

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Tips for rescheduling a meeting 

  • Notify the attendees ASAP
  • Write the email yourself
  • Be as descriptive as possible in the email subject line 
  • Suggest another form of communication
  • Propose an alternative meeting date and time
  • Apologize sincerely
  • Show appreciation

1 Notify the attendees ASAP

Start by drafting a note on the instant messaging app you use at work or more formally in an email to the attendees. Ensure you clearly state why the meeting must be rescheduled. Make your message brief and to the point, but still sincere. You don’t need to give specific details if the cause of your rescheduling is a personal matter, but you shouldn’t be vague with the details if it’s a work-related conflict. Take your time drafting the note so it communicates your message and apology appropriately. Aim to give the attendees 24-hour notice if possible. 

2 Write the email yourself

Even if you have an assistant who usually coordinates your calendar, this will be an email you’ll want to draft yourself. In doing so, you’ll let the attendees know that you care about having to reschedule and are considerate of their time. You can also add a personal touch or ask for their input in rescheduling a time to meet. Employees and managers should be courteous of their colleague’s schedules, and writing the email yourself will demonstrate that you have this quality. 

3 Be as descriptive as possible in the email subject line 

State in the subject line of your email that the meeting is canceled. Effective subject lines will also include the meeting date before the phrase “meeting cancellation” or “meeting rescheduling. ” If it’s a meeting with someone outside of your company, be sure to include your name as well as the name of your organization. 

4 Suggest another form of communication

Maybe you need to care for a sick family member at home and aren’t able to make that lunch meeting in person, but still have the time to set up a phone or video call. If the meeting can take place in a format that better accommodates your needs at the moment, ask the attendees to move the meeting to a video or phone call. If there isn’t a way to make the meeting work but there are urgent action items to delegate, send an email outlining what you had planned to discuss and note that you intend to follow up soon with further details.

5 Propose an alternative meeting date and time

When rescheduling a meeting, use a scheduling assistant to make sure the time and date you suggest fits in everyone’s calendar. Mention in your email to the attendees that you considered everyone’s availability, but are also open to suggestions in the event that their calendars weren’t up to date. If you leave it up to the attendees to select an alternate time, ensure that your calendar has enough free space to accommodate their suggestions. 

6 Apologize sincerely

A sincere apology can go a long way when you’re rescheduling a meeting. Acknowledge in your email that you made a mistake (when appropriate) or state your reasoning for having to reschedule to smooth out any frustration caused by canceling. Express your regrets and request forgiveness in your attempt to correct the mishap. Acknowledging that you’re imperfect but care about your relationship with the attendees will help build a better rapport. If the rescheduled meeting was high stakes, you can follow up with a phone call the next day as well. 

7 Show appreciation

Express gratitude to your team, manager, clients, or stakeholders that were supposed to be in attendance. After you apologize for any inconvenience your cancellation may have caused, thank them for reading your email and considering your request to accommodate the rescheduled date and time.  

When is it ‘too late’ to reschedule?

If something has come up at work or home but your meeting is planned for 10 minutes from now, you’ll have to make a split-second decision. When making a last-minute call about whether to cancel or not, ask yourself if you can shorten the meeting, offer it in a different format that will accommodate your current needs, or cancel the meeting if the issue is too urgent to move forward. Quickly weigh the pros and cons, and assess the urgency. In short, if you or a loved one is suddenly ill or in danger, it’s never too late to reschedule. If you’re unprepared or have a scheduling conflict, you should be giving the attendees adequate notice before rescheduling. 

Email examples for rescheduling a meeting

1 Canceling at the last minute

Try sending an email like this the next time you have to cancel within a few hours of your meeting:

2 Canceling because you’re unexpectedly out of office 

You can’t change the weather or avoid sickness, even when it gets in the way of important work commitments. When you have to cancel unexpectedly because you’re away from the office, try sending an email like:

3 Canceling because of a scheduling conflict

We’ve all accidentally scheduled two meetings at once. No matter how organized you are, scheduling conflicts are bound to happen every now and then. Here’s an example of what to email your colleagues when this situation arises: 

Reschedule and move forward

We get it. You don’t want to feel like you’re letting anyone down at work. Nobody wants to be a flaky employee, teammate, or manager. For this reason, it can feel awkward to reschedule an important meeting. Remember that life happens and unforeseen circumstances, schedule conflicts, and unexpected days away from the office are bound to take place. How you handle the situation is what matters the most. By learning to effectively communicate the next time you need to reschedule, you’ll be able to leave the guilt behind and move forward with resolving the issue at hand.  

Tips for high-performing leaders

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Brier is a communications professional and freelance content writer based in Ottawa. She currently works as an Engagement Strategy Advisor for Carleton University. She is passionate about using creative marketing to solve business challenges. In her spare time, she’s either reading fiction, trying out a new fitness class, playing guitar, or cooking a recipe from TikTok.

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Write the Perfect Reschedule Meeting Email: Guide and Templates

This could be a conflict with another meeting, a change in the company’s schedule, or someone’s sudden illness. Rescheduling often means lost productivity – so it’s important to handle the situation professionally.

Sending a reschedule meeting email with ample notice is the most courteous way to let colleagues/clients know you won’t be able to make it.

In this article, we’ll clarify how to write an excellent meeting rescheduling email with 2 ready-to-use email templates. 

Let’s dive in!

Common Reasons to Reschedule a Meeting

A reschedule meeting email is a polite message sent to notify attendees of a change in the date, time, or location of a previously scheduled meeting invitation. Sending a reschedule team meeting email as soon as possible is a vital workplace etiquette to ensure that all attendees have the most up-to-date information.

Common reasons for rescheduling include:

  • A prior engagement, a conflict with another meeting.

  • With bad weather forecasts for the day of the meeting, it may be safer to delay it until the weather clears.  

  • A power outage or other emergency in the workplace makes it difficult to hold the meeting as planned.

  • The agenda for the meeting has changed and requires more time than initially planned.

  • You have an urgent issue at home that needs your attention.

  • You are feeling ill or have a doctor’s appointment. 

How to Craft a Reschedule Meeting Email?

A well-written email to reschedule a meeting will help you convey your regret for any inconveniences caused and encourage colleagues to respond fast to agree on a new meeting time. 

To get these results, follow along to write an effective reschedule meeting email. 

Start with a clear subject line

The subject line is arguably the most important part of the email, as it will determine whether or not the receiver opens it. 

A good subject line should be clear and concise while still conveying its importance. For example, “Rescheduling our Meeting” is much better than “I’m so sorry, but can we reschedule?” 

If it’s a meeting with someone you are not familiar with or outside of your company, be sure to include your name and your organization. This helps the receiver immediately place who you are with no added confusion. 

Provide an apology and a credible reason  

Begin with a simple greeting, apologize sincerely for the inconvenience, and explain why you request to reschedule the meeting. If there is a specific reason for the requested change (e.g., you have another meeting scheduled at that time), be sure to mention it to show credibility. 

Again, be as concise as possible – no need to go into excessive detail. 

Propose an alternative meeting date and time

Be sure to propose alternative dates and times for the rescheduled meeting in the body of the email. This will show that you’re still committed to making the meeting happen, despite the inconvenience.

If there are multiple options and also a meeting agenda, include them all in the email so that the recipient can choose the best option for them. Also, show your willingness to adjust according to their schedule.

Notify everyone as soon as possible

Once you realize you are not able to attend the meeting and need to reschedule it, notify all the attendees as soon as possible. There is nothing quite as disrespectful as waiting until the eleventh hour to tell your team or clients that the meeting will not take place. 

If you can, send out the meeting reschedule request several days before the meeting. You can also start by sending an instant message and then a formal email. This will give other attendees time to adjust their schedules accordingly.

Find the right balance in tone

You don’t want to appear flippant, but you also don’t want to sound overly formal. The goal is to sound respectful and apologetic while still maintaining a level of professionalism.  

Thank the recipient for their understanding and flexibility, and ask if the new meeting time will work better for everyone involved. 

Personalize the email

Personalization helps to build rapport and maintain a positive relationship, even when you’re rescheduling. As a bonus, it demonstrates that you are organized and detail-oriented. 

For example, you cannot send a reschedule meeting email to a client without addressing them personally. The odds are that the client will be offended to receive an email that says “Dear All” or “To whom it may concern”– like they’re just another person on an email blast for you. 

Show Appreciation 

Remember your team has made time and even much preparation for this meeting and is now changing their calendars again to accommodate you. Showing appreciation for your team members when meetings are rescheduled sets a great precedent for the future.  

Call the recipient if needed 

If you’ve sent a reschedule meeting email and haven’t received a response, or if the meeting is going to start soon, it’s probably best to call the recipient instead. Emails can sometimes feel impersonal, and this is especially true when it comes to scheduling. 

If you call, you’ll be able to tell them as soon as possible and get a sense of whether or not they’re available on the new date/time. Plus, it’ll be one less email for them to respond to. If you’re unsure how your reschedule meeting email will be received, pick up the phone instead.

2 Reschedule Meeting Templates for you 

Want a ready-to-use reschedule email example? We’ve got you. 

In the next part, We’ll provide two templates for formal and informal reschedule meeting emails. Each email has an apology, reason, and alternate dates and times for the next meeting, helping you make a meeting reschedule politely.

Formal reschedule meeting email 

A formal email template for rescheduling a business meeting will show your professionalism and better suits the following situations:

  • The meeting is with a client or prospect.

  • The meeting is with a senior executive.

  • The meeting is with a different business.

Subject Line: Rescheduling Request for [Meeting Name]

Dear [Name],

I’m [Name] from [Company/Department Name]. We had a meeting booked on [Date and time] to discuss about [Topic].  

While I was looking forward to the meeting, I’m afraid I can’t attend it due to [mention your reason], really sorry about this. Might it be possible for us to reschedule the meeting?

The following are my available time for the postponed meeting:

  1. [New Date] and [New time]

  2. [New Date] and [New time]

  3. [New Date] and [New time]

Please let me know if any of these options work for you or if you require a different time.  

I apologize sincerely for any inconvenience this may cause and look forward to connecting with you soon.

Thank you,

[Your name]

[Company and contact information]

Informal reschedule meeting email

In general, you might use an informal email template for any meeting that is not time-sensitive or the result of a formal request (such as a job interview). This includes:

Dear [name]/ Hi Team,

I regret to inform you I am not possible to attend [the meeting] scheduled on [date] and need to reschedule it. [Reason for rescheduling]. I apologize for any inconvenience and hope we can reschedule for another date.

Would it be possible for us to meet on either [date 1] or [date 2] instead? Please let me know what time would work best for you. 

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

Reschedule better and faster 

Knowing how to politely reschedule a meeting plays a significant role in building work relationships. Here’s a little recap of what is most important in your reschedule meeting email:

  • The email content should be apologetic and polite, explaining the situation as briefly as possible. 

  • Timing is vital – send the email as soon as you know there will be a conflict. 

  • Keep your tone respectful and understanding. 

How to Write a Reschedule Meeting Email

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Posted by Glassdoor Team

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Last Updated June 29, 2021

Guide Overview

What is a reschedule meeting email?How to write a reschedule meeting email?Rescheduling meeting email templateReschedule meeting email sample

Guide Overview

Understanding reschedule meeting emails

While it is normal for companies to schedule business meetings, it may be necessary to cancel them due to unforeseen circumstances. As the people attending will have set aside their time for the event, it is good etiquette to inform them of the cancellation and let them know when you are going to reschedule it. You can do this by sending a reschedule meeting email.

An email for rescheduling a meeting is a polite and formal notification to all the attendees to inform them about the change in plans. The email provides a reason for the meeting cancellation and lets the recipients know when and where it will reconvene. It will also allow you to apologize for the inconvenience caused due to the rescheduling.

To write an email for postponing a meeting or rescheduling a meeting, you can take the following steps:

  1. Be descriptive in the subject line: Write your name, company name, and meeting date before the phrase ‘meeting cancellation’ or ‘meeting rescheduling.’ You want the recipients to know the reason for the email at a glance.
  2. Write a personalized email: Whether you want to postpone a meeting with a single person, it is essential to use their name. If you are sending it to multiple recipients, you can address it to ‘everyone.’
  3. Give advance notice: Unless it is unavoidable, try to cancel a scheduled meeting several days in advance. It will give people time to readjust their schedules.
  4. Apologize for the inconvenience: Begin the email by apologizing for the inconvenience that the meeting cancellation will cause them.
  5. Explain the reason for cancellation: Give a credible excuse for canceling the meeting. If it is due to circumstances beyond your control, say so. If it is due to personal reasons, explain briefly and apologize again.
  6. Provide a new date and time for rescheduling: To let the recipients know that you still want to meet with them, let them know when and at what time you would like to reschedule. Ask them if the new timing will suit them and be willing to adjust according to their schedule.
  7. Thank the recipient for their time and consideration: End the email by thanking the recipients for their understanding. Keep in mind that business people have busy schedules, and postponing and reconvening a planned meeting is not a simple matter. It may require them to make a lot of adjustments for you.
  8. Send the email at once: It’s not a good idea to wait until the last moment to dispatch it. Show consideration of the recipients’ time by sending the email as soon as possible.
  9. Follow up with a phone call: If you are canceling the meeting on short notice, follow the email with a phone call or message the recipients. Some people don’t check their email often and may have missed your notification.
  10. Follow up with an email to reschedule the meeting: Apologize again and remind them of the new meeting schedule. Ask the recipients to confirm their attendance.

If you are wondering how to reschedule a meeting, here are business templates that you can follow for formal and informal emails:

Formal email template

Dear Mr. /Ms.,

I regret to inform you that we will have to reschedule our upcoming meeting to a later date. While I was very much looking forward to talking with you in person, it is unfortunately not going to be possible on [give meeting date]. Due to [Provide reason for canceling the meeting], I have to be out of town.

I hope we can arrange a new meeting on [provide date]. Please let me know if this timing will fit in with your schedule. If not, I will be happy to discuss a time that is more favorable to you. Please call or email me at your convenience.

I deeply apologize for canceling our meeting on such short notice, and I hope very much that we will be able to meet and take things forward at another date.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

[Phone contact]

Informal email template

Hello, Mr./Ms.

I wanted to let you know that our meeting on [give the meeting date] is postponed due to [provide a reason for the cancellation]. I know it is on short notice, but, as you see, it is unavoidable.

I’m very sorry for the inconvenience this is going to cost you. It will be possible, however, to reschedule the meeting for later this week. I will let you know the new dates by tomorrow.

Kind regards,

[Your name]

[Phone contact]

Formal email

Dear Mr. Richardson,

I regret to inform you that I must cancel our forthcoming meeting about the Hotel Silver Star collaboration project on Nov. 16, 2020.

As you have no doubt heard, the recent earthquake in Indonesia caused considerable damage to our property, and I will need to be on-site for the next two weeks to oversee the clearance work. I apologize for the change in plans on such short notice; however, it is unavoidable.

I want to thank you in advance for your understanding of the situation, and I hope we can reconvene our meeting after I get back. I am flying out on the morning of the 16th and expect to be back by Nov. 30. Will it be possible to meet with you on Dec. 1 or Dec. 2? Please let me know by phone or email if any of these dates suit you or if you would like to reschedule for a different date.

Thank you once again, and I hope to meet you soon.

Kind regards,

Allan Quartermain

Informal email

Hello, everyone,

I’m writing to inform you that we won’t be meeting as planned on Tuesday, Nov. 17. The management has scheduled several other back-to-back project meetings this coming week, and they will require the venue on that day. We will have to postpone until Saturday, Nov. 21.

Please contact me by phone or email to confirm your attendance on the new date.

Best regards,

Juliana Smith

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How to Write a Reschedule Meeting Email

How to Write a Proper Meeting Rescheduling Email?

Are you looking for formal phrases and sentences to complete your meeting rescheduling  email? You are at the right place. In this article, we will discuss not only the common phrases you can use for different situations but also the structure of the postponing email.

Rescheduling email examples

Eg #1:  Formal type –  Changing an appointment with a business partner 

Dear Mr. Smith,

Unfortunately, due to some unforeseen business, I will be unable to keep our appointment for tomorrow afternoon. Would it be possible to arrange another time later in the week? I apologize for any inconvenience.

Yours sincerely,

Alice Tran

(Source: Clare Whitmell – Business Writing Essentials)

Don’t just copy and paste the phrases, here’s how to remember them forever

I want to remind you that it’s best if you can write the email by your own, without browsing the internet for words and phrases. What if you can remember those phrases and write them down as if they are your own words? That would be perfect. Your boss would be very pleased with your problem-solving skills or your quick response to changes. How can you do that? How to make the words become your own?  The smart tool below will empower your skills.

Make sure you download the eJOY extension first. While reading the next part, select the words or phrases you want to remember forever and save them to your word book on eJOY. Every day, eJOY will tell you which words you are about to forget and it’s time to review them with spaced repetition. By practicing 5 minutes a day, you will gradually build a wider range of business vocabulary that makes you confident and fluent in English business communication.

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Eg #2:  Formal type –  Postponing a meeting to a specific date in the future

Dear Mrs. Jones,

I’m afraid I have to request to reschedule our meeting in the afternoon of 22nd August because I have to travel to LA that day to resolve some urgent work. May I suggest 27th August at 4:00 PM?

Even if you’re not available at that time, I am willing to work around your schedule. I will use the extra time to think about the contract changes you requested.

I’m so sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you. I am looking forwards to your confirmation as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Eg #3:  Informal type – Reschedule a meeting with your colleagues

Hi everyone,

Due to a meeting room problem, the time of the project kick-off meeting has to be changed from Tuesday, August 21st at 2 pm in room A3 to Thursday, August 23rd at 16:00 in room 324.

Sorry for any inconvenience. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Best regards,
Miranda

Cannot make it to the meeting and not notify your partners is one of the worst behavior in business (Photo by rawpixel from Unsplash)

Eg #4:  Formal type – Reschedule a job interview

Dear Sir/ Madam,

I am writing this to inform you that I got an interview notice for the position of Creative Director at your company yesterday via email. My interview has been decided at 2 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2018. Unfortunately, I am not possible to attend at that time as I have made an appointment with my doctor.

I extremely apologize for asking the rescheduling of my job interview.

I appreciate so much if you can reschedule my interview to any other time as I am available after 4th of September.

I am very eager to attend the interview and work with your company. I hope you will consider my request and reschedule the interview to another date. I am looking forward for a positive response.

Yours Sincerely,

Learn how to write other types of business emails which may help you so much in work in our other blog posts:

  • The complete guide to business email etiquette 
  • How to write an action required email
  • How to write an email to inform something

Format of a meeting rescheduling email

To write this email as sincere as it should, put yourself in the other’s shoes. Imagine all the inconvenience, wasted time, and money this might cause them. You must try to milden their dissatisfaction through much politeness and apology. Thus, the key rules here are politeness, reasonableness, and timeliness.

Step 1 Clearly describe changes

When terminating an appointment, you should give a clear notice immediately. It’s just a simple sentence such as: “I am sorry to inform you that I won’t be able to attend our meeting tomorrow.”

Step 2 Provide a good explanation

Certainly, you must explain why you cannot attend. If this part is lacking, your customers, partners, bosses, etc may start to think that you are not a reliable person. However, there’s no need to write a very detailed explanation. In order to keep the email brief and to-the-point, just give them a short but reasonable reason.

Step 3 What’s the solution?

You also need to suggest another appointment. Proposing a new time to reschedule means that meeting this person is still important to you. Despite the unexpected need to terminate it, you are still interested in the appointment.

You had better provide several options from which they can select an alternate day and time. Since you are the one who needs to apologize, stay open to counter-proposals and give your recipient the possibility to adjust the schedule.

Step 4 End the email with apology and appreciation

At the end of your email, you must not only say sorry to but also thank the person for his or her consideration of your situation. This shows your respect. Appreciate the fact that they will have to spend time reading your email and maybe even compromise their plans because of you. Especially for business people, making adjustments in a schedule is not easy at all.

Example:

  • Please accept our sincere apologies
  • I’m sorry for any inconvenience this has caused you and your team.

However, an apology can also be inserted in the first few lines of the email.

For example:

“We are sorry to inform you that I cannot make it on time for our meeting on this Friday”,
“On behalf of the team, I apologize…

You can’t avoid writing reschedule meeting email sometimes (Photo by rawpixel from Unsplash)

Common words & phrases used in a rescheduling email

The following words and phrases are often used when you want to change an appointment.

1 – postpone

To take place at a time later than expected or originally scheduled

  • I postponed the meeting until Thursday.
  • The meeting has been postponed until Friday.

2 – delay

Happening at a later time than expected or originally scheduled

  • Our flight from Taipei to Beijing was delayed by 2 and a half hours.
  • Some problems delayed the release of the product.

3 – move forward

Move forward means you move an appointment to advance (an earlier time or date).

  • Can we move the date of our meeting forward?
  • They moved the date of the event forward to Monday.

4 – move back

In contrast to move forward, this means to move a meeting to a later time or date.

  • I’m afraid that we have to move the meeting back.
  • They’re arriving later than we expected, so we have to move the start back.

5 – unable to keep our appointment

  • I’m afraid that I would be unable to keep our appointment this Tuesday 28th October.

6 – something unexpected has come up

  • Unfortunately, as something unexpected has come up on Wednesday morning, I would highly appreciate if we could postpone our meeting until next week.

7 – be away on business

  • Because I would be away on business next week, could we delay the meeting to the first Friday of next month?

8 – be available on

  •  Would you be available on Tuesday morning?.

9 – suitable time for you

  •  Could you please confirm if this is a suitable time for you?

10 –  would Friday suit you? (informal)

  • I will be busy on Tuesday. Would Friday suit you?

Things to keep in mind

1 Send your mail as soon as possible

The sooner you send the mail, the easier it will be for your recipient to make changes in their schedule, and the more chances they will be able to do so. In absolutely no case should you postpone sending your email for canceling a meeting until the very last minute. Do not linger over your email once you’ve written it.

2 Call them if needed

In urgent cases, if you want to be 100% sure that your recipients has received the notification, you can also directly call them on the phone after sending the email. In most cases, sending an email is sufficient.

3 One extra advice

When you eventually meet them, thank them for their patience directly and show how much you appreciate the opportunity to get together.

Having to postpone an appointment is a thing everyone has to do occasionally. The key is to make sure you have a good reason, always be pro-active in suggesting another time, as long as be straightforward and polite. And don’t forget to save words and phrases you may use frequently to your word book with eJOY extension. Once you review your vocabulary every day in eJOY Game Center, you will find yourself confidently write business emails in your own words.

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Rescheduling a Meeting | Tips & Examples