ASAP: what it means, how to use it in email and when to avoid it
What "as soon as possible" means and how to ask for something quickly in an email without sounding abrupt
ASAP is the abbreviation of as soon as possible, meaning right away or at the earliest opportunity. It’s used in emails, messages and conversations at work to ask for something to be done as a priority.
You’ll see it mostly in work emails, at the end of a sentence or in the subject line: “I need the quote ASAP”. It also shows up in marketing, but it calls for more care there, because misused urgency wears people out.
What does ASAP mean?
ASAP comes from four English words: as soon as possible. It’s used as is, or replaced with phrases like these:
- “As soon as possible”.
- “Right away”.
- “At your earliest convenience”.
- “As soon as you can”.
It’s pronounced in two ways: spelling out the letters (A-S-A-P) or as a single word, “AY-sap”. Both are correct in English.
It can be written in capitals (ASAP) or in lowercase (asap), especially in chats. In a work email it looks better in capitals, or written out in full.
How to use ASAP in email
ASAP is used to signal priority. It works well in these situations:
| Situation | Example |
|---|---|
| Urgent request to a colleague | “Can you send me the report ASAP? I need it for the 12:00 meeting” |
| Reply to a customer | “I’ll look into it and get back to you ASAP” |
| Subject line of an internal email | “ASAP: review the contract before 5:00 p.m.” |
| Reminder | “Remember to confirm your attendance ASAP” |
What doesn’t work is using ASAP without any context. “I need it ASAP” doesn’t say when. If there really is a rush, add a time or a day: “by Thursday at 12:00” is much clearer.
When something is urgent, make sure it arrives on time
Schedule your notices and send them right when your customers need to read them.
ASAP in an email subject line
Putting ASAP in the email subject line grabs attention, but there’s a risk: if you use it all the time, it stops working. Your colleagues or customers will learn that “ASAP” doesn’t mean anything special.
In marketing emails you need to be even more careful. Words like “urgent”, “ASAP” or “last chance”, repeated and in capitals, can erode trust. If you want to create a sense of urgency in a campaign, a real date works better: “Your discount ends on Sunday”.
For more ideas on using urgency without misleading anyone, see the FOMO glossary entry.
When it’s better not to use ASAP
ASAP is informal. In some contexts it comes across as abrupt or unprofessional:
With a new customer or a manager. Better to say “whenever suits you before Friday” or “at your earliest convenience”.
In a formal email. In a formal email it’s better to write out the full phrase.
When it isn’t urgent. If everything is ASAP, nothing is. Save it for what really can’t wait.
When you can give a date. A specific date is clearer and friendlier than an abbreviation.
Other common abbreviations in email
ASAP isn’t the only abbreviation you’ll see in your inbox. These are some of the most common:
| Abbreviation | Stands for | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| FYI | For your information | Shared for your information |
| FWD or FW | Forward | Forwarded |
| RE | Reply | Reply to a message |
| CC and BCC | Carbon copy / Blind carbon copy | Copy / Hidden copy |
| P.S. | Post scriptum | Postscript |
| EOD | End of day | By the end of the day |
How Mailrelay helps you
In email marketing, urgency works when it’s real and well measured. With Mailrelay you can:
Schedule your sends. Get an offer notice ready so it goes out at exactly the right moment.
Test subject lines with A/B tests. Compare an urgent subject line with a calmer one, and keep the one that performs better.
Send SMS. For a notice that really can’t wait, an SMS is read almost instantly.
And with the free account you can send up to 80,000 emails a month to 20,000 contacts, with human support on every plan.
Real urgency, not all-caps subject lines
Find out which subject line works best with your list using an A/B test.
Frequently asked questions about ASAP
What does ASAP mean?
It means “right away” or “at the earliest opportunity”. It’s the abbreviation of as soon as possible.
How do you pronounce ASAP?
It’s said letter by letter or as a single word, “AY-sap”. Both are correct.
Is it rude to write ASAP?
No, but it’s informal. With new customers, managers or in formal emails, “at your earliest convenience” or a specific date works better.
Is it written ASAP or asap?
Both forms are understood. In a work email it’s more common in capitals. In chats and messages you often see it in lowercase.
Can I put ASAP in the subject line of a marketing email?
You can, but use it sparingly. If all your subject lines are urgent, your subscribers will stop believing you. A real deadline is better.