FYI Meaning | Use & Examples

FYI is an initialism meaning “for your information.” While “for your information” is a prepositional phrase, FYI is most often used as either an interjection or a noun.

FYI in a sentence examples
FYI, the meeting starts at 3 PM.

FYI, the restaurant we were talking about is closed on Mondays.

I sent you an FYI about the new project guidelines.

What does FYI mean?

FYI indicates that a message is for informational purposes only and doesn’t require further action right now. You can use FYI in a few different ways: as a sort of label for information, as a way to draw attention to a key detail, or as a way to introduce information that someone didn’t ask for.

Since it’s an initialism, the correct way to write FYI is with all three letters capitalized. However, since it’s also used casually, you may also see “Fyi” or “fyi.”

FYI can be used in various contexts, like email, text messages, and chats.

FYI in email

FYI often appears in informative emails to make sure the reader knows about an important event or detail. It might be in the subject line or in the body of the email.. In this context it’s usually capitalized to look more professional.

Examples of FYI in email
FYI: Employees of the Month for June

Please read this FYI about implications for parents and students.

Account info is supposed to be in by Monday—FYI, see the attached form.

FYI in text messages

Since texting is an informal context, FYI might be lowercased in text messages.

Examples of FYI in text messages
FYI for when you get here, I’m already in the queue

Need caramel for that recipe, just fyi. Can u get some or should I?

Everyone bring scarves and hats fyi, it’s freezing here!

FYI in chat

Like texting, chatting is casual, so FYI may be lowercased here as well. In chats, especially those connected to video games or streaming platforms, you’ll probably see other abbreviations—like AFK—used too.

Examples of FYI in a chat
Gotta get some homework done tonight, fyi. I’ll be afk

FYI, the party’s on Friday. LMK if you wanna come!

Fyi, your bro said your parents know you snuck out last night

While it’s usually fine to use FYI in professional settings, it’s not recommended in academic writing, which is even more formal and requires the highest level of clarity.

If you’re not sure about including FYI in your writing, use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to express the same idea in different words.

Frequently asked questions about FYI

Is FYI rude?

FYI is not considered rude per se, but it could come across that way depending on the tone or context of your message.

If you’re unsure about whether or not FYI is appropriate in your context, you could always write out the entire phrase: “for your information.”

Or, use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to find other words to express your intended meaning.

What’s a “for your information” synonym?

Some synonyms for “for your information” are:

You could also use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to find even more ways to say this.

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Hannah Skaggs

Hannah, a writer and editor since 2017, specializes in clear and concise academic and business writing. She has mentored countless scholars and companies in writing authoritative and engaging content.