Async Communication: Slack & Email Phrases for Developers
5 exercises on async communication phrases. Choose the most natural and professional option.
0 / 10 completed
1 / 10
You want to start a Slack thread on an important technical topic before any code is written. Which opening is best?
Option C is excellent async communication. It names the topic precisely (API rate-limiting approach), states the purpose (get alignment), explains the timing rationale (before we code anything), and signals more detail follows (see below). 'Hey guys, question' (A) is too vague — readers don't know whether to engage now or later. 'FYI everyone' (B) signals low urgency and no need for input, which is wrong for an alignment thread. 'I have a question about the API' (D) is marginally better but still doesn't name the topic or purpose. Good thread openers front-load topic, purpose, and context so people can self-select engagement.
2 / 10
You notice staging hasn't been seeded in two weeks, but it's not urgent. How do you flag this without demanding action?
Option A is the gold standard for non-urgent async flagging. It pre-empts concern ('low priority'), states the concrete observation ('not seeded in two weeks'), and offers to take ownership ('happy to fix it if nobody else is on it') — which prevents the diffusion of responsibility. 'This is not urgent but look at this when you can' (B) is too vague. 'Staging is broken but it's fine' (C) is contradictory — if it's broken, it's not fine. 'Somebody should fix staging at some point' (D) is classic 'somebody' language — it will be ignored. Own the action or explicitly name a handoff.
3 / 10
You've opened a pull request and want to request an async review. Which message is most useful for reviewers?
Option D is a model async review request. It opens the PR, signals no urgency ('no rush, happy for async comments'), and focuses attention ('main thing I want eyes on is the pagination logic in lines 45-80'). That last part is the most valuable — it tells reviewers exactly where to spend their energy. 'Can you review my PR?' (A) gives no context and no focal point. 'Review this please' (B) is a command with zero information. 'PR is up — LMK thoughts' (C) is casual but also has no focus. Directing reviewers to specific lines or logic saves everyone time and produces higher-quality feedback.
4 / 10
You need to inform the team that a third-party API key is expiring, but no action is needed from them. Which message is most professional?
Option B is the complete FYI message. It names the item (third-party API key), gives a specific date (Friday), explicitly removes the burden from the team (no action needed), and commits to an owner and timeline (I'll rotate it Thursday EOD). 'Just so everyone knows, the API key expired' (A) uses past tense — if it's already expired, that's an incident, not an FYI. 'Heads up about the API key' (C) requires a follow-up message just to understand what the heads up is about. 'The API key is going to expire, just letting you know' (D) is honest but leaves who will act and when completely unclear.
5 / 10
You sent a message three days ago and still need a response. How do you follow up without sounding passive-aggressive?
Option A is the professional follow-up. 'Circling back' is the standard async follow-up signal — it's gentle, not accusatory. 'Still relevant' confirms the issue hasn't resolved itself. 'If you have a moment this week' signals it's not a crisis while keeping a time horizon in view. 'I sent this three days ago and nobody replied' (B) is passive-aggressive and makes the reader defensive. 'Can someone please respond to my message?' (C) sounds frustrated and demanding. 'Just checking if anyone saw my previous message' (D) implies the team is ignoring you. Follow-ups should assume good intent and make it easy to respond.
6 / 10
During a daily standup, Sarah mentions she's investigating intermittent performance issues with the user-service. She wants to quickly share her initial findings without blocking anyone. Which of the following phrases is most appropriate for her to use?
Option 1 provides specific details about Sarah's investigation and observations, offering valuable context for the team. Options 2, 3, and 4 are too demanding or alarming, potentially causing unnecessary panic without a clear understanding of the problem's scope. Sharing preliminary findings allows others to contribute effectively.
7 / 10
You've just received an API response from a third-party service indicating a temporary outage affecting the payment-gateway. The response includes a timestamp and a message about scheduled maintenance. You need to inform your team about this without causing alarm. Which Slack message is most effective?
Option 1 is overly dramatic and could trigger unnecessary panic. Option 2 accurately describes the situation, referencing the API response and providing context. Options 3 and 4 are vague and don't convey the urgency or source of the information effectively. Clearly stating the outage and its origin is crucial for informed discussion.
8 / 10
You're writing a pull request description for a minor UI change. You want to politely request that a colleague review the code asynchronously as they are currently unavailable. Which sentence best fits at the beginning of your PR description?
Option 2 directly addresses the reviewer's potential unavailability and requests an asynchronous review politely. Options 1 and 3 are demanding and potentially disrespectful, while option 4 focuses solely on the PR's readiness without acknowledging the reviewer's workload.
9 / 10
David is reviewing a code change that introduces a new feature. He notices a potential issue with error handling but wants to discuss it with the developer without interrupting their workflow. Which of the following messages would be best?
Option 1 is overly critical and demanding, likely to cause friction. Option 2 politely identifies the issue and requests a brief discussion at a convenient time. Options 3 and 4 are unnecessarily harsh and could discourage collaboration. Framing feedback constructively promotes a positive developer relationship.
10 / 10
Maria has been waiting for three days for a response to her question about the new database schema. She wants to gently remind the recipient without appearing frustrated. Which message is most appropriate?
Option 1 is aggressive and likely to escalate the situation. Option 2 politely checks in on her question, acknowledging that the recipient may be busy. Options 3 and 4 are demanding and accusatory, which can damage communication and relationships. Gentle reminders, framed with understanding, are more effective.
What will I practise in "Async Communication: Slack & Email Phrases for Developers"?
This module focuses on Phrasebook — real workplace phrasing you'll use on the job. It contains 10 scenario-based multiple-choice questions with instant feedback.
Is this exercise free to use?
Yes. Every exercise on CoderSlingo, including this one, is free to use with no account or sign-up required.
How many questions does this exercise have?
This module includes 10 questions. Each one gives an immediate right/wrong result plus a full explanation of the correct phrasing.
What happens if I answer a question incorrectly?
You'll see the correct answer highlighted straight away, along with a plain-English explanation of why it's right and why the other options don't fit — mistakes are part of the learning here.
Can I retry the exercise if I want a better score?
Yes — use the 'Try again' button on the results screen to reset your score and go through the questions again. There's no limit on attempts.
Who is this Phrasebook exercise for?
It's aimed at IT professionals with working English who want to sound more natural and precise around phrasebook — useful whether you're preparing for real conversations at work or just building confidence with the vocabulary.
Do I need an account to track my progress?
No account is needed. Your progress through the exercise is tracked locally in your browser for the current session, and you can replay the module at any time.
How is this different from reading a blog article?
This exercise is an interactive drill that tests and reinforces specific phrasing through multiple-choice questions with instant feedback, while blog articles explain concepts and vocabulary in prose. The two work well together.
Where can I find more Phrasebook exercises?
See the Phrasebook hub for more modules like this one, or browse the full Exercises page for other IT-English topics.
Can I complete this exercise on my phone?
Yes — every exercise on CoderSlingo is fully responsive and works on phones and tablets, so you can practise anywhere.