How to Ask for Feedback by Email: Specific Requests That Help

“What do you think?” can work when you want an open conversation. When you need to finish a piece of work, a narrower request often produces feedback you can use.

Tell the reader what stage the work is at and which parts you want them to review. Otherwise, they may spend time correcting details you already plan to change.

If you are the reviewer, learn how to give specific feedback on a draft by email, with comments tied to the text and the intended reader.

Request feedback on an early draft

Subject: Feedback on the workshop outline

Hi Priya,

Could you review the workshop outline by Thursday? At this stage, I’d like feedback on the order of the sessions and whether the exercises suit new managers.

The wording is still a draft, so there is no need to edit individual sentences yet. Comments in the document would be easiest for me to collect.

Thanks, Alex

The scope protects the reviewer’s time as well as yours. If you need detailed editing, say that and leave enough time for it.

Ask for feedback after a presentation

Subject: Feedback on Tuesday’s customer presentation

Hi Jordan,

I’d appreciate your feedback on Tuesday’s presentation. I was trying to explain the reporting changes without going too far into technical detail.

Was there a section where the explanation became hard to follow? One or two examples would help me prepare the next version.

Thanks, Lee

This gives the person a specific aspect to remember. Asking for an example is more useful than asking them to rate your overall performance without context.

Make the deadline realistic

Include the date you need feedback and explain why it matters. “By Wednesday so I can revise before Friday’s rehearsal” lets the recipient judge whether they can help.

If you don’t know their workload, ask whether the review is feasible. A long document sent late in the day with a next-morning deadline may require a conversation about scope.

When several people are reviewing, identify where comments should go and who resolves conflicting suggestions. Otherwise, you can end up with several versions and no clear decision.

After receiving feedback, reply with a clear revision plan: acknowledge the review and say what you will change. You don’t need to accept every suggestion, but a short explanation can help the reviewer understand your choice. If a comment is too broad, use a clarification email before revising.

For a final decision rather than open feedback, see how to request approval.