Meaning & use
ping an email
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phraseinformal
To send someone a quick email, often to ask a question or give a short update.
Grammar: Used as a verb phrase. You ping an email to a person: 'I'll ping an email to Sam.' You can also ping someone an email: 'Ping me an email.'
Patterns
- ping an email to someone
- ping someone an email
- ping an email about something
I'll ping an email to the design team about the new logo.
Could you ping me an email with the meeting notes?
She pinged an email to her manager asking for a day off.
Common combinations
- ping an email to
- He pinged an email to the whole department.
- ping someone an email
- Ping me an email when you get a chance.
- ping an email back
- I'll ping an email back to confirm.
- ping an email about
- She pinged an email about the schedule change.
Synonyms and how they differ
- send an email
- This is the standard, neutral way to say it; use it in formal writing instead of 'ping an email'.
- drop someone an email
- This is also informal but slightly warmer and less urgent than 'ping an email'.
Word family
- ping verb
- To send a brief electronic message, often by text or email; 'ping an email' is a specific use of this verb.
Commonly confused: ping an email or ping?
ping an email vs ping
'Ping' alone usually means to send a quick text or instant message, not a full email. 'Ping an email' makes it clear you mean email.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'ping an email' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The pattern is 'ping an email to someone.' Option B is missing 'to,' option C changes the meaning to doing it on someone's behalf, and option D uses the wrong preposition.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ping an email”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.