30 ways to say "I don't know"

"I don't know" is one of the most honest sentences in English, and one of the hardest to say in a meeting. Here are 30 other ways to say it: professional ones that come with a next step, casual ones for conversation, ways to share a hunch, and a few for when you would rather make people laugh.

Why the next step matters

On its own, "I don't know" can sound like the end of the conversation. Add what you will do about it, and it becomes a plan: "I don't know yet, I'll check with the team and reply by 3 p.m." That one extra sentence is the difference between sounding unprepared and sounding reliable.

1. Admit it plainly. "I don't have that number."
2. Share what you do know, if it helps: "Last month it was about the same."
3. Say what happens next, and when: "I'll confirm by end of day."

At work (honest, with a next step)

• "I don't have that information yet. I'll find out and get back to you."
• "Good question. Let me check and come back to you by [time]."
• "I'm not the best person to answer that. [Name or team] would know."
• "I don't want to guess. Can I confirm and reply in writing?"
• "That's outside what I've worked on, but I can find out."
• "I'd need to look at the data before I answer."
• "I'm not certain. Here's what I do know so far."
• "Let me look into it and update everyone after the meeting."

In conversation

• "I'm not sure."
• "No idea, honestly."
• "Good question. I've never thought about it."
• "I couldn't tell you."
• "Beats me."
• "Your guess is as good as mine."
• "I haven't the faintest idea."
• "That's a mystery to me too."

When you have a hunch

• "I'm not sure, but I think it's [answer]."
• "I don't know for certain, but my guess would be [answer]."
• "If I had to bet, I'd say [answer]."
• "I don't think so, but don't quote me."
• "Probably, but I'd double-check."
• "I might be wrong, but last I heard it was [answer]."

Playful

• "The Department is still investigating."
• "That information is classified, mostly because nobody has it."
• "I'll have to consult the stamp."
• "Under review. Indefinitely."
• "Ask me again after coffee."
• "Let me ask the big red button."
• "If I knew, I'd have a podcast."
• "Somewhere between yes, no and lunch."

"I don't know" or "I don't think so"?

They are easy to mix up, but they answer different things. "I don't know" means you have no answer at all. "I don't think so" means you lean towards no without being sure. If a friend asks whether the shop is open on Sunday and you are fairly sure it is not, "I don't think so" is more useful than "I don't know." More on that phrase in what "I don't think so" means.

Saying it in a meeting or an interview

• Do not bluff. A confident wrong answer is remembered longer than an honest "I'm not sure."
• Show your approach. "I don't know, but I'd start by checking the logs" tells people how you think.
• Follow up. The promise to get back to someone only counts if you actually do. A short message later builds more trust than the perfect answer on the spot.

When you are sure the answer is no

Sometimes "I don't know" is a polite way of avoiding a no. If you already know the answer, it is kinder to say it. See polite ways to say no and how to disagree politely. Still undecided? Ask the big red button at yesornobutton.com.

And when the internet is sure

The internet rarely says "I don't know." It says pumpkin spice starts in August and everyone is quitting their job to raise alpacas. The Department of Doubt answers one of those claims every day on the home page, and you can answer your own with Stamp Anything.

Questions about saying "I don't know"

How do you say "I don't know" professionally?

Admit it, then add a next step: "I don't have that number yet. I'll check and get back to you by 3 p.m." The next step is what makes it sound professional rather than unprepared.

Is it bad to say "I don't know" at work?

No. Guessing and being wrong does more damage than an honest "I'm not sure." People trust colleagues who know the edges of what they know, as long as they follow up.

What is the difference between "I don't know" and "I don't think so"?

"I don't know" means you have no answer. "I don't think so" means you lean towards no but are not certain. If someone asks "Is the meeting still on?" and you suspect it was cancelled, "I don't think so" is more helpful.

How do you say "I don't know" in an interview?

Be honest, then show how you would find out: "I haven't worked with that tool, but here's how I'd get up to speed," or "I'm not sure, but my first step would be to check the logs." Interviewers usually care more about the approach than the fact.

The Department of Doubt is satire, but this page is a plain guide. See the satire notice and about the Department.