Ask HN: How do you say “I don’t know, but I’ll get back to you” confidently? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: How do you say “I don’t know, but I’ll get back to you” confidently?

#61

Post by gorbachev » Thu, Oct 02, 2025, 6:04 PM UTC

JohnFen wrote: post #11

I say it exactly like that. "I don't know, but I'll find out and get back to you." They key isn't how you say it, the key is that you consistently do it so that people learn that when you say it, you mean it.

Agreed. I usually add "...by the end of the day", "...after my next meeting" or whatever I feel is the appropriate timeline to find the answer to their question and then follow up.

If you keep your word consistently, people will trust you and the conversations will become easier and easier.

Re: Ask HN: How do you say “I don’t know, but I’ll get back to you” confidently?

#62

Post by cyberdick » Thu, Oct 02, 2025, 6:16 PM UTC

Learn from the former white house press secretary. She was effortless doing this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyIxdbJOXnQ

Re: Ask HN: How do you say “I don’t know, but I’ll get back to you” confidently?

#63

Post by rich_sasha » Thu, Oct 02, 2025, 7:48 PM UTC

JohnFen wrote: post #11

I say it exactly like that. "I don't know, but I'll find out and get back to you." They key isn't how you say it, the key is that you consistently do it so that people learn that when you say it, you mean it.

This. I add to it sometimes, "I don't want to tell you something now then go back on it [when I thought about it properly]".

Because how do you challenge this? Insist someone should know an answer without thinking? Insist their guess should be the same as a thoroughly thought out answer. At the same time you're not being evasive, or saying that you have no idea. You're stating you want to deliver a high quality answer first time round.

Even if people push back on this, you made it clear you're offering a guess, not a considered opinion. Nothing wrong with providing a clearly labelled guess, then changing it later.

Re: Ask HN: How do you say “I don’t know, but I’ll get back to you” confidently?

#64

Post by deafpolygon » Fri, Oct 03, 2025, 4:24 PM UTC

Simply tell them you need to look at it later when you have cycles and get back to them soon. Or ask them to email you with the question because you’re busy with other things and that you’ll respond with an answer as soon as you’re able.