Five messages that make a long silence easy to end

Name the gap in one line, give a real reason for writing now, and ask for nothing large. A short, honest message reads better than one that pretends no time has passed.

A message that pretends there was no gap can read worse than the gap itself. Name the silence in a line, give a reason for writing now, and keep the ask small. The five messages below differ in how much they ask of the reader, and each is complete as written.

Five ways back in

A one liner, when something reminded you of them

Fits a light contact; do not add a question.

Leila, I saw Atlas Thread mentioned in a design magazine this week and thought of you. I hope all is well in Beirut.

A three sentence note with a reason to talk

Fits someone you would like to speak with properly.

Tariq, it has been a long time since the dinner after the maritime law conference, and the silence is on me. I am writing because I read that Marsa Legal has opened a charter disputes practice. If you have time for a call next month, I would like to hear how it started.

One with a concrete offer

Fits a professional contact you can help.

Ravindra, we have not spoken since the supply chain panel in Riyadh, so I will keep this useful. The cold chain audit checklist I mentioned has been updated, and it bears on the temperature question you raised.

I can send a short summary this week if it would help. No reply needed if not.

One for a warmer relationship

Fits a friend or a former colleague.

Hana, I have been meaning to write for months and kept waiting for a good reason. There is not one, beyond missing our conversations since the biennale. How are you, and how is the studio?

One in a more formal register

Fits a senior contact you met once, a long time ago.

Dear Ms Ghannam,

I hope this finds you well. We met at the hospitality investment forum, and I have followed Wadi Sakina Resorts with interest since.

I would welcome the chance to reconnect, and would be glad to call at a time convenient to you.

With kind regards,

Three mistakes to avoid

• Apologising at length. One clause is enough.
• Opening with a request. The reason for writing should be about them.
• Writing a reunion essay. If they reply, the conversation can grow from there.

Where Marrow fits

Marrow’s daily brief lists the people going quiet, so a gap is noticed while it is still short. Ask it to draft a message to one of them, marked not sent. You send it yourself, because Marrow does not send messages on your behalf. Marrow is in Beta. It works from what you have given it, so someone you have never mentioned to Marrow will not appear.

Related

• Follow up message templates
• Checking in without asking for anything
• Messages after a job change
• Reconnecting after a long silence

Last updated 10 October 2026.