if you will remember

[Curiosity1]

Hi,

Which of the following sounds more natural?

1. If you remember, I had told you about this.
2. If you will remember, I had told you about this.

Thanks

 

[Rover_KE]

Neither is natural.

If you remember, I told you about this.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

And in the US, we'd probably say:

- I told you about this. Remember?

or:

- Remember? I told you about this.

 

[PeterCW]

And in the US, we'd probably say:

- I told you about this. Remember?

or:

- Remember? I told you about this.

In the UK, that would be an acceptable alternative as well.

In spoken English, "if you remember" will sound sarcastic if the "if" is heavily stressed. As a simple phrase, there should be no particular stress.

 

[Curiosity1]

And in the US, we'd probably say:

- I told you about this. Remember?

or:

- Remember? I told you about this.

I need to use it an email.

 

[emsr2d2]

How you phrase it depends on how confrontational you want to be. Are you annoyed with the other person because they've forgotten something you told them? Did you tell them in person or by email?

If I was annoyed and wanted them to know it, I'd write:

As I'm sure you remember, I told you about this on [day/date].
I told you about this on [day/date]. Have you forgotten?
I told you about this on [day/date]. Have you lost my email?

If I was trying to keep things civil, I'd write:

Please see my email below, sent on [day/date]. (I would attach a copy of the email.)
I can send you the information again, if that would help.
Oh, I thought I told you about this last week (or whenever). Am I imagining it?

 

[Curiosity1]

Thanks.
It is not a confrontational email. I thought I could use the term " if you will remember" to remind the other person that I had flagged that issue to them a few months ago.

 

[Tarheel]

Thanks.
It is not a confrontational email. I thought I could use the term "if you will remember" to remind the other person that I [STRIKE]had[/STRIKE] flagged that issue to them a few months ago.

You could remind the person when you last discussed the issue. Then fill them in on anything they need to know about it. (Don't say "If you will remember".)

 

[emsr2d2]

I thought I could use the term "if you will remember" to remind the other person that I had flagged that issue to them a few months ago.

You can't.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I need to use it in an email.

Okay. In that case, say something like:

- You'll remember that I told you about this.

- You might remember that I told you about this.

- You may recall that I mentioned this.

As other have pointed out, your original phrasing sounds confrontational.