“It was a pleasure working with you” is a classic, respectful phrase people use to express appreciation after collaborating with someone. It’s polite, professional, and positive—but because it’s so common, it can sometimes sound generic or repetitive.
Whether you’re sending a formal email, closing a project, writing a LinkedIn message, or thanking a colleague after a successful partnership, having a variety of alternative expressions helps you communicate more naturally and more effectively. In 2025’s communication landscape—where clarity, authenticity, and relationship-building matter—choosing the right phrase shows confidence, professionalism, and emotional intelligence.
This guide gives you 27 strong alternatives that feel genuine, polished, and human—each with meaning, usage, tips, and four real-world example sentences.
When Should You Use These Alternatives?
Use these alternatives when:
- You want to end a project or collaboration on a warm, professional note.
- You’re emailing a client, coworker, or partner after completing a task together.
- You want to sound more unique than the standard phrase.
- A message requires a more formal, more heartfelt, or more friendly tone.
- You’re writing performance feedback, follow-up messages, or business thank-yous.
- You want to leave a lasting, positive impression after a successful interaction.
Avoid using these alternatives when:
- The collaboration was unsuccessful and requires conflict-resolution instead of compliments.
- Legal, disciplinary, or highly formal communication requires neutral wording.
27 Other Ways to Say “It Was a Pleasure Working With You”
Below are 27 polished, professional alternatives with definitions, usage tips, and natural examples.
1. “I really enjoyed collaborating with you.”
Meaning: You found the teamwork enjoyable and valuable.
Usage: Great for positive, friendly work relationships.
Tip: Works well in both email and spoken communication.
Examples:
- I really enjoyed collaborating with you on this project.
- Thanks again—I really enjoyed collaborating with you.
- I really enjoyed collaborating with you and hope we can do it again.
- It’s been great; I really enjoyed collaborating with you this quarter.
2. “Working with you has been a wonderful experience.”
Meaning: The entire partnership was pleasant and meaningful.
Usage: Ideal after long-term projects.
Tip: Slightly warm and more expressive.
Examples:
- Working with you has been a wonderful experience from start to finish.
- I appreciate everything—working with you has truly been a wonderful experience.
- Thank you for being so supportive; it’s been a wonderful experience.
- Working with you has been a wonderful experience, and I hope our paths cross again.
3. “I appreciated the opportunity to work with you.”
Meaning: You’re grateful for the chance to collaborate.
Usage: Perfect for formal business communication.
Tip: Works especially well when speaking to senior professionals.
Examples:
- I truly appreciated the opportunity to work with you on this campaign.
- Thank you—I appreciated the opportunity to work with you.
- I appreciated the opportunity to work with you and learn from your approach.
- It was a productive journey, and I appreciated the opportunity to work with you.
4. “It was great partnering with you.”
Meaning: The teamwork felt successful and balanced.
Usage: Suitable for colleagues, clients, or cross-team cooperation.
Tip: Friendly and modern.
Examples:
- It was great partnering with you on this initiative.
- I enjoyed the process—it was great partnering with you.
- It was great partnering with you; hope we can work together again soon.
- Thanks for your support—it was great partnering with you.
5. “I valued our time working together.”
Meaning: The collaboration was meaningful and important.
Usage: Works well in thoughtful, respectful messages.
Tip: Slightly formal but warm.
Examples:
- I valued our time working together and everything I learned from the team.
- Truly, I valued our time working together on this project.
- Thank you—I valued our time working together more than you know.
- I valued our time working together and hope we stay connected.
6. “It was a privilege working with you.”
Meaning: You feel honored by the collaboration.
Usage: Best for high-level professionals or respected colleagues.
Tip: Adds a tone of sincerity and respect.
Examples:
- It was a privilege working with you and learning from your expertise.
- Thank you—It was a privilege working with you.
- It was truly a privilege working with you on this initiative.
- I’m grateful; it was a privilege working with you these past months.
7. “I truly enjoyed being part of this team with you.”
Meaning: You liked working together as teammates.
Usage: Ideal for group projects or team-based tasks.
Tip: Warm and collaborative.
Examples:
- I truly enjoyed being part of this team with you.
- Thank you—I truly enjoyed being part of this team with you.
- I truly enjoyed the teamwork and everything we accomplished together.
- It’s been rewarding; I truly enjoyed being part of this team with you.
8. “It was inspiring working with you.”
Meaning: You found the collaboration motivating.
Usage: Great for creative or leadership-related work.
Tip: Compliments the other person’s skill and character.
Examples:
- It was inspiring working with you on this project.
- Truly, it was inspiring working with you every step of the way.
- I appreciate your vision—it was inspiring working with you.
- Your energy made this fun; it was inspiring working with you.
9. “I’m grateful for the chance to work alongside you.”
Meaning: You appreciate their presence and contribution.
Usage: Polite and semi-formal.
Tip: Good for thank-you emails.
Examples:
- I’m grateful for the chance to work alongside you.
- Thank you—I’m grateful for the chance to work alongside you.
- I’m grateful for the opportunity to work alongside you on this initiative.
- It’s been a pleasure; I’m grateful for the chance to work alongside you.
10. “It’s been wonderful collaborating with you.”
Meaning: The experience was positive from beginning to end.
Usage: Any friendly professional context.
Tip: Perfect for wrap-up messages.
Examples:
- It’s been wonderful collaborating with you.
- Truly, it’s been wonderful collaborating with you on this.
- I’m glad we worked together—it’s been wonderful.
- Thanks for your time—it’s been wonderful collaborating with you.
11. “You’ve been great to work with.”
Meaning: You’re praising their personality or professionalism.
Usage: Light, friendly, and natural.
Tip: Excellent for everyday workplace communication.
Examples:
- You’ve been great to work with throughout this project.
- Thanks—you’ve been great to work with.
- I appreciate your effort; you’ve been great to work with.
- Seriously, you’ve been great to work with from day one.
12. “I enjoyed every moment of working with you.”
Meaning: The entire experience was positive.
Usage: Good for long-term collaborations.
Tip: Warm and thoughtful.
Examples:
- I enjoyed every moment of working with you.
- Truly, I enjoyed every moment of this collaboration.
- I enjoyed every moment of working with you—and I learned a lot.
- Thanks—I enjoyed every moment of working with you and the team.
13. “I’m glad we had the chance to work together.”
Meaning: You appreciate the shared experience.
Usage: Ideal for concluding a project politely.
Tip: Neutral and universally appropriate.
Examples:
- I’m glad we had the chance to work together.
- It’s been a great experience—I’m glad we had the chance to collaborate.
- Thank you—I’m glad we had the chance to work together on this.
- I’m glad we had the chance to work together these past weeks.
14. “This collaboration has been truly rewarding.”
Meaning: The experience benefited you professionally or personally.
Usage: Perfect for meaningful projects.
Tip: Use when you want to sound reflective and appreciative.
Examples:
- This collaboration has been truly rewarding.
- I want to say—this collaboration has been truly rewarding for me.
- Thank you—this collaboration has been truly rewarding.
- Working with your team has been truly rewarding.
15. “You made this project a great experience.”
Meaning: You credit them for the positive outcome.
Usage: Great for acknowledging helpful colleagues.
Tip: Shows appreciation for their personal contribution.
Examples:
- You made this project a great experience for everyone.
- Truly, you made this project a great experience.
- Thank you—you made this project a great experience from the start.
- Working with you made this project a great experience overall.
16. “I learned a lot from working with you.”
Meaning: The collaboration was educational.
Usage: Perfect when talking to someone more experienced.
Tip: Adds humility and respect.
Examples:
- I learned a lot from working with you.
- Thank you—I genuinely learned a lot from working with you.
- I’ve grown professionally; I learned a lot from working with you.
- It was an honor—I learned a lot from working with you.
17. “You’ve been a fantastic partner throughout this process.”
Meaning: They were reliable and supportive.
Usage: For clients, co-workers, or contributors.
Tip: Slightly energetic and enthusiastic.
Examples:
- You’ve been a fantastic partner throughout this process.
- Truly, you’ve been a fantastic partner from day one.
- Thanks—you’ve been a fantastic partner through every step.
- I appreciate everything—you’ve been a fantastic partner.
18. “I appreciated your professionalism and teamwork.”
Meaning: You acknowledge their behavior and work style.
Usage: Great for formal workplace messages.
Tip: Ideal when emailing leadership-level professionals.
Examples:
- I appreciated your professionalism and teamwork throughout.
- Thank you—I really appreciated your professionalism.
- I appreciated your professionalism and teamwork during this project.
- You were excellent—I appreciated your professionalism and teamwork.
19. “It’s been a pleasure getting to know you and working with you.”
Meaning: The personal and professional connection mattered.
Usage: Great for new colleagues or clients.
Tip: Warm but still professional.
Examples:
- It’s been a pleasure getting to know you and working with you.
- Truly, it’s been a pleasure both knowing and collaborating with you.
- Thank you—it’s been a pleasure getting to know you and working with you.
- I enjoyed this experience—it’s been a pleasure working with you.
20. “Our collaboration has been excellent.”
Meaning: You believe the teamwork was high-quality.
Usage: Good for performance-based interactions.
Tip: Solid, confident, and straightforward.
Examples:
- Our collaboration has been excellent from the start.
- Thank you—our collaboration has been excellent.
- I’m pleased—our collaboration has been excellent overall.
- I’m glad we worked together; our collaboration has been excellent.
21. “I hope we can work together again soon.”
Meaning: You’d like to collaborate again in the future.
Usage: Makes a positive final impression.
Tip: Add this when closing ongoing relationships.
Examples:
- I hope we can work together again soon.
- It’s been great—I hope we can collaborate again soon.
- Thanks for everything; I hope we can work together again soon.
- I’d love another chance—I hope we can work together again.
22. “You’ve been an incredibly supportive colleague.”
Meaning: You acknowledge their helpfulness.
Usage: Good for internal teams.
Tip: Works well during farewells or transitions.
Examples:
- You’ve been an incredibly supportive colleague.
- Thank you—you’ve been an incredibly supportive colleague throughout.
- I appreciate your guidance—you’ve been an incredibly supportive colleague.
- Truly—you’ve been an incredibly supportive colleague and friend.
23. “Your contributions made all the difference.”
Meaning: Their work had a significant impact.
Usage: Great for encouraging team members.
Tip: Ideal for recognition and appreciation messages.
Examples:
- Your contributions made all the difference in this project.
- Truly, your contributions made all the difference.
- Thank you—your contributions made all the difference.
- We succeeded because your contributions made all the difference.
24. “I’ve truly enjoyed this working relationship.”
Meaning: You appreciated the ongoing cooperation.
Usage: Best for long-term colleagues or clients.
Tip: Sounds formal yet warm.
Examples:
- I’ve truly enjoyed this working relationship.
- Thank you—I’ve truly enjoyed our working relationship.
- I’ve truly enjoyed this working relationship and hope it continues.
- It’s been great—I’ve truly enjoyed this working relationship.
25. “You made the entire process smooth and enjoyable.”
Meaning: They made the work easier.
Usage: Good for clients, vendors, or team members.
Tip: Appreciative and specific.
Examples:
- You made the entire process smooth and enjoyable.
- Thank you—you made this process smooth and enjoyable.
- The project was better because you made it smooth and enjoyable.
- You truly made the entire process smooth and enjoyable.
26. “Your professionalism made working with you a pleasure.”
Meaning: You admire how they approach their work.
Usage: Excellent when addressing senior or formal contacts.
Tip: Polished and respectful.
Examples:
- Your professionalism made working with you a pleasure.
- Truly, your professionalism made this collaboration a pleasure.
- I appreciate your effort—your professionalism made all the difference.
- Your professionalism made working with you a genuine pleasure.
27. “Thank you for being such a great collaborator.”
Meaning: You appreciate their partnership.
Usage: Perfect for teams, academic work, and group projects.
Tip: Simple, sincere, and widely applicable.
Examples:
- Thank you for being such a great collaborator throughout this project.
- Truly, thank you for being such a great collaborator.
- I appreciate your help—thank you for being such a great collaborator.
- You made this fun—thank you for being such a great collaborator.
Bonus Section: Polite & Professional Short Phrases
Here are quick, polished variations you can use in emails:
- “A pleasure collaborating with you.”
- “Thanks for your great teamwork.”
- “I enjoyed working with you—let’s stay connected.”
- “Your support made this an excellent experience.”
- “Looking forward to future collaborations.”
Final Writing Tips: How to Choose the Right Phrase
- Pick a phrase that matches your relationship with the person (formal, friendly, or neutral).
- Use warmer expressions for long-term partnerships and more formal ones for business clients.
- Avoid overly emotional phrases in highly professional settings.
- Add a personal note if you want the message to feel sincere.
- Keep your tone consistent with the rest of your email or message.
- Choose simpler phrases when you’re writing to global or ESL audiences.
- If the collaboration continues, use future-focused variations like “looking forward to working together again.”
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