
A Quick Heads-Up
Discover how heads-ups, reminders, and warnings work in short workplace messages—and what each one asks you to notice.
Preview
Questions with solutions-
1. Επιλέξτε τη σωστή απάντηση.
What does “a heads-up” mean here?
Just a heads-up: the team photo has been moved to the courtyard. It's still at noon.
- Permission to change the location
- Advance information about a change
- A request to change the location
The sender wants people to know something before the photo happens.
Show solution
- Advance information about a change
A heads-up helps someone prepare for something before it happens, often in a brief, informal message.
-
2. Συμπληρώστε το κενό.
I'll ___ you a heads-up once I know when the painters are coming.
- make
- do
- give
Think of the verb used in “___ someone some information.”
Show solution
I'll give you a heads-up once I know when the painters are coming.
The usual expression is “give someone a heads-up.” You can also say “give someone a heads-up about” a particular topic.
-
3. Συμπληρώστε το κενό.
This is a reminder ___ send your timesheet by Friday.
- to
- about
- for
The next word, “send,” is the base form of a verb.
Show solution
This is a reminder to send your timesheet by Friday.
Use “a reminder to” before an action. Use “a reminder about” before a noun phrase, such as “the deadline.”
-
4. Επιλέξτε τη σωστή απάντηση.
What does this message suggest?
Quick reminder: our call is at 2 p.m., as we agreed yesterday.
- The call has been moved to a new time.
- Someone has already missed the call.
- The time was already agreed on.
Notice the reference to yesterday's agreement.
Show solution
- The time was already agreed on.
A reminder brings known information back to someone's attention. It does not necessarily mean that anyone has forgotten.
-
5. Επιλέξτε τη σωστή απάντηση.
What should the reader do now?
Warning: the heater's cord is damaged. Do not plug the heater in until the cord has been replaced.
- Leave the heater unplugged.
- Use the heater only for a few minutes.
- Plug the heater in to check whether it works.
The message sets a safety condition that must be met first.
Show solution
- Leave the heater unplugged.
Warnings often connect a risk with a clear action that helps prevent harm.
-
6. Επιλέξτε τη σωστή απάντηση.
When will this colleague receive the information?
I'll give you a heads-up before the new schedule is announced to the whole team.
- At the same time as everyone else
- Before the wider announcement
- Only after the new schedule takes effect
Separate the early message from the team announcement.
Show solution
- Before the wider announcement
A heads-up can be an early notice to one person before information is shared more widely.
-
7. Επιλέξτε τη σωστή απάντηση.
What is the reader expected to do?
Heads-up: I'm renaming the shared folders this evening. No action is needed from you.
- Approve the change before it happens.
- Rename the folders this evening.
- Be aware of the change without taking action.
The final sentence makes the reader's role clear.
Show solution
- Be aware of the change without taking action.
A heads-up is not automatically a request. It can simply prevent a later change from being a surprise.
-
8. Επιλέξτε τη σωστή απάντηση.
Which version is more formal but keeps the same purpose?
Just a heads-up: the staff entrance will be closed tomorrow.
- Please note that the staff entrance will be closed tomorrow.
- Please confirm whether the staff entrance should be closed tomorrow.
- Please explain why the staff entrance must be closed tomorrow.
The original gives information rather than asking a question.
Show solution
- Please note that the staff entrance will be closed tomorrow.
“Please note that” is a more formal way to draw attention to information. “Just a heads-up” suits many everyday workplace messages.
-
9. Επιλέξτε τη σωστή απάντηση.
Why does this message function as a warning despite its casual opening?
Just a heads-up: opening that attachment could install harmful software. Don't open it.
- It repeats a task that the reader already agreed to do.
- It identifies a risk and tells the reader how to avoid it.
- It shares a routine change that requires no action.
Look at the possible result and the final sentence, not just the opening phrase.
Show solution
- It identifies a risk and tells the reader how to avoid it.
“Heads-up” can introduce a warning. The message's content matters more than its opening label.
-
10. Επιλέξτε τη σωστή απάντηση.
What is the status of the change?
Heads-up: we may need to move tomorrow's meeting online. I'll confirm by 4 today.
- It is possible but not yet confirmed.
- It is a final decision that will simply be repeated later.
- It has been ruled out, so the meeting must stay in person.
Pay attention to “may” and the promise to confirm.
Show solution
- It is possible but not yet confirmed.
“May” signals possibility. A heads-up can help people prepare even before a decision is final.
-
11. Επιλέξτε τη σωστή απάντηση.
Which interpretation matches the scope of the warning?
Warning: if you send this report outside the company, you could expose private customer information. Sharing it with your project team is allowed.
- Avoid all sharing, including sharing with the project team.
- Avoid project-team sharing; sharing outside the company is allowed.
- Avoid sharing outside the company; project-team sharing is allowed.
The risk is linked to a particular group of recipients.
Show solution
- Avoid sharing outside the company; project-team sharing is allowed.
A warning can apply to one specific action rather than every related action. Here, “if” defines the situation that creates the risk.
-
12. Επιλέξτε τη σωστή απάντηση.
What do these messages mean for someone submitting on Friday?
Reminder: the application deadline is still Friday at 5 p.m.
Heads-up: the submission portal will be unavailable on Friday from 3 to 4 p.m.- They have until 6 p.m. because the portal closes for an hour.
- They can submit after the portal reopens at 4 p.m., before the 5 p.m. deadline.
- They must submit before 3 p.m. because the portal will not reopen in time.
Keep the unchanged deadline separate from the temporary outage.
Show solution
- They can submit after the portal reopens at 4 p.m., before the 5 p.m. deadline.
The reminder preserves the existing deadline; the heads-up adds a planning detail. New information does not automatically change an earlier requirement.