Business English, one word at a time
Phrases, idioms and email lines you’ll actually use at work, with real examples and notes on when each one fits.
Business English Phrases for Meetings: 40 Lines You’ll Actually Use
Most meetings in English run on the same 40 or so phrases: “Let’s kick off” to start, “I’d like to weigh in” to give your view, “Let’s take it offline” to protect the agenda, and “So, next steps” to close. Learn them by stage of the meeting, not alphabetically, and you’ll always have the next line ready.
Professional Email Phrases in English: What to Write (and What to Avoid)
A good work email in English needs five kinds of phrases: an opener (“As discussed…”), a clear request (“Could you send…by Thursday?”), context (“For context…”), a follow-up line (“Just checking in on…”) and a sign-off that matches the relationship (“Thanks” for colleagues, “Kind regards” for formal contacts). Swap stiff phrases like “Please find attached” for “I’ve attached”.
Corporate Jargon Explained: What “Circle Back”, “Bandwidth” and 25 More Really Mean
Corporate jargon is shorthand: “circle back” means return to a topic later, “bandwidth” means time or capacity, “move the needle” means make a noticeable difference, and “table it” means postpone in the US but discuss now in the UK. Understand all of it, use a few of the clearest ones, and translate the rest into plain English when it matters.
English for Job Interviews: Phrases and Sample Answers for the Questions You’ll Get
Interviews in English follow a predictable script: “Tell me about yourself” (answer in about 90 seconds: present, past, why this role), behavioral questions that start with “Tell me about a time when…” (answer with STAR: situation, task, action, result), salary expectations (give a researched range) and “Do you have any questions for us?” (always say yes).
Negotiation Phrases in English: How to Ask, Push Back and Close the Deal
Good negotiation English is mostly polite conditionals: “Would you be open to…?”, “We could do X if you could do Y”, “Is there any wiggle room on…?” and “I’m not in a position to…”. Know your BATNA (best alternative) and walk-away point before you start, never give a concession without asking for something back, and confirm verbal agreements in writing the same day.
Small Talk at Work in English: Openers, Follow-ups and Graceful Exits
Small talk at work has three parts: an easy opener (“How’s your week going?”, “Where are you based?”), one follow-up question that shows you listened (“How did you get into product design?”), and a polite exit (“I should let you go, I know you have another call”). Keep answers short, ask back, and stick to safe topics: weekend, travel, work projects, the weather.
Presentation Phrases in English: Signposting From Hook to Q&A
Clear presentations in English rely on signposting: tell the audience where you are and what comes next. Open with a hook and a roadmap (“First the problem, then two options, then my recommendation”), use transitions (“This brings me to…”, “Moving on to costs…”), summarize (“To sum up…”) and end with a call to action before you “open the floor” to questions.
How to Disagree Politely at Work in English (Without Sounding Rude)
In English, polite disagreement has three moves: acknowledge (“I see your point” / “Fair point”), soften (“I’m not sure that…”, “I wonder if…”) and offer an alternative (“What if we…?”). Avoid flat lines like “You’re wrong” or “That won’t work”; “I see it a bit differently” says the same thing and keeps the conversation going.
30 Phrasal Verbs for Work, With Real Office Examples
Thirty phrasal verbs cover most of what happens at work: starting (kick off), communicating (reach out, loop in, follow up), deciding (weigh in, sign off on), fixing (iron out, hash out) and finishing (wrap up). Learn each one with its preposition, a work example and its noun form (“a follow-up”, “a kick-off”), because the noun is often what you’ll write.
How to Learn Business English Vocabulary That Actually Sticks
Learn fewer words, better: pick phrases from your own meetings and emails, learn each with a workplace example and a note on when it fits, review them on a spaced-repetition schedule (1, 3, 7, then 14+ days), and use each new phrase in a real message within 48 hours. Ten minutes a day beats an hour on Sunday.