100 ways to say it
Content
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
100 WAYS TO SAY IT IN BUSINESS ENGLISH
FOREWORD
This is an abridged version of my e-book, 400 Ways to Say It in Business
English, which I started compiling when a student asked me for a list of
“phrases to say” in different business situations. He had gone through a few
English courses and felt that teachers had always taught him the same
functions. “I’ve learnt how to ask someone to open a window several
times,” he commented, “but no one has told me what to say when I have to
give bad news.”
100 Ways to Say it in Business English is for people who want a quick
guide on what to say in common situations. Five examples have been
written for each function to give readers the opportunity to find the phrase
that suits their needs best.
All in all, a choice of five hundred phrases that, I hope, can help you speak
business English more effectively.
The full book can be bought at www.amazon.com. It includes four hundred
situations, with sixty-two that refer exclusively to telephoning. In total, two
thousand expressions to help students with their business English.
ABOUT THIS E-BOOK
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, Barcelona, 2010.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored
in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form without written
authorization from the author.
You may reach the author at [email protected], at + 34 934 230
229 or at these websites: www.englishphone.biz – www.words300.com
www.barcelonaenglish.com – www.madridenglish.net
LIST OF CONTENTS
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
INTRODUCTIONS
1. Introduce yourself formally
2. Introduce yourself less formally
3. Reply to a formal introduction
4. Reply to an informal introduction
5. Introduce yourself before a speech
6. Introduce people to the public
7. Say hello
STARTING A SPEECH OR MEETING
8. Signal the start of a speech
9. Start a meeting
10. Introduce a summary
11. Explain your purpose formally
12. Explain your purpose informally
PRESENTING
13. Present the first item
14. Present the next item
15. Present evidence formally
16. Present evidence less formally
17. Present data in order
18. Present apparently contrasting data
ASKING
19. Ask for information
20. Ask for evidence
21. Ask for additional information
22. Ask for further details
23. Ask about meals
24. Ask how to contact
CORRECTING
25. Correct misunderstanding
26. Correct what’s wrong
CONDUCTING A MEETING
27. Keep a meeting in order
28. Keep a meeting in track
29. Come back to a topic
30. Postpone an issue
31. Focus on the main issue
32. Emphasise on a point
33. Play down a point
34. Slow down a meeting
35. Move the meeting forward
CHANGING TOPICS
36. Change topics formally
37. Change topics less formally
38. Change topics informally
INTERRUPTING
39. Interrupt very politely
40. Interrupt politely
41. Interrupt strongly
42. Interrupt very strongly
43. Avoid interruption
44. Allow interruption
AGREEING & DISAGREEING
45. Check for consensus
46. Agree with opinions
47. Disagree partially
48. Disagree strongly
49. Disagree less strongly
50. Disagree politely
51. Soften disagreement
RESERVATION
52. Express reservation
INSTRUCTIONS
53. Give instructions – start
54. Give instructions – continue
55. Give instructions – finish
GOOD & BAD NEWS
56. Introduce good news
57. Introduce bad news formally
58. Introduce bad news informally
59. Express condolence
COMPLAINTS & CERTAINTY
60. Complain strongly
61. Complain less strongly
62. Reply to complaint
63. Express something sure
64. Express something probable
65. Express something possible
66. Express something improbable
67. Express something impossible
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
PROVIDING DETAILS
68. Add further information
69. Provide more detail
GENERALISING
70. Generalise
DESCRIBING
71. Describe projects
72. Describe fluctuation
73. Describe stability
74. Describe increase
75. Describe gradual increase
76. Describe sudden increase
CAUSE & CONSEQUENCE
77. Talk about causes
78. Talk about consequences
79. Warn about consequences
CONVINCING
80. Convince
81. Describe advantages
82. Get people to act
PROPOSALS & SUGGESTIONS
83. Propose solutions
84. Explore options
85. Propose what is needed
86. Request what is needed
RECOMMENDING
87. Recommend a person or firm
88. Recommend an action
DESCRIBING A PRODUCT
89. Describe a product
90. Describe features of a product
FINISH A SPEECH OR MEETING
91. Refer to what has been said
92. Summarise
93. Finish a speech
94. Close a meeting
95. Close a conversation
THANKING
96. Say thanks
97. Thank people for coming
98. Thank for letting you speak
GOODBYE
99. Say bye formally
100. Say bye informally
If you enjoy this e-book you might also
like 400 Ways to Say It in Business
English. It has two thousand phrases and
includes a whole chapter on the most
common telephone expressions.
You can buy the 400 Ways e-book at
www.amazon.com
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
1. INTRODUCE YOURSELF FORMALLY
I’d like to introduce myself
I’d like to introduce myself. I’m Jack Todd from Dynacore.
Let me introduce myself
Let me introduce myself. Dr Steve Perkins.
How do you do?
How do you do? My name is Helen Byrne. I run the HR division.
Nice to meet you
Nice to meet you. John Bloor. We spoke on the phone last week,
I'm delighted to meet you
I’m delighted to meet you. My name is Jeffers.
2. INTRODUCE YOURSELF LESS FORMALLY
I’m
I’m Jack, Susan’s cousin.
Hi
Hi. Nice to meet you. I’m Susan but everyone calls me Sue.
Hello
Hello. Sam Patrick from Sales.
Jack
Jack, from Geneva.
My name is
My name is Liz, Liz Roberts.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
3. REPLY TO A FORMAL
INTRODUCTION
Nice to meet you
Nice to meet you, Colonel Wrigley.
Pleased to meet you
Pleased to meet you, Angela. I’m Dr Slithers.
I’m delighted to meet you.
I’m delighted to meet you. Welcome to London.
My pleasure
My pleasure. Have you had a good trip?
It’s an honour
It’s an honour, ambassador.
4. REPLY TO AN INFORMAL
INTRODUCTION
Hi
Hi. I’m Sam.
Hello
Hello. Andrew Damson.
Nice to get to meet you too
Nice to get to met you too. I’m Sarah.
Lovely to meet you
Lovely to meet you. Would you like a drink?
Buy the full version of
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100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
How are you?
How are you? It’s good to get to know you at last!
5. INTRODUCE YOURSELF BEFORE A SPEECH
I am
I am Dr. Jack Smith from Barcelona. I work at our R&D facility.
I’d like to introduce myself
I’d like to introduce myself. I am Steve Platt, Chief of Maintenance.
Let me introduce myself
Let me introduce myself. Tom Salinger.
My name is
My name is John Styles. I run Riversoft’s European operations.
I’m called
I’m called Roberta Woodall. Robbie to my friends.
6. INTRODUCE PEOPLE TO THE PUBLIC
This is
This is Amy Stevens.
May I introduce?
May I introduce Sally Young? Sally’s our PR officer.
Let me introduce
Let me introduce John Oats. He will be joining our sales team.
I’d like you to meet
I’d like you to meet Dr Li. She’s the Head Surgeon at BC Hospital.
Have you already met Maria Jones?
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
Have you already met Maria Jones? She runs the Moscow office.
7. SAY HELLO
Hi
Hi, John.
Hello
Hello. May I come in?
How are you?
How are you, Betsy?
Good morning
Good morning, Mr Hendricks.
Nice to see you
Nice to see you again, Paul
8. SIGNAL THE START OF A SPEECH
Right. Shall we start?
Right Ladies and Gentlemen. Shall we start with our presentation?
OK. Let’s get going.
OK everybody. Let’s get going. We only have twenty minutes.
Right then. We are ready
Right then. We are ready. The first point in the agenda is cost-cutting.
Is everybody already here?
Fine. Is everybody here? Let’s get on then.
Time to begin
Well, time to begin. We’ll set off with an outline.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
9. START A MEETING
Let's get started.
Let’s get the meetings started. John, would you like to begin?
We need to discuss
We need to discuss whether this company needs two factories.
We will to talk about
We will talk about the hazards involved in our Gulf of Mexico drilling.
What brings us here?
What brings us here today? The hope of finding solutions.
We will study
We will carefully study all the projects that were brought forward.
10. INTRODUCE A SUMMARY
To put it briefly
To put it briefly, we have a problem with sales.
In a few words
In a few words, Chandler is leaving the company.
In a nutshell
In a nutshell, the contract will be finished next month.
To summarise
To summarise, we face an imminent strike in our Heathrow facilities.
It all comes down to
It all comes down to Sam’s behaviour at the warehouse.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
11. EXPLAIN YOUR PURPOSE FORMALLY
The reason
The reason I travelled here is to discuss productivity.
My aim
My aim now is to increase sales in Britain.
What I’d like
What I’d like to do is appoint a new CFO.
My objective
My objective is to reduce advertising costs by at least ten percent.
We intend
We intend to redefine our marketing campaign.
12. EXPLAIN YOUR PURPOSE INFORMALLY
I want to
I want to let you know I’ll stand by you.
I’d just like to
I’d just like to tell you that we’ll do what we can.
I’m here to
I’m here to talk about plant organization.
We’re going to
We’re going to spend all day reviewing our techniques.
I’ll put it simply.
I’ll put it simply. We must decide on what to do about Alex.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
13. PRESENT THE FIRST ITEM
Let’s start by the beginning
Let’s start by the very beginning. France is our top priority.
First things first
First things first. Now we’ll discuss this week’s problem.
Item one
Item one in our agenda will be corporate responsibility.
Point A
Point A is our relationship with the government.
The opening issue
The opening issue today is worker benefits.
14. PRESENT THE NEXT ITEM
Let’s move onto
Let's move onto item two.
We can now
We can now discuss the next topic.
We need to go on
We need to go on. Chapter B deals with economics.
The next item
The next item on my list will only take a few minutes.
Shall we continue?
Shall we continue? The second subject concerns our own future.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
15. PRESENT EVIDENCE FORMALLY
I’d like you to see
I’d like you to see this graph.
Let me show you
Let me show you our new product line.
Please observe
Please observe how the new design is more aerodynamic.
If you watch
If you watch this video closely you’ll see it was filmed lat year.
Have a look
Have a good look at this chart.
16. PRESENT EVIDENCE LESS FORMALLY
Look here
Just look over here. This is the new tractor.
Can you see?
Can you see Joe? He’s the third from the left.
Watch this
Watch this scene. Can you spot our product in the background?
We want you to see
We want you to see the difference from the old to the new edition.
Here you have
Here you have the first picture of my wedding.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
17. PRESENT DATA IN ORDER
Firstly
To start with
Initially
In first place
Let us begin by
Secondly
Then
Next
Following on from
Afterwards
To end
To conclude
Finally
To finish
Last but not least
Firstly, secondly and to end
Firstly we’ll tackle costs; secondly we’ll view the balance sheet and, to
end, we’ll discuss this year’s sales.
To start with, then and to conclude
Henry will start with a presentation. Then he’ll answer questions and, to
conclude, we will walk round the grounds so you can see the building.
Initially, next and finally.
We had initially planned to visit France. The next idea was to go to Spain
– though we finally travelled nowhere.
In first place, following on from and to finish
In first place, we never asked her to represent us – so following on from
that we decided to take her to court. Anyhow, we finished it all by reaching
an agreement.
Let us begin by, afterwards and last but not least
Let us begin by setting the goals. We can talk about the budget afterwards
and – last but not least – name a project coordinator.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
18. PRESENT APPARENTLY CONTRASTING
DATA
Although A seems fine, B is better
Although your proposal seems fine, John’s is better.
In spite of the evidence, I’d like to say
In spite of the evidence, I’d like to say that you could be wrong.
We could opt for A. On the other hand
We could opt for option A. On the other hand, option B is also interesting.
I like your idea. However, I prefer
I like your new idea. However, I prefer to continue with the same plan.
Instead of praising
Instead of praising Jim we should be worrying about his future.
19. ASK FOR INFORMATION
Could you please?
Could you please give me all the data you have?
Would you mind?
Would you mind informing me of the consequences?
I wonder if you could
I wonder if you could hand me the fact sheet on Dynacore.
What do you know about?
What do you know about Peter’s background?
Do you have?
Do you have any information on the Lambeth Square project?
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
20. ASK FOR EVIDENCE
Could you provide?
Could you provide us with the hard facts?
Why don’t you?
Why don’t you give us an example?
Can you illustrate that?
Can you illustrate that with a real-life case?
What evidence?
What evidence do you have?
How will you back that up?
How will you back up your proposal?
21. ASK FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
May we have?
May we have further details?
Could you elaborate on?
Could you elaborate on how you intend to make this work?
Is there any additional?
Is there any additional aspect to consider before we vote?
We need more
We need more data. One projection is just not enough.
Could you provide?
Could you provide some extra information on the touch-screen market?
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
22. ASK FOR FURTHER DETAILS
Could you add?
Could you add more details to the second point, please?
Could we have more particulars?
Could we have more particulars on your experience is mecatronics?
Could you give us further details?
Could you give us further details on this scheme?
What else?
What else can you add to convince us better?
Any more information?
Do you have any more info or have you already shown us everything?
23. ASK ABOUT MEALS
Is it included in the price?
Is breakfast included in the price?
What time?
What time is dinner served?
Do you have a special menu?
Do you have a vegetarian menu at the restaurant?
Jim is intolerant to gluten
Jim is intolerant to gluten. Is there anything for people with celiac disease?
I’m allergic to
I’m allergic to nuts. Do you have any nut-free ice cream?
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
24. ASK HOW TO CONTACT
Could I contact you?
Could I contact you at the agency later on?
How do I get in touch with you?
How do I get in touch with you if I have a problem with the system?
How can I reach you?
How can I reach you at the weekend? I don’t have your home number.
What’s your?
What’s your e-mail?
Could I have your?
Could I have your office address please?
25. CORRECT MISUNDERSTANDING
There’s a misunderstanding
I’m afraid there’s been a misunderstanding. I said Mrs Figgs, not Mrs Pigs.
This isn’t what I meant
This isn’t quite what I meant. Sales diminished but didn’t plummet.
I don’t think you’ve understood
I don’t think you’ve actually understood me. I am not against you.
It was not my intention
It was not my intention to offend you. I am sorry.
I’m sorry about the confusion
I’m sorry about the confusion. I thought Taylor was only a woman’s name.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
26. CORRECT WHAT’S WRONG
That is not right
Sorry, that is not quite right. Toronto is not the capital of Canada.
It’s wrong
It’s all wrong. Can’t you see the formula’s incorrect?
You’ve made a mistake
You’ve made a mistake so it’s your turn to set matters right.
That needs correction
Those figures need correction. We need to add variable costs.
This is different to
This is different to what we had agreed. You must change it.
27. KEEP A MEETING IN ORDER
We can’t all speak at once.
We can’t all speak at once. Heather, you start.
Let’s concentrate on
Let’s concentrate on the agenda for the day.
Shall we take turns?
Shall we take turns? We can vote one by one.
Please lower your voice.
Please lower your voice. You won’t convince anyone by shouting.
Will you let Maria speak?
Jason, will you let Maria speak? She has important things to say.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
28. KEEP A MEETING IN TRACK
That’s another subject
Finance is another subject altogether. Now we’ll just talk about sales.
We can’t discuss that issue
We can’t discuss that issue today. It’s not on the agenda.
That's outside the scope
That’s outside the scope of our meeting so we’ll leave it for now.
Let's get back on track
Let’s get back on track. We’re wasting too much time.
We’re digressing
We’re digressing. I want to stick to the main subject.
29. COME BACK TO A TOPIC
Now, where were we?
Now, where were we? Yes, prime time ratings.
What were we saying?
What were you saying when Carol interrupted us?
As I was explaining
As I was explaining before lunch, higher prices don’t always deter buyers.
Return to
Let’s return to point five: Clay Corporation.
This leads us back to
This leads us back to the subject we were discussing yesterday.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
30. POSTPONE AN ISSUE
We’ll defer
We’ll defer the matter till we have all relevant information.
Let’s leave
Let’s leave this issue aside for the time being.
It’s too late to
It’s too late to discuss advertising today. We’ll have more time tomorrow.
Shall we leave it for?
Shall we leave the final decision for this afternoon’s session?
Let’s postpone
Let’s postpone the discussion till everyone has arrived.
31. FOCUS ON THE MAIN ISSUE
The major
The only major problem we need to solve is absenteeism.
Our primary concern is
Our primary concern isn’t only increased sales but better quality as well.
What is the real issue?
What’s the real issue? Managers are not committed to their jobs.
The most important
The most important hurdle of this negotiation is to convince Mr Lewis.
We really need
We really need to look after our workforce.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
32. EMPHASISE ON A POINT
This is a key issue
Labour relations are a key issue now.
I’d like to emphasise on
I’d like to emphasise on point three of my presentation.
This is highly significant
Norah’s attitude is highly significant. She’s certainly against us.
This is vital
Turning a profit this year is vital if we wish to survive.
It’s imperative
It’s imperative to solve this problem now.
33. PLAY DOWN A POINT
This is a minor issue
This is a minor issue. Price is the main concern.
This is of secondary importance
This is of secondary importance if we compare it with our real problem.
Who cares?
Who cares about PR when the company’s on the brink of bankruptcy?
It’s irrelevant
His view is irrelevant, completely worthless.
It’s not significant
This matter is not significant at all. Let’s move onto what is crucial.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
34. SLOW DOWN A MEETING
Before we move on
Before we move on I believe we should hear Jackie’s point of view.
Wait a minute
Wait a minute. We haven't discussed the forecast yet.
Shouldn’t we postpone?
Shouldn’t we postpone the decision till Lindsay is back from her office?
Not so fast
Not so fast. We haven’t finished our coffee yet!
Take it easy
Take it easy. What’s the hurry? We have the whole weekend ahead of us.
35. MOVE THE MEETING FORWARD
Shall we proceed onto the next point?
Shall we proceed onto the next point? There are ten items on the agenda.
We need to solve it today
We do need to solve it today. Tomorrow’s Sabbath in Israel.
Let's move on
Let’s move one. Time is money.
I don’t have all morning
I don’t have all morning. Make up your minds now!
Hurry up
Hurry up please. We can’t waste more time on this.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
36. CHANGE TOPICS FORMALLY
Incidentally, may I mention that?
Incidentally, may I mention that Hutchinson called today?
An alternative to consider
An alternative point to consider is the effect of this decision on our image.
While we are on the subject
While we are on the subject, I’d like to inform you that Jo is ill today.
On quite another matter
On quite another matter, battery life is still a major concern.
Could we now deal with?
Could we now deal with our plans for the Geneva summit?
37. CHANGE TOPICS LESS FORMALLY
By the way
By the way, it rained quite a bit yesterday.
Can we move onto?
Can we move onto our plans for dinner?
To bring up something else
To bring up something else, Max came to the office yesterday.
Now is time to
Now is the right time to talk about the new site. Tomorrow will be too late.
There’s another issue we have to deal with
There’s another issue we have to deal with – losses in the chemistry area.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
38. CHANGE TOPICS INFORMALLY
I don’t want to
I don’t want to talk about football anymore. What are the plans for tonight?
It has just crossed my mind
It has just crossed my mind that Billy won’t be able to come.
Changing subject
Changing subject, did you see Dudley yesterday?
Before I forget
Before I forget, how did Jack and Edith get on?
We’ve had enough
We’ve had enough of you talking about golf. What’s the next point?
39. INTERRUPT VERY POLITELY
Er
Er, I think Joan is already here.
Sorry
Sorry, I never meant that.
Actually
Actually it was Geraldine who arrived late.
Excuse me
Excuse me, that seems taking matters too far.
May I have a word?
May I have a word? Nothing will stop the Mirror from running the story.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
40. INTERRUPT POLITELY
Can I make a comment?
Can I make a comment? Mike was never involved in this.
May I come in here?
May I come in here? In fact, new laptops tend to be lighter, not heavier.
May I interrupt?
May I interrupt? I do have something relevant to disclose.
Could I say something?
Could I say something? If we want lower costs we need other suppliers.
Sorry to interrupt
Sorry to interrupt, but someone’s phone is ringing.
41. INTERRUPT STRONGLY
Please listen to me
Please listen to me. It is important.
Do you mind if I jump in here?
Do you mind if I jump in here? I have to
leave in five minutes.
I don't mean to intrude, but
I don’t mean to intrude, but Stephen is
not exactly reliable.
Can I add something?
Can I add something here? WTR Ltd
should be able to supply us.
What are you trying to say?
What are you trying to say? I never accepted that.
Get 2,000
expressions for
400 business
situations at
www.amazon.com
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
42. INTERRUPT VERY STRONGLY
What are you getting at?
What are you getting at? Can’t you see you’ll only cause trouble?
Will you let me speak?
Will you let me speak? You are not the only person here.
Won’t you let me give an opinion?
Won’t you let me give my own opinion? I demand the right to speak.
Will you shut up for a minute, please?
Will you shut up for a minute, please? Don’t you see everyone’s fed up?
Can’t you be quiet?
Can’t you be quiet for a moment, for goodness sake?
43. AVOID INTERRUPTION
Perhaps we could leave that for later on?
Perhaps we could leave that for some other moment.
Will you let me finish?
Will you let me finish? You can object when your turn comes up.
I’d rather go on with
I’d rather go on with the current subject as we’re a bit pressed for time.
Would you so be so kind as to let me finish?
Would you be so kind as to let me finish? I never interrupted your speech.
Would you mind not interrupting?
Would you mind not interrupting all the time?
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
44. ALLOW INTERRUPTION
Let’s hear
Let’s hear what Virginia has to say.
You may speak
Of course you may speak, Sylvie.
Please go ahead.
Please go ahead, Diana. What is so urgent?
We’d be delighted
We’d be delighted to hear your doubts, Paul. Please go ahead.
You’re not interrupting
You’re not interrupting at all. Everyone is free to share their opinions.
45.
CHECK FOR CONSENSUS
Do we agree?
Do we agree that suing Dynacore is the only solution?
Do we all share?
Do we all share the same belief?
Are you all with me?
Are you all with me? We need unanimity to approve this rule.
Is there anyone who?
Is there anyone who has a different point of view?
Shall we pass?
Shall we pass the motion? Good.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
46. AGREE WITH OPINIONS
Exactly!
Exactly! You couldn’t have used better words.
That's how I feel
That’s exactly how I feel as well.
I have to agree
I have to agree with you. There seems to be no other possibility.
I never thought about it that way before
I never thought about it that way before. It’s an excellent idea.
You’ve found
I think you’ve found the right solution.
47. DISAGREE PARTIALLY
I see your point of view, but
I can see your point of view, but winter is very cold in Montreal.
You might be right. However
You might be right. However, how can we tell for sure?
You have a good point, though
You have a good point, though Anthony is also right.
You could say that, but
You could say that, but who buys ice cream in winter?
Up to a point I agree. Nevertheless
Up to a point I agree. Nevertheless, I feel James has a sounder approach.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
48. DISAGREE STRONGLY
I don’t agree
I don’t agree with you at all.
You’re not right.
You’re not right. Everything you said is wrong.
It’s not what I believe
It’s not what I believe and I will not back you.
I don’t think so
I don’t think so. Why don’t you change strategy?
That’s not such a good idea
That’s not such a good idea. Fiona tried it and it never worked.
49. DISAGREE LESS STRONGLY
I’ve got another
I’ve got another point of view.
I wouldn't do that
I wouldn’t do that. I would never sell a car to buy a motorcycle.
I'm afraid I can’t see it
I’m afraid I can’t see it that way.
Don't get me wrong
Don’t get me wrong but no one here shares your views.
I’m not so keen
I’m not so keen on your strategy. It seems too complicated.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
50. DISAGREE POLITELY
I don't mean to be rude
I don’t mean to be rude but Bahia is north of Rio, not south.
This may sound
This may sound offensive but it is not my intention to hurt anyone.
Correct me if I'm wrong
Correct me if I’m wrong but I think cell phone sales have remained flat.
I hate to bring this up
I hate to bring this up, but Brigitte never studied Marketing.
There’s another way
There’s another way round this. Why not try the Beta system?
51. SOFTEN DISAGREEMENT
I’m afraid
I’m afraid your models are a bit dated.
I’m sorry
I’m sorry but I can’t agree with you.
Even though I respect your
Even though I respect your position I must dissent.
I know you’ve tried your best
I know you’ve tried your best, but your assumptions are wrong.
It’s a great idea
It’s a great idea but we there’s another way to do it.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
52. EXPRESS RESERVATION
I have some reservations
I have some reservations. How much is all this going to cost?
Maybe we should reflect
Maybe we should reflect on this a bit more.
I’m worried
I’m rather worried about the rate of return.
I can’t help
I can’t help feeling that we’ve forgotten something.
I’d like to express my doubts
I’d like to express my doubts. You don’t even have a business plan!
53. GIVE INSTRUCTIONS - START
Before beginning
Before beginning make sure the mains are turned off.
The first step
The first step is find out where the short-circuit happened.
I would start by
I would start by analysing the charts.
We’ll set off
We’ll set off by working at the far end of the garden.
To begin with
To begin with, write a business plan.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
54. GIVE INSTRUCTIONS - CONTINUE
After that
Immediately after that you should ask for an appointment with Dr Thayne.
The following stage
The following stage is to make sure you have enough cash.
The next thing
The next thing will be to ask Horace to help you.
Once you've
Once you’ve gone through the first step you must tackle the second one.
When that is over
When the introduction is over you’ll be ready to continue with the rest.
55. GIVE INSTRUCTIONS -
FINISH
The last stage
The last stage is the easiest.
At the end
At the end you should check that the cables are
well connected
To finish
To finish you just need to turn the switch on.
The closing step
The closing step is the easiest. Just lock the latch.
We’ll wrap up
We’ll wrap up the whole process by resetting the
system.
Get 2,000
expressions for
400 business
situations at
www.amazon.com
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
56. INTRODUCE GOOD NEWS
I am delighted
I am delighted to inform you that you’ve won the first prize.
We are pleased
We are pleased to announce that ClaraVision will be our new ad agency.
You’ll be thrilled
You’ll be trilled to hear that Gretel is returning next week.
It’s a pleasure
It’s a pleasure to let you know that our company has grown substantially.
I have good news
I have good news. Hopper has accepted our proposal!
57. INTRODUCE BAD NEWS FORMALLY
We regret to
We regret to inform you that your programme has been discontinued.
I'm sorry
I’m sorry but I have to let you know that we will not participate.
I'm afraid it
I’m afraid it won’t be possible for us to finance your venture.
Unfortunately
Unfortunately we are not allowed to take on such high risk.
After careful consideration
After careful consideration we have decided not to publish your novel.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
58. INTRODUCE BAD NEWS INFORMALLY
I have some bad news
I have some bad news for you. Hans is leaving.
I hate to tell you
I hate to tell you this, but they’ve given your project to Enid.
I don't know how to say
I don’t know how to say this, but Heather insisted I should.
I feel sorry
I feel sorry but there’s little we can do.
It’s a shame
It’s a shame but nobody will be there to receive you.
59. EXPRESS CONDOLENCE
I was sorry to hear
I was sorry to hear about Mr Sloan. He will be missed by all of us.
I’d like to extend my sympathy
I’d like to extend my sympathy to you and to your family.
We were sad to learn
We were sad to learn that Mrs Finn passed away.
I’d like to express my bereavement
I’d like to express my bereavement for the loss of such a valued person.
My condolence
Our condolence over the death of such an esteemed member of your team
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
60. COMPLAIN
STRONGLY
I’d like to file a complaint
I’d like to file a complaint with your
manager.
I’m not satisfied
I’m not at all satisfied with your attitude.
We deserve better
We deserve a better service.
I’m not used to
I’m not used to such impolite behaviour.
I'm sorry to have to
I’m sorry to have to say this but food today
wasn’t good at all.
61. COMPLAIN LESS STRONGLY
I don’t want to sound critical but
I don’t want to sound critical but your employees should be better trained.
I'm sorry to bother you
I’m sorry to bother you but I must tell you something you won’t like.
Excuse me if I seem out of line
Excuse me if I seem out of line but I think you should change your attitude.
There may be a misunderstanding
There may have been a misunderstanding. I said ham, not jam!
Don't get me wrong
Don’t get me wrong but I do believe you should improve the packaging.
Want common phone
expressions? Look for
400 ways to Say It in
Business English at
www.amazon.com
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
62. REPLY TO A COMPLAINT
We are sorry
I’d like to say we are sorry for the inconveniences. Here’s your refund.
I’d like to apologise
I’d like to apologise for Jim’s behaviour. We will take disciplinary action.
I regret
I regret to inform you that we cannot return your money.
We’ll do our best to settle the matter
We’ll do our best to settle the matter to your satisfaction, sir.
We’ll solve this affair
We’ll solve this affair once and for all. Please come with me.
63. EXPRESS SOMETHING SURE
Surely
This will surely happen.
Definitely
Daphne will definitely replace Ethel next month.
Without any question
There is no question that Dynacore will be taken over by Riversoft.
Doubtlessly
The building will doubtlessly be finished this November.
Certainly
We will certainly increase our turnover within the next quarter.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
64. EXPRESS SOMETHING PROBABLE
Probably
It will probably take place next summer.
Likely
The festival is not likely to happen.
It seems
It seems that Sean will be joining us after all.
Apparently
Apparently the prototype will be ready by Monday.
On the face of it
On the face of it, everything seems to be running smoothly.
65. EXPRESS SOMETHING POSSIBLE
Possible
It is, of course, possible to give you a discount if you increase volume.
Conceivably
Can we conceivably believe that you will not make another mistake, Tom?
Feasible
The project is perfectly feasible. We only need financing.
Viable
We do agree that it is viable. Now, is it possible with only three men?
Doable
The plan is doable. Ask Mr Danton, who has all the figures.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
66. EXPRESS SOMETHING IMPROBABLE
Improbable
It is improbable that she will finish before the deadline.
Doubtful
Success seems doubtful. Who would back this adventure anyway?
Unlikely
A deal looks unlikely.
I have my doubts
I have my doubts about this business ever happening.
I’m unsure
I’m unsure. There are less than thirty percent chances of winning.
67. EXPRESS SOMETHING IMPOSSIBLE
Impossible
It’s impossible for Greg to arrive on time. His plane is delayed in Paris.
Undoable
This project is just undoable. Who drew the plans?
Out of the question
Buying a new car is out of the question. Why don’t we lease one?
Unreachable
The goals Rachel set are unreachable.
Unattainable
Total quality will be unattainable without a well-trained workforce.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
68. ADD FURTHER INFORMATION
In addition
In addition, I’d like to mention that Sara’s generally right.
We might also
We might also deduce that bonuses will be affected too.
As well
Corn, as well as wheat, is produced in Brazil.
Furthermore
Furthermore, they insisted we should join them.
Moreover
Moreover, the fine must be paid within seven days.
69.
PROVIDE MORE DETAIL
To elaborate
To elaborate on what Ms Finch exposed we will use a chart.
Here I have further information
Here I have further information. As you see, the weather has changed.
Let me expand
Let me expand on Robbie’s plan. It will entail a drastic change.
Let me tell you a little more
Let me tell you a bit more about Dynacore. They’re not so reliable.
What's more
What’s more, ClaraVision will also promote our merchandise.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
70. GENERALISE
On the whole
On the whole, we can’t really say A is better than B.
In general
In general people prefer longer, less expensive holidays.
By and large
By and large, the process was successful.
All things considered
All things considered, the match didn’t turn out so badly.
Broadly speaking
Broadly speaking, women follow fashion more closely than men do.
71. DESCRIBE CURRENT PROJECTS
We are working on
We’re now working on the new model.
We have started the process of
We have started the process of designing another prototype.
The projects under development
The projects under development are secret so we will not discuss them.
We are involved in
We are already fully involved in phase B.
We remain occupied with
We remain occupied with the installation of the wiring system.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
72. DESCRIBE FLUCTUATION
Fluctuate
Stock prices fluctuated throughout the session.
Unstable
The system is unstable and it might crash any minute.
Irregular
Growth patterns are irregular in Europe.
Erratic
His behaviour is erratic. He’s happy one day and sad the next.
Vary
Figures vary all the time. It’s impossible to draw a working model.
73. DESCRIBE STABILITY
Stable
Prices will be stable for the whole season.
Remain unchanged
Nothing remains unchanged for very long.
Steadily
If we are lucky, sales will move steadily for the next couple of months.
Constant
If the number of unemployed people remains constant we will face trouble.
The same
Things are the same as one year ago. Does nothing ever change here?
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
74. DESCRIBE INCREASE
Increase
Salaries should increase according to productivity.
Improve
Sales have improved and reached almost a million.
Raise
The government need to raise taxes to lower the deficit.
Rise
If inflation rises we will need to raise our prices.
Go up
The rates will not go up until the Central Bank decides they should.
75. DESCRIBE GRADUAL INCREASE
Accumulate
We have accumulated around ten percent.
Escalate
Costs have escalated by a very small factor.
Accrue
Interest has accrued in my savings account.
Grow
The economy will grow this year.
Develop
Sales have developed more slowly than we had expected.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
76. DESCRIBE SUDDEN INCREASE
Boost
The advertising campaign boosted donations by twenty percent.
Shoot up
The cost of raw materials has shot up because of the increased demand.
Spring up
Absenteeism always springs up when there’s an epidemic of flu.
Surge
Interest rates surged to twenty-five percent because of inflation fears.
Multiply
We need to multiply output by two within the next semester.
77. TALK ABOUT CAUSES
Caused by
The decrease in productivity was caused by lack of innovation.
Result from
The fall in passengers resulted from a misguided marketing policy.
Due to
Our failure was due to disorganization.
Conclusion
Her success was the logical conclusion of hard work.
Bring about
The change was brought about by our mistakes last year.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
78. TALK ABOUT CONSEQUENCES
Lead to
The rise in sales led to more R&D.
Result in
Our failure resulted in the loss of the contract.
Mean that
Rachel’s decision to fire David means that I have to work harder.
Imply that
If she arrives late every day it implies that she’s not happy with her job.
Entail that
Lengthening the lunch hour will entail hiring at least one more worker.
79. WARN ABOUT CONSEQUENCES
Unless we
The company won‘t survive, unless we stop the problem now.
If we don’t
If we don’t audit our accounts we will face problems with the shareholders.
Only if
I’ll give you both my support only if you promise to solve your differences.
Watch
Watch your cash flow and be careful with bank clearing dates.
Otherwise
She needs to be there today. Otherwise, we’ll lose the contract.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
80. CONVINCE
I’m convinced
I’m convinced this is the best way to do it.
I assure you
I assure you our machine will work in every type of weather.
There is no doubt
There are no doubts Sandra is the best candidate.
You have my personal guarantee
You have my personal guarantee this will not happen.
I’d like to reassure you
I’d like to reassure you. Every aspect of the operation has been revised.
81. DESCRIBE ADVANTAGES
It will help you
This programme will help you keep your accounts more easily.
It will improve
The stationary bicycle will improve your health.
The benefits are
The benefits to the company are twofold: lower cost and better yield.
It will allow you
Our cleaning service will allow you to have every morning to yourself.
It stands out
The GRS stands out among its competitors because it’s less noisy.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
82. GET PEOPLE TO ACT
Now’s the time to apply
Now’s the time to apply what we have learnt.
We’d better move before
We’d better move before the competition does.
Let’s get going
Let’s get going. Time is golden.
We must act now
We must act now if we want immediate results.
Tomorrow will be too late
Tomorrow will be too late. Today is the beginning of a new life.
83. PROPOSE SOLUTIONS
Maybe we should
Maybe we should call Gerald
How about
How about setting up a meeting with their purchasing department?
Why don’t you
Why don’t you call the help line?
The best way is to
The best way to find a job is to look for one!
I would
I would change your old computer for a newer one.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
84. EXPLORE OPTIONS
Let's look at
Let’s look at option A.
Why don’t we consider?
Why don’t we consider Nina’s suggestion?
How about?
How about this last alternative? Shall we review it?
We have several choices
We have several choices. Managua, Shanghai or Hanoi.
We could either
We could either invest in gold or silver.
85. PROPOSE WHAT IS NEEDED
You might need
You might need an architect to sign the blueprints.
It would be a good idea
It would be a good idea to take a couple of spare ropes.
It might be better
It might be better to include a colour photograph along with the letter.
You would better add
You’d better add another person to the team.
You shouldn’t forget
You shouldn’t forget to carry your passport.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
86. REQUEST WHAT IS NEEDED
We need
We need at least $10,000 for the next round of financing.
We can’t do without
We can’t do without Edith. She’s our leader!
It is essential
Working all night is essential. We won’t meet targets otherwise.
It is compulsory
Wearing a tie is compulsory at this office.
We require
We require a deposit of at least twenty percent of the final price.
87. RECOMMEND A PERSON OR FIRM
Recommend
I can surely recommend ClaraVison. They’re a reliable agency.
Put in a good word
Of course I can put in a good word for Kate. She is a brilliant teacher.
Say good things
I can only say good things about DT. It’s an excellent detergent.
Vouch for
Yes, I’ll vouch for Jacqueline. Why do you want to know about her?
Endorse
Yes, I’m ready to endorse Miss Low. She’s an exemplary worker.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
88. RECOMMEND AN ACTION
We urge you to
We urge you to continue with the programme.
We recommend you
We recommend you prepare your managers for a shakeout.
We think you should
We think you should confront gossip with facts.
You ought to
You ought to conduct quality audits every year.
If I were you
If I were you I’d keep my mouth shut.
89. DESCRIBE A PRODUCT
Let me describe
Let me describe our latest engine.
Can I tell you?
Can I tell you about our school’s services? We teach English.
Here you can see
Here you see why we call the TXR our star drier.
This model
This particular model was designed by our people in Geneva.
It is priced
It is priced at $ 3,499 and we pay for shipping!
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
90. DESCRIBE FEATURES OF A PRODUCT
It is made of
It is made of wood and aluminium.
It features
The team features two Nobel Prize winners.
It comes with
It comes with a calculator and a pocket translator.
It measures
It measures ten feet in width, two in height and one in depth.
It weighs
It weighs close to a ton.
91. REFER TO WHAT HAS BEEN SAID
If we go back
If we go back to the chart we’ll see how fabric design has changed.
As I said before
As I said before, it’s never too late to start exercising.
Returning to point one
Returning to point one, fixed assets are undervalued in you accounts.
As has already been mentioned
As has already been mentioned, we cannot guarantee supply.
As you no doubt remember
As you now doubt remember, we started this chat with a quote by Drucker.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
92. SUMMARISE
To sum up
To sum up, we are in deep trouble.
To recapitulate
To recapitulate, this has been our best year ever.
The conclusion is
The conclusion is that all our efforts have finally proven successful.
In a few words
In a few words, Karen would like to congratulate you all.
It all boils down
It all boils down to a simple truth: money brings money.
93. FINISH A SPEECH
I’d like to conclude
I’d like to conclude by thanking everyone.
Let me end
Let me end by reminding you that we are at the top because of your work.
I’ll finish
I’ll finish with the words of Julius Caesar: “Veni, vidi, vici”.
Finally
Finally, I want to say I’m delighted to have had the chance to meet you.
To conclude
Before concluding, I’d like to invite Alice to say a few words.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
94. CLOSE A MEETING
That’s all
Well, that’s all for today. Any comments?
Could we make a decision right away?
Could we make a decision right away? I’m hungry!
We’ll have to leave it for now
We’ll have to leave it for now. I have another appointment.
Time to finish!
Time to finish! Does anyone need a ride back to the hotel?
Shall we call it a day?
Shall we call it a day? We can adjourn the meeting till tomorrow.
95. CLOSE A CONVERSATION
It's been nice to talk to
It's been nice to talk to you, Alexandra.
I enjoyed meeting you
I really enjoyed meeting you, Mr Brown.
I have to leave
I’m afraid I have to leave now. I’m double-parked!
We have to move on
We have to move on, sorry!
It’s getting late
It’s getting late. We should be going home now.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
96. SAY THANKS
Thanks
Thanks for everything.
Thank you
Thank you for your kind cooperation.
I’m thankful for
I’m thankful for all your efforts.
I appreciate
I appreciate your interest in my situation.
I’m grateful for
I’m grateful for your support in securing the bank loan.
97. THANK PEOPLE FOR COMING
Thank you
Thank you for coming.
It’s been a pleasure
It’s been a pleasure to meet you.
I’ve been delighted to
I’ve been delighted to be able to speak to you.
I’d like to show my thanks
I’d like to show my thanks by inviting you to my house for drinks.
I have enjoyed
I have enjoyed your company today.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
98. THANK FOR LETTING YOU SPEAK
Thank you, John.
Thank you, John. I want to stress on the fact Jo is irreplaceable.
Thanks for allowing me
Thanks for allowing me to speak at this forum.
Thanks for calling on
Thanks for calling on me. It’s a great chance to share my ideas.
I appreciate the opportunity to address
I appreciate the opportunity to address such a distinguished group.
It’s a pleasure to
It’s a pleasure to be able to talk about the MX project.
99. SAY BYE FORMALLY
Good night
Good night, everyone.
Goodbye
Goodbye. Please send my regards to Miss Burkes.
It was nice to
It was nice to talk to you.
It’s been a pleasure to
It’s been a pleasure to get to play golf with you.
Hope we meet
Hope we meet again before next summer.
100 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles
www.englishforbusiness.es
100. SAY BYE INFORMALLY
See you
See you later.
Take care
Take care. Till tomorrow.
Cheers
Cheers. Give my love to Jeannette.
Bye
Bye Charlie.
So long
So long. Lovely to see you again.
If you enjoyed this book
you might also like “400
Ways to Say It in Business
English”. It has two
thousand phrases to use in
many business situations
and includes a whole
chapter on common
telephone expressions.
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