* In this article, we will discuss some useful phrases and expressions used in business English.
What is the difference between business English and general, conversational English? Certain words and expressions are appropriate in certain situations. In some cases, common words and phrases can be used in a business context, but sometimes words of a "higher style" are needed. All words have their more formal equivalents.
Get/receive
Thus, the colloquial get turns into the business receive.
In conversational situations, we can say:
I got your email
But in business conversations, get transforms into receive.
I received your email. This is a more formal or written option.
Need/require
I need some help.
I require some assistance.
Let's talk about/discuss
Let’s talk about redesigning our site later. (This is how you can address a colleague.)
But when discussing a redesign with a client, it's better to say:
Let’s discuss the website redesign.
Get in touch/contact
How do I get in touch with her?
How do I contact her?
Make sure/ensure
Please make sure you arrive on time.
Please ensure you arrive on time.
Tell why/explain
Please, tell me why you’ve made this decision?
Please, explain your decision?
Talk more/elaborate
Please tell us more about that?
Could you please elaborate on that?
Elaborate – to explain in more detail.
Fix/solve
How are you going to fix this problem?
How are you going to solve this problem / resolve the issue?
These are two set expressions.
Usually they say: to solve the problem
but
to resolve the issue
Broken down/is not working/out of order
All these expressions mean "not working", the difference is as follows:
Broken down – appropriate for large units and big machines:
The lorry is broken down
The lift is broken down
But when a coffee maker breaks, they say:
The coffee machine is broken/out of order.
My computer is crashed/frozen.
Fed up with / tired of / annoyed / unhappy / bored
If you are irritated by something, you can use the phrase fed up with smth. This is a popular colloquial expression, especially regarding situations that have been going on for a long time.
I’m fed up with this computers. They are too slow. I’ll have them upgraded.
A more formal or written version of this phrase: tired of/annoyed at.
I’m fed up with his complaining.
I’m annoyed at his complaining
Find out what’s wrong / Identify the problem
I need to find out what’s wrong
I need to Identify the problem.
Give confidence/motivate
You have to give your people confidence.
You have to motivate your employees.
Give attention / focus
I need to give customers my attention.
I need to focus on my clients.
Spend less / minimize expenses
We need to spend less.
We need to minimize our expenses.
Make money/maximize earnings
We need to make as much money as possible.
We need to maximize our earnings.
Use ideas / implement
I need to use more ideas.
I need to implement more ideas.
Department names
Instead of "marketing department" they simply say Marketing.
I want to work in Marketing
The same applies to other departments in a company:
Call you call Accounts?
I want to work in Sales.