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PART 2: ADVANCE ENGLISH WORDS - BUSINESS ENGLISH

Home > PowerPoint Slides > PART 2: ADVANCE ENGLISH WORDS - BUSINESS ENGLISH
Published in: Business English | English
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This PowerPoint presentation contains some tips on how to improve your Business English Vocabulary Words quickly.

Carlo N / Riyadh

10 years of teaching experience

Qualification: Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English

Teaches: English

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  1. 1. A Smarter Way To Say Okay: Certainly Instead of saying the basic "Yes" or "Okay", make use of the word "Certainly" in your interactions and communication at work. It can also be an alternative to saying "definitely" "l am certainly learning a lot of things here. " "No problem, I can certainly do that for you!" "I'll certainly be there!"
  2. 2. Professional English Version Of Change: Modify Another word that will help you sound more professional is "modify". You can use this when talking about schedules, timelines, reports, and more work components. It's certainly a very easy to understand and easy to use word. You see what I did there? "We have to modify this report based on our discussion earlier. " "Could you modify the timeline of the project?" "Do you want me to modify the plan we will be presenting to the team?"
  3. 3. Instead Of Saying Goals, Use A More Professional English Alternative: Objectives It's a common thing to have goals at work, of course. But the word "Goals" being a bit basic, you can replace it with "Objectives". You can definitely use this in reports and presentations and you will sound more professional and more prepared at the office. It's very similar to the word "Aspirations", although it's more appropriate to use this when you talk about personal dreams and goals. "The objectives of our training today are as follows..." "This data meets our objectives, I am impressed!" "l have a question on one of the objectives you have stated. " "My career aspirations include being the Department Manager in five years. "
  4. 4. A Stronger Word For Guess: Imagine Instead of saying "l guess that will work" or "l guess we will succeed", form stronger Professional English lines with the word "Imagine". Not only does it sound more proficient and skilled, it makes you sound like a visionary too! "l imagine this idea will work!" "l imagine we will succeed in this project!"
  5. 5. Think About It: Consider Another basic word you can replace is the word "Think". Switch it with a more solid and more convincing professional English word: "Consider". "Let's consider all possible outcomes for this project. " "Will you consider changing the format of this report?"
  6. 6. Use This Word At Work: Elaborate Sometimes in meetings and discussions, you'll lose grasp on an idea or thought or what the other person is talking about. It happens to the best of us. But instead of being too direct and asking "What do you mean?" , compose what you will say in a more professional way, with the use of the word "Elaborate". It's also a better way of saying "could you tell me more about this?" or 'could you discuss this again" "Could you elaborate on this section please?" "Do you mind elaborating on the second objective?" "Would you like me to elaborate further on this last item here?"
  7. 7. The Professional English Version Of The Word Happen: Arise Don't say the word "happen". Instead, use the word "arise" to have your sentences and lines sound more professional. "We have some unforeseen circumstances arise, I need to move this meeting.' "Thankfully, no complications have arisen. '
  8. 8. Level-Up Your Results: Use The Word "Ramification" Wow, this is indeed a step up to the already professional English word "results". "Ramification" takes it a notch higher and you will definitely catch the attention of those whom you are talking or communicating to. ake note though, that the word "ramification" has a negative connotation. So be careful when you use it and make sure it helps you sound more professional AND clearer. "If we modify the timeline now, the ramifications could be severe. "That missed step in processin has ramifications. "
  9. 9. Don't Ask For Opinions, Ask For Perspectives Or you can also use the word "prerogatives". You can use both words when asking for feedback and inputs from your colleagues and workmates or your bosses. Or the other way around too, when you would like to share your own opinion, as well. "What's your perspective on this matter?" "Is it alright if I express my prerogative on this item?"
  10. 10. You Can Also Use The Word: Consensus Perspective and prerogative is more suited when you are dealing with individuals. But when you are asking for the opinion of a team or a group of people, the more professional English word to use is "consensus". "We'd like the team's consensus on the new workshop schedule. " "Before we implement this new process, let's hear the group 's consensus. "
  11. 11. Don't Say "Easy", Say "Straightforward' Straightforward means uncomplicated and simple. But there's no need to make it sound that way, especially when you are at the workplace and are aspiring to sound more professional and proficient. "This is a pretty straightforward task. " "The instructions are very straightforward, you'll have no problem following them. '
  12. 12. A Professional English Solution To The Common Filler "Like" Let's face it, "like" is a really overused and common filler. And if you can avoid using it in professional situations you'll most definitely benefit from doing so. It makes you sound unprofessional and unprepared. Instead of using "like", use more solid and professional phrases such as "such as" or "for example" or "for instance". "Let's modify the colors in this design. For instance, more green and blue. " "l think we can add more diverse characters. For example, a different model in this section here. "
  13. Most Useful Business English Phrases and Idioms
  14. 1 . Cut corners The new filing system won't work if we cut corners. "To cut corners" is to complete a task in a fast and careless way. To do something without paying attention to details, thereby making mistakes or causing new problems. 2. Back to the drawing board The client hated your proposal so we 'Il have to go back to the drawing board. He 's going back to the drawing board on this one. To go "back to the drawing board" means to start again from the beginning with a completely new idea. The phrase makes you think of a blackboard being wiped clean. It is most often used when an idea or project is rejected. It sounds quite friendly when you use it to say that you're scrapping your own idea. Asking someone else to "go back to the drawing board" on a project is usually a bit strong!
  15. 3. Call it a day Right team, we've made plenty of progress, I think it's time to call it a day! The trial hasn 't worked, I'm afraid we 're going to have to call it a day. To "call it a day" means that you are giving up on something. This can refer to taking a break on a project because you have reached a good point to stop, or to stopping something completely. It can be negative or positive, depending on the context. Taken literally, it is a phrase stating that the working day is officially over: that was a whole day, I declare that day finished!
  16. 4. Workflow I am having some workflow issues and won't be able to help you until next week. How is your workflow at the moment? This extremely ungrammatical business phrase has become very common in offices. "Workflow," unsurprisingly, refers to the pace that an employee is set tasks and expected to complete them by. When someone says that they have "workflow issues," they often mean that they are overworked. It places the blame on the '"fow" of incoming tasks — i.e., communication within the workplace — rather than the work •tself, which is quite smart, and a good way of explaining a missed deadline! In rare cases, the term "workflow issues" also describes not hav•ng enough work. Most compan•es actually use ro•ect mana ement software to manage their workflows and projects to not have workflow issues. "How is your workflow?" is a way of asking a co league whether they have too much work to do, or whether they feel underused. People can be reluctant to answer or ask a d'rect question about how busy they are at their job, so this is a polite way to talk about the prob em.
  17. 5. Touch base If you could just touch base with Ritesh after the meeting, that would be great. To "touch base" with someone is to talk to them, whether digitally or in person, usually briefly. It usually described keeping someone up-to- date with developments on something you are both working on. This is an expression that business jargon has adapted from the world of sport. In baseball, players touch base with their feet in order to be "safe" or to record an out.
  18. 6. Reach out Don't hesitate to reach out to Helen if you have any questions. To "reach out" is to get in contact with someone, usually a person who you do not know well. It is very common, but when you first hear it, seems like a very strange use of the word "reach," which implies physical stretching! Need something to chat about when you are casually "reaching out" to someone? Check out our guide to the 10 most common small talk topics for work
  19. 7. Keep me in the loop Keep Stuart in the loop when discussing the merger, please. Keep me in the loop on decisions about the targets for the next quarter. To "keep me/her/him/them in the loop" means to keep someone involved and updated about developments in a project. It comes from "looping" someone into an email chain — that is, cc'ing them into the digital conversation. You can "keep someone in the loop" by informing them of what happens in meetings, and alerting them when decisions are made.
  20. 8. Drill down into I think we can drill down into this further when we meet with the Product team. To "drill down into" something is to explore it in more depth. 9. As of yet As of yet, we have no plans to hire a Social Media Manager. This is very commonly seen in emails, and means "at the moment," This is another time when business jargon defies English grammar rules, yet still comes across as formal!
  21. 10. Forward planning I think we need a degree of forward planning on this issue. Many business terms make basic concepts sound complicated in order to come across a little more impressive, and this is one of them. 'Forward planning" just means "planning," since all planning is for activities that will take place in the future.
  22. 11. At the end of the day At the end of the day, we did the best we could in a difficult situation. Despite the reference to the ending of the day, this phrase has nothing to do with time, or with going home after work. It means "when everything is taken into consideration," and is used to signify that a speaker is giving their concluding statement on a matter. It can be exchanged for the word "ultimately," "At the end of the day" is often heard in business English, informal. but is also quite
  23. 12. Proactive I would really appreciate if you could be proactive on attracting new clients, George. This word is not solely used in corporate speak, but it is overused in an office setting. To be "proactive" is to take the initiative on something — which usually means embarking on a new task yourself, without waiting for your colleagues or boss to prompt you. It might also mean making the first step in contacting someone you are going to work with.
  24. 13. Action points I came out of the meeting with three action points. One — Facilities about the printer... As an action point, I will listen to some training podcasts. email 'Action points" are, as you might guess, proposals for specific actions to be taken. This phrase is often heard towards the end of a meeting, or written at the end of a long email. It is not grammatical, but it is useful since it flags up that you intend to translate ideas from a discussion into practical results
  25. 14. To action/ Actionable I love your idea about painting the fence, but I don't think it's actionable at the moment. That's a good idea. I am going to action that this afternoon. Strictly speaking, the word "action" is a noun. However, in business English, it is often used as a verb To "action" something just means to "do" it. The word "action" makes the mundane act of getting a task completed sound more dynamic and important! Similarly, to describe something as "actionable" means that it is possible to get it done.
  26. 15. Cut to the chase Let's cut to the chase: are you going to finish the report on time, or not? To "cut to the chase" means to "get to the point without wasting time." It was first used in the movie industry to mean "skip to the car chase" — the most interesting and action-packed part! It is quite an informal and lesser-used business idiom, but a useful term to be aware of.
  27. 16. Get the ball rolling Hopefully, we can get the ball rolling on the new pitch next week. o "get the ball rolling" means to get started on something; to begin making meaningful progress.
  28. 17. Stay ahead of the curve We need to stay ahead of the curve otherwise our competitors will wipe us out. Something — for instance a product or company — that is "ahead of the curve" is more advanced than others of its kind. "The curve" refers to a line on an imaginary graph that shows the growth of a trend. For instance, Instagram was "ahead of the curve" in anticipating how much people would enjoy sharing pictures of their lunch. To "stay ahead of the curve" is to maintain any advantage you have gained over the competition. It is also sometimes used more generally to describe the need to work hard to avoid losing progress
  29. 18. Due diligence We've done our due diligence and none of the other contractors seem more qualified. Until very recently, "due diligence" was a term only used in a legal context. It used to describe the action that is considered reasonable for people to take in order to stay safe, and on the correct side of the law. In business jargon, "due diligence" refers to the necessary research behind a good decision. If you have done your "due diligence," then you have given an issue the attention it deserves and weighed alternatives to the solution you intend to take.
  30. 19. Best practice The CEO decided that clear desks are best practice. I uploaded it following all the SEO best practices. A "best practice" is a method accepted to be the most effective means of doing something. They can be industry-wide or specific to a company. Many businesses encourage employees to follow a set of "best practices" described in a company handbook — that is, the rules, procedures and techniques to use in day-to-day operations.
  31. 20. Upskill We chose to upskill a junior employee rather than hire someone senior straight away. This business term is another formal but ungrammatical replacement for an existing word: to train. To some, "upskilling" sounds more youthful than "training". 21. Dynamic We launched a dynamic new website in February. The word "dynamic" is not exclusive to corporate speak, but it is over- used in professional life. It is often heard as a more office-friendly way of saying "exciting", "interesting" or "new"
  32. 22. Streamline We need to streamline the archiving process, far too many files are getting lost. To "streamline" something is to simplify the process, thereby getting rid of unnecessary work. Beware if someone talks of "streamlining" your team: the word is sometimes used to hint that non-essential employees will soon lose their jobs. 23. Align I think we need to align with the customer service department on this issue. Businesses with high staff numbers often talk about "alignment" between teams. This means ensuring that different departments are working towards the same goals, and not accidentally working against each other, or doing similar tasks without sharing what they have learned. If your boss says you "need to align" on something, that usually means a meeting is coming up soon.
  33. 24. Go the extra mile We always go the extra mile for our customers. To "go the extra mile" is to put more effort into a task in order to gain a result which is even better than necessary. If someone says you "went the extra mile" on a project, they are praising your work ethic! 25. Expedite Can you ask Basil to expedite the payment process for this, please? The word "expedite" is a little old-fashioned for standard conversation, but it is commonly heard in business English. It is a formal way of saying "speed up."
  34. 26. Down the line They won't make a difference now, but we will benefit from positive reviews down the line. "Down the line" is a friendly expression for "at some point in the future," It generally refers to an action that will occur in a few months' or years' time, but this time frame is vague. Anything that is promised "down the line" will almost certainly happen. That said, it is a useful phrase for making promises you can't necessarily keep or referring to results you are not confident in!
  35. 27 . Micromanage Olga is a good boss, she doesn 't micromanage her team. This is a negative word co-workers might use to discuss the behavior of controlling bosses. To "micromanage" someone means, literally, to manage them on a micro level. To watch the details of their work too closely, instead of giving them the chance to get on with it and take responsibility themselves. If your boss stands behind your desk and edits your emails, you might feel that they are "micromanaging" you.
  36. 28. Going forward We need to find out if increasing the budget will be sustainable going forward. Going forward, I want you to work on your time management. The phrase "going forward" is extremely common in Business English, especially in emails. It is a more formal way to say "from now onwards," It refers to an action that will start now and continue in the immediate future indefinitely.
  37. 29. Let go We need to let Simon go, he has been very late almost every day this month. Due to budget cuts, half of the Video Team has been let go. "Let go" is a gentle way of discussing employees being fired or made redundant. It is more commonly heard than "fired" since it is considered much more polite. The word "let" sounds like it could refer to someone leaving their job willingly, but this is not the case: "let go" is never used to talk about someone who has left a company by choice. If there are rumors that employees might be "let go" at your workplace, here's our handy guide on how to messaqe recruiters on Linkedin.
  38. 30. Close of play We're going to need the report by close of play Wednesday. This is one of the many English idioms which was stolen from the world of sport. In cricket, "close of play" refers to the end of a day's matches. In the office, it refers to the end of the working day. As you might guess, it is often heard in countries where cricket is played such as the UK and Australia, but rarely used in the US.
  39. 31. A long shot This phrase comes from sports, like basketball for example when a player is trying to shoot from a long distance. It means something unlikely to happen. With very little chance of success. Example: Getting a senior position in the corporation one day is a long shot, but if you don't try you 'Il never find out if it's possible. 32. To corner the market To control enough quantity of a product or service that enables one to then change the market price willingly. It can also mean to be the only one making or providing a given product or service. Example: Intel has pretty much cornered the market of microprocessors for servers. Their direct competition, AMD, is a distant second.
  40. 32. Hands are tied When you are unable to carry out any meaningful action because of regulations, rules or other people with authority. Example: I wish I could help you cut through all this red tape (another business idiom meaning administrative procedures) but my hands are tied. My boss won 't let me. 33. Up in the air When things are highly uncertain when a decision has not been made yet. Example: We were hoping to sign the contract by the end of the month, but there are still too many things up in the air we need to deal with first
  41. 34. To learn the ropes To learn the basics of a profession, a specific task or activity. Example: It took her a while to learn the ropes, but now she is confident and we feel that we can count on her to manage her client portfolio effectively. 35. A learning curve The process of learning, usually from trial and error. We often say that there can be a steep learning curve, which means that one has to learn things quickly to meet the requirements of a specific job. Example: There was a steep learning curve when I started out trading stock options, but I now feel like I'm finally getting the hang of it (another idiom which means to master something).
  42. 36. To go down swinging An expression that comes from boxing. To swing means to throw an arcing punch. The expression refers to someone who fights to the very end, who never gives up until it's completely over and there is no possibility of victory. Example: The future of our company is uncertain due to our massive debt, but I can guarantee that we will go down swinging, whatever happens, we will not give up easily. 37. By the book To do things strictly by the rules. Example: I don 't want to take any chances of getting caught by the financial regulators and having to pay significant fines. We have to do everything by the book.
  43. 38. To cut corners Almost the opposite of the book. This means to do things most qu•ck y and cheaply to save time and money but often compromising qua ity and bending the rules (another expression which means not strictly following al the rules). Example: The company's decision to cut corners ended up costing them dearly when they got caught red-handed and had to pay a huge fine for committing fraud. 39. Between a rock and a hard place When there's no easy way out or a good so ution. Whatever you do, whichever option you choose, the outcome will not be ideal. Example: Management finds itself between a rock and a hard place after the corruption scandal that has erupted. Either they file for bankruptcy and hope that law enforcement forgets about them, or they stay in business and run the risk of going to jail
  44. 40. From the ground up To build or start something from nothing, from zero. Example: Building a company from the ground up can bring you great pride if you are SUCCeSSfUl. 41. The bottom line Usually referring to the final profit margin of a business when all expenses have been paid. Example: At the end of the day, what shareholders care about is the bottom line which will determine the dividends they take home every year.
  45. 42. To get down to business To start getting serious about something. Example: We've wasted enough time debating on the official launch date. Let's get down to business now, we have work to do. 43. To get someone up to speed To update someone on the current situation or to give them all the necessary information to allow them to complete their task or fulfil their mission. Example: Why don 't you come to the office and I'll take the time to get you up to speed before we go to the meeting.
  46. 43. It's not rocket science Something not very complicated. Example: I don 't understand why there are so many mistakes in this report. It's not rocket science! 44. To think outside the box To think unconventionally, creatively and explore new non-conformist ideas. Example: If you want to succeed in this highly competitive economic environment, you have to think outside of the box to gain an edge on your rivals.
  47. 45. Touch base To touch base with someone means that you will contact them. Example: I will finish the project I am currently working on and then we can touch base later in the week. 46. In a nutshell To summarize something into as few words as possible, as small as a nutshell. Example: This weeks business meeting was, in a nutshell, extremely productive and informative.
  48. 47. Back to square one To start something from the very beginning, unfortunately, it can also mean that no progress has been made on your current project, therefore you are back to square one. Example: We tried our best to find the right sources and materials for the project, but unfortunately we couldn't find anything relevant, so now we are back to square one. 48. Bring to the table To provide benefit or negotiation in some way. Whether you bring (an offer or negotiation) to the table or you provide skills or attributes that can benefit the situation or company in some way. Example: She brings a selection of strong analytical skills to the table.
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