During our learning journey, we all have different reasons to learn a new language. It might be to communicate with new friends because you have decided to move country, because you have a love for languages or because you want to progress in your career.
No matter your reason, the most important thing is you have started on this journey, a journey that will last you your whole life.
A common area of the English language that tends to change at a much slower rate than others is Business English. Business speech is often more formal and structured than other areas of the English language, making it easier to learn in some respects.
Many of the phrases and language used depends on the context. If you find yourself in a business meeting, whether it is an interview, asking for a promotion or negotiating your salary, knowing and understanding some key phrases can help.
You wil be able to understand what is happening easier, discuss it with your colleagues and ask questions if things are not clear.
Read on for 15 English useful expressions you can use in meetings and business events:
- At the beginning of a meeting:
You must be (Name)
This is a nice greeting and a great way to get to know your new colleagues, boss etc. If there is a large group don’t feel embarrassed about not knowing everyone’s name. Use this as a way to get to know who is in the room. - Polite small talk
Thank you for coming today,
How was the journey?
Informal and welcoming chit-chat at the start of a meeting is a good way to break the ice. (Chit-chat is another way of saying ‘small talk’.)
Did you find the venue ok?
This phrase is often used when some people have had to travel a long way. - Moving away from the small talk:
Shall we get down to business?
This is a great short phrase to move along to business. If you hear this, it means the greetings are over. Always used politely, it helps to steer the conversation to a more formal/ business like setting. - Dealing with the subject of the meeting
Does everyone have a copy of the agenda?
This is used in more formal meetings, this question is asking if everyone has a copy of the meeting’s details. More informal would be Does everyone know why we are here? - Getting people involved:
What do you think about it?
If you have an idea or suggestion for the meeting or the topic, now is a great opportunity to respond. This can be used in more informal meetings and group projects as well, as a way of bringing more people into the conversation. - If you don’t agree with something:
May I interrupt / could I just say…
If you strongly disagree with something in the meeting or need clarification on certain points, the phrase above is a polite way to interrupt the meeting. Most managers and colleagues’ welcome input and suggestions so it’s okay to ask a question when it is relevant. - Introducing topics
The main reason for this meeting is…
This statement let’s all the parties know why they are here and what the main topic of the meeting is. Use this if you have organised the meeting or listen out for it from your managers. - Asking for Clarification
What do you mean by?
Could you explain a bit more about…
If you are unsure of somebody’s points or certain words or topics in a meeting, don’t be afraid to ask. Managers and colleagues will prefer it if you know all the points they know so you can help each other. - Asking for help
Do you mind giving me a hand with…?
If you have been given a task and would like some extra input, asking for help is always important, whether in the classroom or a meeting. 99% of people want to help so it’s okay to ask. - Giving weak opinions
I’m not an expert but…
If you have some ideas or suggestions on a particular business area, don’t be afraid to bring them up. But highlight it is not your area of expertise. Most colleagues and managers will be willing to listen to your ideas. - Giving strong opinions:
I 100% agree/ support/ believe…
If you are confident about a particular subject or point and are asked about your beliefs, it’s okay to show support once you are sure. This can be important in business meetings to ensure there is no room for error. - To end a meeting because you need to leave
I would love to continue but I have another appointment at…
Sometimes meetings run a little longer than planned so it’s important to set boundaries on what you can do. If you need to leave, then set this out a few minutes before the time, so everyone can wrap up their points. - Informally closing a meeting/discussion
Let’s leave it there for today
If time is running out but you need to continue discussions in the future, this is a great phrase to use. This is a good way to finish off your meeting but leave room for plans in the future. - Future contact
I would love to continue this conversation; would Tuesday be convenient for you? (suggest a date and time etc)
When time is running short, but you need to continue certain conversations, mention this to stakeholders so you can arrange plans for the future. - Chit-chat at the end of a meeting
Have you got plans for the weekend?
When the formalities are over it’s always good to end with a little small talk. Most people don’t want to be all business all the time, so it’s good to change things once in a while. Asking some impersonal questions always helps.
We hope you find these words and phrases for meetings in English useful, are there any other tips that you can think of?
If you’d like to learn about opportunities to learn English with ATC and discover more useful phrases why not click here for our course selection.