77 expressions for business communication in English

Business meeting or conference

These expressions will help you to successfully speak and defend your point of view in the discussion.

Let’s start with … - Let's start with …
The first item on the agenda is … - The first item on the agenda …
Before we move on, we should … - Before we continue, we must …
What is the main problem? - What is the main problem?
As I see it, the most important thing is … - In my opinion, the most important thing …
What do you mean by … - What do you mean by …
I don’t quite follow you. - I do not quite understand you.
What should we do about it? - How should we deal with this?
Does anyone have any comments? - Anyone have any comments?
Does everyone agree on that? - Does everyone agree with this?
I agree / I disagree. - I agree / I disagree.
I suggest that … - I suggest …
You have a good point. - You made a compelling argument.
So, we’ve decided to … - So we decided …
It was nice meeting you. - I was glad to meet you.
I'm sorry, but I have to go now. - Sorry, but I have to go.
Thank you for your time. - Thank you for your time.
I'll give you a call. - I will call you.
How do I get in touch with you? - How can I contact you?
Let me give you my business card. - I'll leave you my card.
Here’s my e-mail / office number. - Here is my e-mail / work number.
We’ll be in touch. - We'll be in touch.

Presentation

These phrases can be useful not only for work, but also for admission to a foreign university.

Dear colleagues! - Dear Colleagues!
Let me introduce myself. My name is… - Let me introduce myself. My name is…
The topic of my presentation is … - The topic of my presentation …
I will take some … minutes of your time. - I'll take … minutes of your time.
So, first / To begin with / Let’s start with … - So, firstly / To begin with / Let's start with …
That completes / concludes / covers the first part of my presentation… - This concludes the first part of my presentation.
Let’s move on to the next part, which is … - Let's move on to the next part, which …
Now I want to describe the development of the idea. - Now I want to tell you about the emergence of this idea.
That brings me to … / So now we come to … - So let's move on to …
I'd like to finish by emphasizing the main point (s). - In conclusion, I would like to emphasize the main points.
Now I'd be very interested to hear your comments. - I will listen with interest to your remarks.
Thank you for your attention! - Thank you for your attention!

Interview

If you're doing a Skype interview, be sure to dress appropriately and have a background. And, of course, the following expressions are worth noting.

I graduated from … university (college) in … - I graduated from … university (college) in …
I handle stress easily. - I deal with stress easily.
I am a team player. - I am a team player.
I am good at multitasking. - I do well in a multitasking environment.
I manage my time well by planning out … - I can manage my time well by planning …
I should be hired because I’m … - I fit this position because …
I have… years' experience in the field. - I have … years of experience in this field.
I'm very attentive to detail. - I pay a lot of attention to detail.
I'm excited about this opportunity because … - I'm very happy to have this opportunity because …
I want to further my career in … - I want to develop my career in …
I am confident that I will be able to use my skills in… in the advertised post. - I am confident that I will be able to apply my skills in this position.
I am sorry, could you repeat that please? - I beg your pardon, could you repeat that one more time?
When do you want me to start? - When do you want me to start?

Business correspondence

Letters use an even more formal language than meetings. Be precise and extremely polite, do not joke or attach unnecessary pictures. Be sure to include a subject line.

Dear Mr (Ms) … - Dear Mr (Miss) …
Dear Sir / Madam. - an appeal if you do not know the name and gender of the addressee.
I am writing to inform you that … - I am writing to notify you …
I am writing to enquire about … - I am writing to find out about …
With reference to your letter … - Regarding your letter …
Thank you for contacting us. - Thank you for contacting us.
In reply to your request, … - In response to your request, …
I am interested in (obtaining / receiving) … - I would like to receive …
Could you possibly tell us / let us have … - Could you tell us …
We are pleased to announce that … - We are pleased to announce that …
We regret to inform you that … - We regret to inform you …
After careful consideration we have decided … - After careful consideration, we made a decision …
I would appreciate your immediate attention to this matter. - I would be very grateful for your urgent attention to this matter.
I look forward to hearing from you. - Waiting for your reply.
Yours faithfully … - Sincerely … (if you do not know the name of the addressee).
I'm afraid it would not be possible to … - I'm afraid it's impossible …
Yours sincerely … - Regards …

Phone conversation

A telephone conversation in English is a rather difficult task, because we do not see any facial expressions or gestures of the interlocutor. In addition, some of the words are lost due to the connection. Knowing basic phrases for such cases will help you a lot.

Hello, this is … - Hello, this is …
Can I speak to …? - Can I talk to …?
Would you ask him to call me back? - Could you ask him to call me back?
Can I have extension 722? - Could you connect me to 722 (extension number)?
Would you repeat that number, please? - Could you repeat the phone number?
Would you spell that for me, please? - Could you spell it?
Let me repeat to make sure I understand what you said. “Let me repeat it to make sure I understand you correctly.
Hold on just a moment, please. - Wait a minute at the phone.
I'm phoning to arrange a meeting. - I'm calling to make an appointment.
I'd like to see Mr. … Is he free on Monday? - I would like to meet with Mr. … Is he free on Monday?
Is he coming there soon? - Will he be back soon?
How about 2 o'clock? - How about 2 hours?
Could you manage Monday? - Can you do it on Monday?