Workplace Phrases

Workplace Phrases

• Touch base
  Meaning: To briefly connect with someone to update or check in.
  Example: “Let’s touch base tomorrow after the client meeting.” 

• In the loop
  Meaning: To be kept informed about something.
  Example: “Please keep me in the loop about the project changes.” 

• On the same page
  Meaning: To have a shared understanding or agreement.
  Example: “Before we start, let’s make sure we’re on the same page.” 

• Take the lead
  Meaning: To guide or manage a task or group.
  Example: “Can you take the lead on the presentation next week?” 

• Think outside the box
  Meaning: To come up with creative or unconventional ideas.
  Example: “We need to think outside the box to solve this issue.”

• Circle back
  Meaning: To return to a topic or discussion later.
  Example: “Let’s circle back to this after lunch.” 

• Ahead of the curve
  Meaning: To be more advanced or innovative than others.
  Example: “Our company is ahead of the curve in adopting AI tools.” 

• Meet the deadline
  Meaning: To finish work by the required time.
  Example: “We must meet the deadline for the quarterly report.” 

• Back to square one
  Meaning: To return to the beginning after a failed attempt.
  Example: “The client rejected our proposal, so we’re back to square one.” 

• At the end of the day
  Meaning: Used to summarize the most important point.
  Example: “At the end of the day, customer satisfaction matters most.” 

• By the book
  Meaning: To follow rules and procedures strictly.
  Example: “The audit must be done by the book.” 

• Up in the air
  Meaning: Uncertain or undecided.
  Example: “The budget approval is still up in the air.” 

Blogger: 

N.Shanmugan

Assistant Professor of English

Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science

Coimbatore-20

Formal Vocabulary for Workplace Communication

 Formal Vocabulary for Workplace Communication

📌 Professional Actions

• Facilitate – to make a process easier or smoother
• Coordinate – to organize people or tasks efficiently
• Implement – to put a plan or decision into effect
• Execute – to carry out a task or strategy
• Streamline – to improve efficiency by simplifying

📋 Reporting & Documentation

• Summarize – to present the main points concisely
• Document – to record information formally
• Clarify – to make something clear or understandable
• Verify – to confirm accuracy or truth
• Amend – to make changes or corrections

🗣️ Meetings & Discussions

• Convene – to gather for a meeting
• Deliberate – to discuss carefully before making a decision
• Propose – to suggest an idea or plan
• Recommend – to advise or endorse
• Address – to deal with or speak about an issue

🧠 Analysis & Evaluation

• Assess – to evaluate or judge
• Interpret – to explain the meaning of something
• Review – to examine critically
• Compare – to identify similarities and differences
• Synthesize – to combine ideas into a coherent whole

💬 Tone & Politeness

• Kindly – polite request marker (“Kindly review the attached file.”)
• Appreciate – to express gratitude (“We appreciate your feedback.”)
• Regret – to express apology formally (“We regret the inconvenience.”)
• Ensure – to guarantee or make certain
• Acknowledge – to recognize or confirm receipt

Blogger: N.Shanmugan, Assistant Professor, Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. 

Language Tip: Use Collocations for Natural English

To sound fluent and natural, learn collocations—words that naturally go together in English. Native speakers don’t say “do a mistake” or “strong rain”; they say “make a mistake” and “heavy rain.”

Collocations make your speech and writing sound more authentic and professional.

Examples:

Make a decision (not do a decision)

Do homework (not make homework)

Take a break (not do a break)

Have breakfast (not eat breakfast in formal English)

Catch a cold (not get a cold)

Save time (not keep time)

Keep a promise (not hold a promise)

Break the rules (not damage the rules)

Why it matters: Using correct word combinations shows that you truly understand how English works beyond grammar rules. It helps you sound confident, fluent, and natural in everyday conversations, essays, and interviews.

👉 Tip: Read English articles or listen to native speakers—you’ll start noticing which words “live together.” That’s the secret to mastering collocations!

AUTHOR

Dr L Suresh

Assistant Professor of English

Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science

Coimbatore - 641020

Contact: 9944138137

e-mail ID: sureshenglit@rmv.ac.in