To use common English phrasal verbs like 'follow up' and 'bring up' correctly in a business email, you must understand their specific meanings in a professional context. This involves choosing the right verb for your intended action—such as using 'follow up' to continue a conversation and 'bring up' to introduce a new topic—and ensuring your tone remains formal and clear.
Phrasal verbs are an essential part of sounding fluent and natural in English, but they can be a major hurdle for learners. They are everywhere, from casual conversations to formal boardroom meetings. Knowing how to use common English phrasal verbs not only improves your vocabulary but also helps you communicate your message with precision and confidence. This guide will break down how to use these powerful phrases correctly in your professional writing.
What are phrasal verbs and why are they tricky in business communication?
A phrasal verb is a phrase that combines a main verb with a particle (an adverb or a preposition) to create a new meaning. For example, 'look' means to direct your eyes, but 'look into' means to investigate. The meaning is often idiomatic, which means you can't guess it from the individual words.
This is what makes them challenging in business communication:
- Context is Key: The same phrasal verb can have different meanings. 'Take off' can mean to remove clothing, but in a business context, it means a product or company is becoming successful quickly.
- Formality Level: Some phrasal verbs are too informal for professional emails. While you might 'hang out' with friends, you would 'schedule a meeting' with a client.
- Grammar Rules: Some phrasal verbs are separable (you can put an object between the verb and the particle), while others are not. Forgetting this rule can lead to awkward or incorrect sentences.
How can I use common English phrasal verbs for professional communication?
Mastering a few key phrasal verbs can instantly make your business emails more effective. Instead of using more complex or less common single-word verbs, these phrases sound natural and are widely understood in the corporate world. Here are some of the most useful ones, with examples of how to apply them correctly.
- Follow up
- Meaning: To continue a conversation or take further action related to something that was discussed previously.
- Example: "Thank you for the productive meeting. I will follow up with a detailed summary by the end of the day."
- Bring up
- Meaning: To introduce a topic or issue for discussion.
- Example: "During our call tomorrow, I'd like to bring up the Q4 marketing budget."
- Look into
- Meaning: To investigate, examine, or research a problem or situation.
- Example: "We have received your report about the system bug. Our technical team will look into it immediately."
- Set up
- Meaning: To arrange, organize, or establish something (like a meeting, a call, or a new system).
- Example: "Could you please set up a conference call for next Tuesday at 10 AM?"
- Get back to
- Meaning: To respond to someone at a later time.
- Example: "I don't have that information right now, but I will get back to you before the end of the day."
- Carry out
- Meaning: To perform or complete a task, plan, or instruction.
- Example: "The team is ready to carry out the new project plan as discussed."
- Deal with
- Meaning: To handle or manage a situation, problem, or person.
- Example: "Sarah in customer service is the best person to deal with client complaints."
What are some best practices to use common English phrasal verbs in emails?
Understanding the definitions is the first step. The next is applying them correctly to maintain a professional tone. Here are a few tips to guide you.
How do I know if a phrasal verb is formal enough?
When in doubt, consider the context. Phrasal verbs like 'look into' (investigate), 'go over' (review), and 'set up' (arrange) are standard in business English. However, avoid overly casual ones like 'mess up' (make a mistake), 'chill out' (relax), or 'hang out' (spend time socially). If you're unsure, a quick search for the phrasal verb in a business context (e.g., in articles from Forbes or The Wall Street Journal) can be very helpful.
Should I separate the verb and the particle?
This depends on the phrasal verb. Some are separable, meaning you can place the object between the verb and the particle.
- Separable: "Could you bring the issue up at the meeting?" is correct, as is "Could you bring up the issue?"
- Inseparable: You cannot separate the verb and particle. For example, you must say "We will look into the matter." You cannot say "We will look the matter into."
If you are using a pronoun (it, them, me), it must go in the middle of a separable phrasal verb: "Let's bring it up." (Correct) vs. "Let's bring up it." (Incorrect).
Conclusion: Communicating with Confidence
Learning how to use common English phrasal verbs is a powerful skill that will make your professional communication clearer and more natural. By focusing on high-frequency verbs like 'follow up', 'look into', and 'set up', you can handle common business situations with ease. Always pay attention to context, formality, and grammar to ensure your message is professional, precise, and effective.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Is 'figure out' too informal for a business email?
It depends on the context and your relationship with the recipient. 'Figure out' means to solve or understand something. In a slightly informal internal email, it can be acceptable (e.g., "We need to figure out a solution."). For a more formal client-facing email, alternatives like 'determine', 'ascertain', or 'resolve' are often better choices.
Q2: What's the difference between 'follow up on' and 'follow up with'?
You 'follow up on' something (a task, a topic, a lead). You 'follow up with' someone (a person, a client, a team). For example: "I will follow up on the sales report" and "I will follow up with John about it."
Q3: Can I use 'check out' in a formal email?
'Check out' is generally considered informal and means to look at or examine something casually. It's best to avoid it in formal business writing. Use more professional alternatives like 'review', 'examine', or 'take a look at'. For example, instead of "Check out this report," write "Please review the attached report."
Q4: How can I learn more business-specific phrasal verbs?
Reading business news from reputable sources like the BBC Business, The Economist, or Harvard Business Review is a great way to see phrasal verbs used in context. You can also use online dictionaries specifically for English learners, as they often provide example sentences for different contexts.
Q5: Are there any phrasal verbs I should always avoid in professional writing?
Yes. Avoid phrasal verbs that are very informal, slang-based, or have negative connotations unless used carefully. Examples include 'screw up' (make a serious mistake), 'give up' (quit, which can sound negative), 'blow off' (ignore responsibilities), and 'rip off' (cheat financially). Sticking to standard, neutral verbs is always a safer bet.