To use phrasal verbs naturally in business emails, focus on common, widely understood ones and avoid overly casual or idiomatic options. The key is to embed them in otherwise formal language and to consider your audience and the context of your message to maintain a professional tone.
Many English learners worry that phrasal verbs—those tricky combinations of a verb and a particle (like a preposition or adverb)—are too informal for professional communication. While some certainly are, avoiding them completely can make your writing sound robotic and unnatural. The secret is knowing which ones to use and how. This guide will show you how to use phrasal verbs naturally in business emails to improve your fluency and confidence.
Why Should You Use Phrasal Verbs Naturally in Business Emails?
Native English speakers use phrasal verbs constantly, even in the workplace. Integrating them correctly into your business correspondence offers several advantages:
- Improved Fluency: Using common phrasal verbs makes your English sound more natural and less like a textbook.
- Clearer Communication: Often, a phrasal verb is the most direct and common way to express an action. For instance, "follow up" is more concise and widely used in business than "make a subsequent inquiry."
- Better Tone: The right phrasal verb can make you sound approachable and collaborative without sacrificing professionalism.
Mastering their use is a key part of advancing your business English skills from competent to confident.
Which Phrasal Verbs Are Safe for Work?
Not all phrasal verbs are created equal. Some are strictly informal, while others are standard in professional settings. The safest options are those that are common, have a clear meaning, and aren't overly idiomatic.
Here is a list of professional phrasal verbs you can start using today, along with their more formal alternatives and examples:
- Follow up (on something)
- Meaning: To take further action or inquire further.
- Example: "I am writing to follow up on our conversation from last Tuesday."
- Set up (a meeting/call)
- Meaning: To arrange or organize.
- Example: "Could you please set up a call for next week to discuss the proposal?"
- Look into (a problem/matter)
- Meaning: To investigate or research.
- Example: "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will look into the issue immediately."
- Carry out (a task/research)
- Meaning: To perform or complete a task.
- Example: "Our team will carry out a detailed analysis of the quarterly results."
- Draw up (a contract/plan)
- Meaning: To prepare a document in detail.
- Example: "The legal department will draw up the new employment contracts."
- Point out (a fact/detail)
- Meaning: To bring something to someone's attention.
- Example: "I would like to point out a key finding on page five of the report."
- Get back to (someone)
- Meaning: To respond to someone later.
- Example: "I don't have that information right now, but I will get back to you by the end of the day."
- Sort out (an issue)
- Meaning: To resolve a problem or organize something.
- Example: "We need to sort out the logistics for the upcoming conference."
How Can I Confidently Use Phrasal Verbs Naturally in Business Emails?
Beyond choosing the right verbs, mastering the context is crucial. Follow these three principles to ensure you always maintain a professional tone.
H3: Know Your Audience
Your relationship with the recipient dictates the level of formality. When writing to a new client or senior management, you might choose a more formal alternative (e.g., "investigate" instead of "look into"). When emailing a close colleague you work with daily, using phrasal verbs like "sort out" or "go over" is perfectly natural.
H3: Let Context Be Your Guide
The language surrounding your phrasal verb sets the tone. If the rest of your email is polite and professional, the phrasal verb will fit in seamlessly.
- Less Formal: "Let's figure this out soon."
- More Professional: "I would appreciate it if we could work out a solution by the end of the week."
The second example uses a phrasal verb ("work out") but maintains a professional tone with phrases like "I would appreciate it if..."
H3: Avoid Overly Casual or Slangy Phrasal Verbs
This is the most important rule. Some phrasal verbs are simply not appropriate for any professional context. Steer clear of verbs that sound like slang or are too emotional.
- Avoid: chill out, mess up, hang out, freak out.
- Instead, use: relax, make a mistake, meet, become anxious.
If you're unsure, a quick search for "[phrasal verb] in business context" can provide clarity.
Conclusion
Learning to use phrasal verbs naturally in business emails is a powerful skill that can elevate your professional communication. By choosing common, widely understood verbs, paying attention to your audience and context, and avoiding overly casual slang, you can write emails that are not only correct but also fluent and effective. Don't be afraid to incorporate them—they are a core part of modern business English.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Is it unprofessional to use phrasal verbs in a formal email?
Not necessarily. Many phrasal verbs like "follow up," "set up," and "carry out" are standard in business communication. The key is to select verbs that are widely understood and not slangy, and to use them within a professional sentence structure.
Q2: What are some examples of formal phrasal verbs for business?
Common and professional phrasal verbs include: look into (investigate), draw up (prepare), get back to (respond), point out (highlight), go over (review), and work out (find a solution).
Q3: How can I check if a phrasal verb is too informal for an email?
A good strategy is to consider if you would hear it in a formal business presentation. You can also search for the phrasal verb in online business news articles (from sources like the Wall Street Journal or Forbes) to see if it's used in a professional context.
Q4: Can I use 'follow up' in a professional email?
Yes, absolutely. "Follow up" is one of the most common and accepted phrasal verbs in business English. It is standard in emails when referring to previous communication or actions.
Q5: What's the difference between a phrasal verb and an idiom?
A phrasal verb is a verb combined with a particle (e.g., look into). While some are idiomatic, many have a fairly literal meaning. An idiom is a phrase where the meaning is not deducible from the individual words (e.g., bite the bullet). While some phrasal verbs are idioms, many professional ones are not and are safe for business use.