Some of the most common English phrasal verbs for professional settings include 'follow up,' 'draw up,' 'look into,' and 'bring forward.' These multi-word verbs help you sound natural and fluent when discussing projects, scheduling, and problem-solving in emails or meetings.
Mastering business vocabulary is key to effective professional communication, but many English learners feel nervous about using phrasal verbs at work. They worry about sounding too informal or making a mistake. While some phrasal verbs are indeed casual, there is a core set of common English phrasal verbs that are essential for sounding confident and capable in any office environment. This guide will walk you through the ones you need to know.
Why Should I Use Common English Phrasal Verbs at Work?
Using phrasal verbs correctly in a professional context shows a high level of English fluency. Native speakers use them constantly without a second thought. By incorporating them into your vocabulary, you can:
- Sound more natural: Your speech and writing will flow better and sound less like a textbook.
- Be more precise: Often, a phrasal verb is the most direct and efficient way to express an idea (e.g., 'look into' is quicker than 'conduct an investigation about').
- Better understand colleagues: You'll be able to easily follow conversations in meetings and understand the nuances in emails from native-speaking coworkers.
Which Common English Phrasal Verbs Are Best for Meetings and Emails?
Here are 10 versatile and professional phrasal verbs, complete with definitions and examples for both email and meeting contexts. Adding these to your work vocabulary will make an immediate impact.
Follow up on
Meaning: To take further action or check on the status of something that was discussed previously.
- Email Example: "Dear team, I am writing to follow up on the action items from yesterday's marketing meeting."
- Meeting Example: "Sarah, could you follow up on the sales figures with the finance department after this call?"
Look into
Meaning: To investigate or research a problem or situation.
- Email Example: "Thank you for bringing this issue to my attention. I will look into it immediately and get back to you."
- Meeting Example: "We've seen a dip in website traffic. We need a team to look into the cause right away."
Draw up
Meaning: To prepare and write a formal document, like a contract, plan, or proposal.
- Email Example: "Following our conversation, I have drawn up a draft of the project proposal for your review."
- Meeting Example: "Our next step is to have the legal team draw up the new employment contracts."
Bring forward
Meaning: To reschedule a meeting or deadline to an earlier time or date.
- Email Example: "Would it be possible to bring forward our Friday meeting to Thursday afternoon?"
- Meeting Example: "Due to the client's new timeline, we need to bring forward the project deadline to May 15th."
Push back
Meaning: The opposite of 'bring forward'; to reschedule a meeting or deadline to a later time or date.
- Email Example: "I have a conflict in my schedule. Do you mind if we push back our call by 30 minutes?"
- Meeting Example: "We don't have the resources to finish this quarter. I'm suggesting we push back the launch to Q3."
Carry out
Meaning: To perform or complete a task, duty, or plan.
- Email Example: "The IT department will carry out the system update this weekend."
- Meeting Example: "We have a solid strategy. Now it's time to carry out the plan effectively."
Run something by someone
Meaning: To show an idea or proposal to someone to get their opinion or approval.
- Email Example: "This is just a rough draft. Could I run it by you before I send it to the director?"
- Meeting Example: "Before we finalize the budget, I need to run these numbers by the CFO."
Set up
Meaning: To arrange or organize something, like a meeting, a call, or a system.
- Email Example: "I would like to set up a brief meeting to discuss the quarterly report."
- Meeting Example: "Let's set up a new project folder in the shared drive for all the relevant documents."
Deal with
Meaning: To handle or take responsibility for a task or problem.
- Email Example: "My colleague, Mark, will deal with all client inquiries while I am on vacation."
- Meeting Example: "There's been a complaint from our supplier. I'll deal with it this afternoon."
Fill someone in
Meaning: To give someone the latest information or update them on a situation.
- Email Example: "Could you please fill me in on what was decided at the meeting I missed?"
- Meeting Example: "For those just joining, let me quickly fill you in on our progress so far."
By practicing these common English phrasal verbs, you'll not only expand your professional vocabulary but also increase your confidence in everyday business communication. Start by trying to use one or two in your emails this week and see the difference it makes!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Are all phrasal verbs informal and bad for business English?
No, this is a common misconception. While some phrasal verbs are very informal (e.g., 'chill out'), many like 'follow up on' or 'draw up' are standard and expected in professional communication. The key is learning which ones are appropriate for the workplace.
Q2: What is the best way to remember phrasal verbs for business?
The best way is through context. Instead of memorizing long lists, try to learn them in phrases. When you learn 'look into,' think of the phrase 'I will look into the problem.' Practice by writing your own example sentences related to your specific job.
Q3: What's the difference between 'put off' and 'push back'?
Both mean to postpone something, but 'push back' is more common and slightly more formal in a business context, especially for meetings and deadlines. 'Put off' can sometimes imply procrastination. For professional communication, 'push back' is often a safer choice.
Q4: Can I use 'get back to' in a formal email?
Yes, 'get back to someone' is a perfectly acceptable and widely used phrasal verb in formal and informal business emails. It is a polite and efficient way to say you will reply or provide information later. For example: "I will look into your request and get back to you by the end of the day."