To excel in professional settings, focus on key phrasal verbs like 'follow up on,' 'bring up,' 'call off,' and 'draw up.' These expressions are crucial for clear communication in business meetings and professional emails, helping you convey actions and ideas concisely and sound more like a native speaker.
Mastering business English goes beyond just vocabulary and grammar; it involves understanding the nuances of everyday workplace communication. A huge part of that is learning the essential phrasal verbs for business. While they can seem tricky, using them correctly will make you sound more fluent, natural, and confident. This guide will break down the phrasal verbs you absolutely need to know for navigating the modern workplace.
Why Are Phrasal Verbs Important in Business English?
Phrasal verbs are multi-word verbs (a verb + adverb or preposition) that have a meaning different from the original verb. For example, 'look' means to see, but 'look into' means to investigate. In a professional context, they are used constantly in both spoken and written communication. Using a phrasal verb like "we need to look into this issue" sounds more natural than the more formal alternative, "we must investigate this matter."
What Are the Essential Phrasal Verbs for Business Meetings?
Meetings are a core part of corporate life, and knowing the right language can help you participate effectively. Here are some of the most essential phrasal verbs for business discussions and presentations.
- Bring up: To introduce a topic for discussion.
- *Example*: "During the call, I'd like to bring up the new marketing strategy."
- Go over: To review or examine something carefully.
- *Example*: "Let's go over the sales figures from last quarter one more time."
- Put forward: To propose or suggest an idea or plan.
- *Example*: "Sarah put forward an excellent proposal for cutting costs."
- Call off: To cancel an event or meeting.
- *Example*: "We had to call off the client meeting due to a scheduling conflict."
- Wrap up: To conclude or finish something.
- *Example*: "We need to wrap up this discussion in the next five minutes."
- Look into: To investigate or research a problem or situation.
- *Example*: "Thank you for the feedback. We will look into the technical issue immediately."
- Weigh in: To give an opinion or join a discussion.
- *Example*: "The project manager asked the engineering team to weigh in on the feasibility of the plan."
Which Phrasal Verbs Should I Use in Professional Emails?
Your written communication is just as important as your spoken words. Using phrasal verbs correctly in emails makes your writing clear, efficient, and professional.
H3: Verbs for Action and Follow-Up
- Follow up (on/with): To take further action or contact someone again about a previous discussion.
- *Example*: "I am writing to follow up on our conversation from yesterday."
- Get back to: To respond to someone at a later time.
- *Example*: "I don't have that information right now, but I will get back to you by the end of the day."
- Reach out to: To initiate contact with someone.
- *Example*: "Please reach out to the HR department for questions about your benefits."
H3: Verbs for Planning and Preparation
- Set up: To arrange or organize something (a meeting, a call, a system).
- *Example*: "Could you please set up a conference call for Thursday at 10 AM?"
- Draw up: To prepare a formal document, like a contract or proposal.
- *Example*: "Our legal team will draw up the contract and send it over for your review."
- Break down: To divide something into smaller, more manageable parts or explain it in detail.
- *Example*: "In the attachment, I break down the project budget into individual cost centers."
Conclusion: Your Path to Fluency
Integrating these common expressions into your vocabulary is a powerful step toward professional fluency. By starting with this list of essential phrasal verbs for business, you will improve your clarity and confidence in meetings and emails. Remember, practice is key—try to use one or two new phrasal verbs each day, and soon they will become a natural part of your business English toolkit.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What's the difference between 'call off' and 'put off'?
*A:* 'To call off' means to cancel something completely. 'To put off' means to postpone or delay it to a later time or date. For example, "We called off the picnic due to rain," versus "We put off the meeting until next Friday."
Q2: Can I use 'check out' instead of 'look into' in a business context?
*A:* It's best to use 'look into.' 'Look into' means to investigate or research, which is formal and professional. 'Check out' is much more informal and typically means to look at something for interest or approval, so it's not ideal for most business communication.
Q3: How do I know if a phrasal verb is too informal for an email?
*A:* Context is key. A good rule is to observe the language used by your colleagues and superiors. Phrasal verbs like 'get back to,' 'follow up on,' and 'set up' are standard in professional settings. Avoid very casual ones like 'hang out' or 'chill out' unless your workplace culture is extremely informal.
Q4: What's a good way to remember phrasal verbs with 'up'?
*A:* Grouping them by meaning can help. For instance, 'up' often implies completion or creation: 'draw up' (create a document), 'set up' (create an event), 'wrap up' (finish a meeting), 'write up' (complete a report). Creating flashcards with these groups can be an effective study method.