Mastering Professional Communication: The Most Common Phrasal Verbs Used in Business Emails

The most common phrasal verbs used in business emails include 'follow up,' 'get back to,' 'look into,' 'deal with,' and 'set up.' These essential multi-word verbs help you communicate actions like scheduling meetings, responding to queries, and investigating issues clearly and professionally. Mastering them is a key step to sounding more natural and fluent in your workplace communication.

Phrasal verbs combine a main verb with a preposition or an adverb (or both) to create a new meaning. While they can seem tricky, understanding the most common phrasal verbs used in business emails will significantly improve your professional writing and help you build stronger connections with colleagues and clients.

Why Are Phrasal Verbs Important in Professional Communication?

Using phrasal verbs correctly shows a high level of English proficiency. Native speakers use them constantly in both spoken and written communication. Incorporating them into your emails makes your language sound less robotic and more natural. Instead of always using a formal, single-word verb like "investigate" or "postpone," you can use "look into" or "put off" to convey the same meaning with a more fluent, common touch. This helps build rapport and ensures your message is clear and easily understood in a modern business context.

What are the most common phrasal verbs used in business emails?

Let's break down the top phrasal verbs you'll encounter and need to use. Below is a list of essential verb phrases, their meanings, and how to use them correctly in a professional email.

How Do I Use 'Follow Up'?

Meaning: To take further action related to something that was discussed or done previously; to check on the progress of something.

Example: "Hi Sarah, I'm writing to follow up on our conversation from yesterday. Have you had a chance to review the proposal?"

What Does 'Get Back To' Mean?

Meaning: To contact someone later to give them a reply or more information.

Example: "Thanks for your question. I need to check the data, and I will get back to you by the end of the day."

How Should I Use 'Look Into'?

Meaning: To investigate, research, or examine a problem or situation.

Example: "We've noticed a bug in the software. Our technical team will look into it immediately."

What is the Meaning of 'Deal With'?

Meaning: To handle, manage, or take action to solve a problem or complete a task.

Example: "Don't worry about the customer complaint; I will deal with it personally."

How Do I Use 'Set Up'?

Meaning: To arrange, organize, or schedule something.

Example: "Could you please set up a meeting for next Tuesday to discuss the quarterly budget?"

What Does 'Bring Up' Mean in an Email?

Meaning: To mention or introduce a topic for discussion.

Example: "During the call tomorrow, I plan to bring up the new marketing strategy."

How Do I Use 'Call Off'?

Meaning: To cancel a planned event.

Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have to call off the company picnic scheduled for this weekend."

What's the Difference Between 'Put Off' and 'Push Back'?

Meaning: To postpone or delay something to a later time or date. Both are used frequently.

Example: "Can we put off the decision until we have all the facts?"
Example: "The client has asked to push back the project deadline by one week."

How Do I Use 'Go Over'?

Meaning: To review, check, or examine something carefully.

Example: "Before we submit the report, let's go over the figures one last time."

What Does 'Reach Out' Mean?

Meaning: To make contact with someone, often to ask for help or offer it.

Example: "If you have any questions about the new system, please reach out to the IT department."

How Can I Correctly Use the Most Common Phrasal Verbs Used in Business Emails?

Using these phrases correctly involves more than just knowing their definition. Keep these simple tips in mind to ensure your communication is always professional.

Context is Key: While these phrasal verbs are common in business, always consider your audience. For extremely formal or legal documents, a single-word verb (e.g., postpone instead of put off) might be more appropriate.
Understand Separability: Some phrasal verbs can be separated by an object. For example, you can say "set the meeting up" or "set up the meeting." However, others cannot be separated, like "look into it" (not "look it into"). When in doubt, keep the phrasal verb together.
Don't Overuse Them: Like any vocabulary, variety is important. Mix these phrasal verbs with other professional language to make your writing dynamic and effective.

Mastering the most common phrasal verbs used in business emails is an excellent way to elevate your professional English. By understanding their meanings and practicing their use in context, you'll be able to write clearer, more natural, and more effective emails.

Frequently Asked Questions about Business Phrasal Verbs

Q1: Are phrasal verbs too informal for business emails?

Not at all. Most of the phrasal verbs listed here, such as 'follow up,' 'set up,' and 'look into,' are standard in modern business communication. They are considered professional and appropriate for everyday emails with colleagues, clients, and managers.

Q2: What's the difference between 'put off' and 'call off'?

'Put off' means to postpone or delay something to a later time. 'Call off' means to cancel it completely, with no plan to reschedule.

Q3: How can I learn more business English phrasal verbs?

Practice and exposure are key. Pay attention to the language used in emails you receive from native English speakers. You can also read business articles, use language learning apps focused on business English, and try to incorporate one new phrasal verb into your writing each week.

Q4: Can a phrasal verb end a sentence in a business email?

Yes, absolutely. It's grammatically correct and very common. For example, "The client is waiting for the report, so please look into it."