English for work
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- 8 phrases
Say these, not just read them
“Do you have a minute?”
The standard, low-pressure way to ask for someone's attention before a real request.
“I'm a little behind on this — could you help me prioritize?”
Asks for help plainly, framed around prioritizing rather than admitting failure.
“Can I give you some feedback on that?”
Asks permission before feedback, which makes it land as offered rather than imposed.
“I appreciate you pointing that out.”
The professional way to receive feedback gracefully, even when it's not entirely welcome.
“How's everything going on your end?”
A natural, work-appropriate opener for small talk that isn't just "how are you."
“I'll circle back on this by end of day.”
A specific, common commitment phrase — more concrete than "I'll get to it."
“Just flagging this in case it's useful.”
The low-pressure way to raise something without implying someone else missed it.
“Thanks for your patience while I get up to speed.”
A natural line for the first weeks in a new role or a new team.
More to try
Ask a colleague for help with something you're behind on, in a natural, low-pressure way.
Read this workplace small-talk exchange aloud, at your normal pace.
“Hey, do you have a minute? I just wanted to flag something in case it's useful. I'm a little behind on this one — could you help me prioritize what matters most before end of day?”
The delivery metrics worth watching
Pace, pauses, and stress
Everyday work English is judged less on formality than on ease — a natural pace with normal contractions ("I'll," "I'm") reads as fluent, while an overly formal, fully-enunciated version of the same sentence can read as stiff or rehearsed. Read more about how sayit measures pace and clarity on speak-english-clearly.Straight answers
How is this different from the business-English hub itself?
The hub links out to specific settings — meetings, presentations, calls. This page is the everyday glue between them: the small requests, updates, and check-ins that happen constantly and rarely get dedicated practice anywhere else.
How do I ask for help without sounding like I'm failing at my job?
Frame it around prioritizing, not capability — "I'm a little behind on this — could you help me prioritize?" puts the request in terms of time management, which is a normal, low-stakes thing to ask for help with.
What's a natural way to give feedback to a colleague?
Ask permission first — "Can I give you some feedback on that?" — then be specific and brief. Asking first is what makes the same feedback land as helpful rather than critical.
Say it the way you would in a real english for work
Free, no card. Pace, filler words, pauses, and the exact sounds to fix — the same depth a paying member sees.