Workplace English
- Free
- No card
- 8 phrases
Say these, not just read them
“I'm still getting to grips with the systems here — bear with me.”
A natural, confident way to admit you're new without undermining yourself.
“I want to make sure I've understood the culture here correctly…”
A safe way to ask about unwritten norms without sounding like you're criticizing them.
“I think there might have been a misunderstanding — can we clear it up?”
Names a miscommunication directly and calmly, before it hardens into a real conflict.
“I don't want to speak out of turn, but…”
A polite way to offer an opinion in a hierarchy-conscious room without overstepping.
“Happy to take that on if it's useful.”
Volunteers for something naturally, without sounding like you're angling for credit.
“I'll double-check and circle back.”
The professional version of "I don't know" — honest, but with a clear next step attached.
“Nice to properly meet you.”
The natural line when you finally speak directly to someone you'd only seen in group settings before.
“How do things usually work around here?”
An easy, low-stakes way to ask about unwritten norms without singling out anything specific as strange.
More to try
Address a small misunderstanding with a colleague calmly and directly.
Read this new-team introduction aloud, at your normal pace.
“Hi everyone, nice to properly meet you all. I'm still getting to grips with the systems here, so bear with me over the next few weeks. Please don't hesitate to correct me if I get something wrong early on.”
The delivery metrics worth watching
Pace, pauses, and stress
Reading formality correctly matters as much as the words — the same sentence said slightly faster and looser fits a hallway chat, while a steadier, fuller pace suits a first introduction to a new manager; matching the room is a pacing skill, not just a word-choice one. Read more about how sayit measures pace and clarity on speak-english-clearly.Straight answers
How is workplace English different from the other business-English pages?
The other pages cover specific settings — a meeting, a call, a presentation. This one covers the connective tissue between them: culture, hierarchy, introductions, and the informal moments a phrasebook for a single setting won't cover.
How do I sound confident as a new hire without overstepping?
Use phrases that are honest about being new ("I'm still getting to grips with the systems here") delivered steadily, not apologetically. Being new is normal; sounding unsure of yourself while saying so is what actually undermines confidence.
What's a graceful way to address a misunderstanding at work?
Name it plainly and early — "I think there might have been a misunderstanding — can we clear it up?" — rather than letting it sit. Addressed calmly and early, most workplace misunderstandings resolve in one short conversation.
Say it the way you would in a real workplace english
Free, no card. Pace, filler words, pauses, and the exact sounds to fix — the same depth a paying member sees.