10 More Phrases to Never, Ever Use at Work

10 More Phrases to Never, Ever Use at Work10 More Phrases to Never, Ever Use at Work Professional communication can feel like a careful balancing act. You want to keep up with the latest business jargon , but you dont want to step on anyones toes in the process.We already covered some outdated terms and clichs in our last post on the subject . Now were taking on some phrases that may seem innocuous, or even helpful- until you think about what message theyre really sending.For your edification (and your next promotion), here are ten more words and phrases you should never use at work.Its easy to kalendertag this catchall phrase onto the end of your emails , but it doesnt translate into action. If you want results, take some initiative.Incorrect Let me know when youre free to meet.Correct Im available to meet on Wednesday at 100 p.m. or 300 p.m. Which time works for you?Incorrect Let me know how I can help.Correct Ill call Kevin to get an estimate for you.Someone wh o looks tired already knows - you dont need to point it out. And since this phrase is synonymous with you look terrible, dont expect a positive response.If you notice someone seems tired and youre genuinely concerned for them, try one of these phrases on for sizeHeres a tip Grammarly runs on powerful algorithms developed by the worlds leading linguists, and it can save you from misspellings, hundreds of types of grammatical and punctuation mistakes, and words that are spelled right but used in the wrong context - learn more .You may be using just to soften the tone of your message, but it could communicate that what youre saying isnt especially important.Removing just from your vocabulary conveys confidence in your actions. If you know what you need, go ahead and ask for it.Incorrect Sorry to bother you, I just want to check in on your progress on the report due tomorrow.Correct Hows progress on the report coming along? I look forward to reviewing it tomorrow.Its time to let the security blanket go. These qualifying phrases may feel safe, but theyre undermining your credibility. Constantly using I think communicates a lack of confidence in your ideas and abilities. Instead, ditch the qualifiers and make assertive statements likeWe all hate to feel injustice, but how you respond to difficult circumstances is your choice.Instead of pouting, channel that frustration into useful action. What can you do to address the issue? Use facts rather than feelings to argue your case.Incorrect Its not fair that Kevin gets to go to the conference instead of me.Correct Ive put in over 20 hours creating this presentation and am the most comfortable talking about the material. It makes sense for me to be the lead presenter at the conference.Who doesnt love the inside scoop? (Especially about Kevin.) But gossiping at work is in poor taste, and could have negative consequences for your career.If you feel the need to vent, do your kvetching with a non-work friend. And if yo u have a conflict with someone, talk to them directly - or, if appropriate, talk with your companys human resources department.So, will you do what I requested or not? Instead of using this wishy-welcheshy phrase, boost your coworkers confidence in you by clearly setting expectations.Were all adults. No matter whose fault it is, youll get more respect if you explain the situation in a professional manner .Take responsibility for your own actions, and explain the mistakes of others without throwing them under the bus. And be honest about what was and wasnt outside of your teams control.Its natural to fear the critique of others , but using this qualifier imposes a negative lens on your thoughts before your audience has a chance to evaluate your statement for themselves.Instead of self-sabotaging, practice stating your ideas with confidence.I have an idea for our next project. Its different from what we usually do, and I think this could give us some new results.By all means, apologi ze when youre accepting responsibility for an error youve made . But lets take a moment to think about how woefully overused this little word is.Incorrect Im sorry, but could you have the presentation ready by noon?Correct Ill need the presentation ready by noon so well have time to review it. I greatly appreciate your work on this.Incorrect Sorry Im late to our meeting.Correct Thank you so much for waiting. Lets get startedIncorrect Sorry, I wont have the article ready on time.Correct Ill need to postpone the article until Thursday. Two of my interviewees werent available until today.This article was originally published on Grammarly. It is reprinted with permission.