What is business english
What is business english
What Is Business English? the Importance of Learning Business English
There’s a common misconception today about the usage of regular English and business English. However, upon finding the distinct difference, business English is a language used in the corporate world, all over the world. There are so many known benefits in not only gaining knowledge of business English, but to also master the usage of it in your everyday life. That’s generally all it comes down to.
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Business English
What Is Business English?
To start off, business English is defined as similar to that of regular English, however this is used in the corporate world. Fluency in business English gives you an added advantage to everything that comes in the corporate world whether it’s job applications, meetings and such. Business English, in basic terms, has the simple purpose of a language that is used in the business and corporate environment.
Why Learn Business English?
Communication skills
This is the most essential tool that you’re going to be able to utilize in the corporate world. If you fluently use your business English skills, it’s about being professional in the most straight-forward and formal way possible. It’s not a new fact that having efficient and effective communication skills in the workplace will take you to places. This just doesn’t mean being exemplary in your English skills, but being able to use various types of English- business English included- in the right kinds of environments and knowing the perfect time when to use them.
Business English as an international language
The skill that you have in using business English won’t just apply to that company you applied for locally, but you can use it all over the world. This goes to say that the biggest multi-national companies worldwide effectively use the business English language- especially CEOs, Board of Directors and other significant people in these big companies. This goes specifically for meetings that involve people of higher positions from all over the world. If you’re confident in using the business English language, you’re going to have the impression to people of significant positions that you’re confident in getting your point across and you know exactly how to deliver your ideas in a profound, professional and blunt manner.
Regular English versus business English
The main distinct difference that business English has from regular English is the purpose and usage. It’s often rare that you see employees and employers using regular English for business purposes. Whether it’s in meetings, contracts, emails, business English will always be the universal language in the corporate world. Regular English is often informal and is just made for the purposes of communication and getting to say what you intend on saying without so much as making the effort of making it professional and formal. Business English, especially with the multiple presentations and meetings that you go through, is where it is utilized the most.
Working abroad
As mentioned above that business English is known internationally, you could also use this internationally in your career aspect. Whether you’ve always wanted to work abroad personally and you’ve always wanted to do a freelancing job with an international company, this is where business English comes in the picture. Your employers would easily be impressed by your ability to communicate well in the business language once you do apply your business English skills. You also have to remember that business English isn’t about the knowledge that you gain about business English, but it’s all about being able to apply and utilize everything you learn.
Business English will lead you to success
If you’ve always wanted to grow into someone successful in the corporate world, business English is the key to achieving all your goals in life. For instance, if you’re closing a deal, if you do business English right then you would know how to effectively attract the client you’re trying to close a deal with. Of course, this isn’t going to automatically lead you to success right away but, with enough dedication and strategies, this can potentially make you grow into someone that’s an efficient employee of your company.
Examples Of Business English
The most basic example of business English is emails that are used in the corporate world. In this way, business English uses a writing technique called ‘Technical Writing.’ This is usually a really formal and straightforward kind of writing just to get a point across while following a specific format. An example of this is:
“To whom it may concern,
Good day! Attached is the revenue report as of December 2019 for your approval. This report also includes the changes in revenue as compared to the previous months.
When it comes to speaking in business English, as mentioned above, this is usually used in presentations and meetings. It would often involve sentences and words such as ‘Today, I would be discussing the overall projection for the month of December’ or ‘I’d like to take the initiative of sharing my ideas regarding the said issue on our revenue.’ These are just examples just to give a clue just on how professional and straight-forward business English really is, both in the speaking and written aspects. Although, there are certain differences with both speaking and writing business English. For once, speaking really requires a ton of confidence and communication skills while writing requires analysis and being able to efficiently express yourself in writing. It normally requires more practice to utilize business English speaking rather than business English writing.
In the end, business English has a lot of purposes, especially in the corporate world. It’s a universal language that has the potential to lead you to success and make you grow if you know the right way to use it. Whether it’s in meetings, business presentations, closing deals and even job applications, these are all situations where business English is often integrated. In these situations, you can find that regular English really can’t be used because it would seem too informal and too casual for a corporate setting. With business English, it’s the ability to get a point across in a short yet formal and straight-forward manner. This is the main reason as to why business English is the universal language for the corporate world. It’s also known to save a lot of time, for both ends.
Learn more about business acronyms in English.
What Is Business English?
One thing that distinguishes an amateur from an advanced speaker is the ability to adjust the vocabulary to the setting. Discussing a movie with a friend, you use simple structures and avoid professional jargon. And just the opposite, presenting a project to your team, you switch to business English. And you won’t call your boss a mate unless you’re that type of company. To clear things up, here is a quick recap of what is business English and how to master it.
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Business English Definition
No other language back in history has ever spread like English. It is attributed to several factors and historical events of the 20th century. Besides, the USA is among the top 3 largest economies in the world. This fact has a direct effect on the growing influence of the language. All together, it made English a predominant language in the business sphere.
In simple terms, business English is the language used to communicate in an international workplace. It’s an umbrella term comprising vocabulary you need to complete and describe your work. For example, as an accountant, you learn words that relate to your workflow and tasks. As an IT specialist, you study the terminology used in technical documentation.
Another aspect of business English is the written language. Business letters, proposals, and presentations have a specific format, structure, and style. You need to avoid misleading construction and communicate your ideas clearly. The text should be purposeful and relevant to the subject you’ve announced. The cost of a mistake is your reputation as an expert. If you’re new to the international market and business communication, don’t shy away from reaching out for help. There are companies providing professional writing services, like writemyessays.me. You can place an order for any kind of paper and get the result timely. The additional perk is that you’ll learn in an example and one day, write it yourself.
Setting to Use Business English
Business English is used for workplace communication; still, it differs depending on the setting. The primary advice is to listen to your intuition.
Business vocabulary is spoken at conferences, job interviews, meetings, and networking events. But just as in your native language, you naturally feel when it’s possible to spill here and there some colloquial words. Imagine you’re at the conference. Asking questions after the presentation, you generally follow more formal rules. Once you run into a speaker at the networking event with cocktails, you start using more conversational language.
One more factor to take notice of is the nature of a company. When you’re going for a job interview, do the research. Not all employers are the same. In companies like the big four, the environment is more formal than in a small startup of five people. That’s being said, always analyze the setting, and if you’re in doubt, follow the people around you.
How to Master New Vocabulary
Even if you’re an advanced speaker, you may struggle with business English. It takes time to learn new vocabulary and memorize the rules of how to structure business letters.
One of the things you can do is choose one of the top business English courses at Coursera. You can select a course tailored to your level of English and learn at a good pace. But knowledge alone isn’t enough. The most crucial phase of any learning experience is practice. You can practice with a teacher or at the workplace. Ask to take part in calls with the international partners, read professional literature, talk to colleagues.
Bottom Line
The knowledge of business English opens you to a new world of opportunities and gives you the means to translate your ideas to a broader audience. As a specialist, you can apply for relocation options. As a company owner, you can enter new markets and look for international investors to back your idea.
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Here’s how you can master business English
Updated August 10, 2022
Do you want to improve your business English skills? You’ve come to the right place! We’ll go through some of the basics you need to know to improve your business English skills with Lingoda.
What is business English?
Business English is considered a specialism within the study of the English language. It is usually associated with commerce, as well as the financial industry and international affairs. In today’s world of global markets and digital communication, it is an increasingly important concept, as English is recognised as ‘the language of business’. Although business English is often studied by non-native speakers, usually with the aim of improving trade relations with English-speaking companies, it can also be studied by those already fluent in the language. In fact, many native English speakers can significantly enhance their employment prospects by mastering this area.
The specialist field of business English encompasses both written and oral communication. It places an emphasis on the skills required for workplace conversations. Students will learn how to write business letters and emails, carry out negotiations or how to communicate effectively in meetings or during a presentation.
Why is mastering business English so important?
English is the most widely spoken language in the world. It is especially prevalent in business, where even companies in non-English speaking countries often use it to conduct international trade. However, the business world is home to lots of jargon and field-specific phrases, which can be difficult for newcomers to understand. In fact, many of those who consider themselves to be accomplished English speakers still struggle to communicate during a trade deal, or in a business meeting.
Mastering business English requires an intricate understanding of what tone or register to use, how to address people and what things to avoid saying or writing. For these reasons, a student who has studied business English in-depth can be of great value to an employer, giving them a competitive edge when it comes to seeking a job.
Specialised written communication
Becoming proficient in the written form of business English is extremely important in this age of instant global communication. Whether you are writing letters to clients, sending emails, or negotiating a trade deal with an overseas corporation, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Perhaps the most important part of written communication is getting the tone right. With business English, this usually means a more formal tone and structure than when you are writing to a friend or family member. For instance, “Dear Mr. John Smith” or “Dear Sir or Madam” are acceptable openings, while “Hey there!” isn’t.
Similarly, at the end of a letter or email, you should opt for a formal sign off such as “Kind regards” or “Yours sincerely”. Save less formal endings like “Thanks” or “Bye!” for conversations with close friends.
Being specific in English
When addressing someone specific, you should pay particular attention to the title before their name, and you should use both their forename and surname in most cases. Be extra careful not to write “Mr.” when talking to a woman, or “Miss”, “Mrs.” or “Ms.” when talking to a man, as this can easily offend the recipient.
Try to present your message in a calm, clear and concise manner. Do not use capitals for entire words, avoid exclamation marks and try to keep your messages relatively short. In general, it is best to avoid unnecessary small talk or off-topic discussions. You should try to get your point across in the first paragraph when possible.
It is usually best to steer clear of office jargon and avoid overly technical sentences. Short, simple sentences which get the point across are preferable to longer sentences where you try to show off your vocabulary.
Oral communication
Differs slightly from written communication in that it is often less formal, due to its spontaneous nature. As a consequence, you may encounter jargon or unusual words and phrases and these may not be explained during the conversation. It is, therefore, important to build your business English vocabulary.
Useful business terms and phrases
As business English focuses on communication between companies, you are likely to find that some of the words and phrases are quite specific to that area. For this reason, you may not have encountered them either during your studies or through everyday conversation. Some common examples include:
Acronyms and abbreviations in business English
When speaking to people in the areas of business, commerce and finance, you are likely to hear acronyms and abbreviations quite regularly. Common examples are listed below and some of these may also come in handy for understanding written communication as well.
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Business English vs. Regular English: What Is the Difference?
Learning English for business will get you noticed and understood by others. Yes, it will help you climb the corporate ladder, but it will also help you express yourself in the best way possible.
It will help you become a leader in your own right, and attract the kind of people who will support you in all your endeavors.
In this post, we will look more closely at exactly what business English is, and how you can benefit from learning it.
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How does business English differ from the normal English people use every day? Why is it so important to learn it? And if it is really that important, well, how exactly do you learn it then?
I will answer all of those questions, right now, by explaining the key features of business English.
1. It is the business language that is used internationally.
Business English is a type of English that has a specific purpose. It is the brand of English that is used in an official or business setting. It has the aim of efficient and clear communication with your boss, co-workers or other professionals.
It is the language of the international workplace. This means that once you master it, you can use it to communicate with any other professional in any part of the world. It connects you to everyone else.
For example, you may be based in the U.S and your client may be from China, but the shared knowledge of business English allows you to communicate and negotiate a deal.
However, it is important to be aware that knowing business English is only one part of doing business internationally. Whenever you are dealing with foreign clients, it is always advisable to educate yourself on their culture, so that you do not (even unintentionally) say something that is offensive.
To start learning business English for international communication (or even just within one country), check out Coursera. They offer online courses for all different kinds of business English subjects, including business English for cross-cultural communication.
Another option is a virtual immersion platform. FluentU, for example, teaches English with a variety of authentic web videos and has sections for both business and typical English. Each video has interactive captions that let you look up unfamiliar words while watching.
The best way to learn business English is to try a variety of resources, and focus on methods that work best with your learning style. Videos work well for visual and audio focused learners, but if you learn better with text then you might prefer using books about business English.
2. It is a business language that includes different types.
Business English is actually a broad term used to cover a variety of language used in workplace communication.
For instance, the business English that you use during a presentation will be very different from the small talk you engage in at a networking event. “Presentation English” is pretty formal and controlled, whereas “networking English” involves an element of fun but still follows the rules of politeness.
This means you have to do your research to prepare for formal situations, like presentations, that require business English. You have to be ready to use the right words and get your point across, without stumbling or forgetting. In networking situations, however, your main aim is to create a pleasant and memorable impression. For this, you may want to think more about your body language and have an Elevator Pitch ready.
Both of these types of business English are “formal,” but the level of formality differs.
3. It is generally short and specific.
The language of business English is marked by the fact that everyone in business is busy. Therefore, if you choose to speak to someone, you should make their time worth it. As a result, there is no space for rants or long rambles. You have to be quick, specific and very concise (complete and clear, but brief).
If something can be expressed in 10 words, don’t express it in 20. See if you can express it in 7-8. To make your communication successful, you have to know exactly what you want to say, and say it in the best possible way.
4. There is a specific “jargon” you must know.
There are certain words and phrases specific to business English. If we used some of these words and phrases in a random everyday conversation, they might make us look weird, but they present us as articulate (able to express ourselves well) and efficient in a business English situation.
For example, in the field of project management, you may get better results using the word “authorization” in place of “permission,” “deliverable” instead of “completed product,” “consensus” in place of “majority opinion” and so on.
5. It differs from “regular” English in many ways.
Yes, there will be similarities, and you may find yourself slipping into colloquial (everyday) English occasionally, but you have to control it in a business setting. Slang, expletives (swear words) and colloquial lingo aren’t really permitted in an “official” setting.
For instance, we may greet a close friend with a “Hey! Wassup?” But with a co-worker, we are often better off saying, “Hello. How are you?”
Even different regions matter when it comes to business English, so you may have to adjust your accent and vocabulary according to your situation. American business English differs from British business English, for example. So if you have recently relocated to the U.S, you will need to be prepared. You will have to focus on both learning American idioms as well as mastering American pronunciation.
6. The goal is to communicate and express yourself in a professional and diplomatic manner.
With business English, your job is to get your point across.
If you happen to meet an industry professional, you need to come up with the best Elevator Pitch to convince them your ideas are worth their time. In a job interview, your goal is to give the impression that you deserve to get hired. During office arguments and disagreements, you can benefit from remaining diplomatic and mature.
Business English is about maintaining a professional front. It is about remaining polite and courteous always. You need to avoid coming across as blunt and tactless. If you are giving feedback to a colleague, for example, you can’t just blurt out whatever comes into your head.
One trick is to follow the “Sandwich Rule,” particularly if the feedback is negative. Start off by saying something positive, then point out the “negative” aspect and how it can be improved, and finish off with another positive point.
7. The spoken and written language aren’t the same.
Writing a winning cover letter is an art in itself. Writing emails, memorandums, papers or even finalizing a resume all require a different skill-set.
For business writing, you need to learn to critically read and analyze the writing of others, and also learn how to express yourself in writing. Try studying sample cover letters and articles: Memorize the format, pay attention to how paragraphs are structured and which words are used often in the text. When you are writing for practice, imitate that style.
Speaking confidently during a conference call or a group meeting requires different skills. To speak well, you need to develop confidence. Try practicing in front of a mirror, or get a study partner to practice your English speaking on.
As a student of business English, you must learn and master both written and spoken language. You must be able to speak fluently and write efficiently with equal ease.
8. It isn’t about how well you know the language, it is about how well you communicate.
Yes, you have to learn the language, but you also need to know when and how to apply it.
Using business English well doesn’t mean showing off your knowledge or your fancy vocabulary. People are going to be impressed by how smoothly you complete a task, not how much you know. You have to remain solution-focused and think on your feet (in the moment, as things are happening).
You may not always know all the right words, but if you can get your message across clearly and briefly, you are likely to be successful.
There are still different levels of communication required for different situations. For example, during a presentation, you still have to focus on your research and vocabulary to appear knowledgeable. But when you are answering questions from a co-worker or your boss, your main aim is communication. In fact, whenever you are directly asked for an opinion or a solution, it is a good idea to focus on communication the most.
9. You will perfect it with practice.
You won’t master business English in a day. You are bound to make mistakes and embarrass yourself. But it is important to keep trying, to learn from your mistakes and keep practicing. Never lose hope or even think about giving up. No one is born “fluent” in any language. If you are sincere and dedicated enough, you will succeed in learning whatever you set your mind to.
Business English is a life skill that will help you in countless ways, and the only way to master it is to keep at it until you do.
The only real secret to success with business English? Practice it every day. Set aside a chunk of time for learning, and make sure you show up and do your lessons.
So in order to ace business English, you need to first have decent speaking and writing skills.
You need to focus on your pronunciation, diction and accent.
You also need to regularly practice and develop your vocabulary.
At the same time, you have to focus on your personality. Be more confident, empathetic (considerate of others’ thoughts and feelings) and proactive.
Don’t forget to work on your body language, too! And finally, always remember that clarity and brevity are highly appreciated.
So even if you are learning business English on your own, make sure you go out and communicate, interact and learn as much as you can.
Believe in yourself, remain focused and you are sure to succeed by leaps and bounds.
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Archita Mittra is a freelance writer, artist, educator, journalist and a self-taught Italian speaker. Feel free to check out her website or contact her for freelancing/educational inquiries.
What is Business English? [A Simple Definition]
There’s a lot more to learning a second (or third or fourth!) language than just vocabulary and grammar because languages are used differently in different contexts.
For example, everyone speaks to their boss differently than their grandparents. We all write differently for different contexts as well. A text message is certainly not going to be the same as a formal business report.
What is Business English?
Business English is the type of English used in business contexts, such as international trade, commerce, finance, insurance, banking, and many office settings. It entails expectations of clarity, particular vocabulary, and grammatical structures. Here’s a quick review of some of the features of professional business communication.
Clarity in business writing
When using English for business contexts, it is vitally important to be as clear as possible and leave nothing to interpretation. If you are unclear in your business writing or speaking, you often waste time and risk losing money. This is different from literature, for example, where a lot is left up to the interpretation of the reader.
Learning to write well using professional English is a process. Instructional Solutions offers online Business English Writing courses for non-native speakers that can help you to achieve this type of writing.
Get feedback from a professional on your English business writing today.
Our Effective Business Writing Techniques Course for Non-Native Writers includes instructor feedback.
Short, direct vocabulary
Some types of English, like novels and law briefings, welcome long, sophisticated vocabulary. Business English isn’t like that. Good writing is direct and to the point. You should avoid:
Simple, yet effective, grammar
Save complex grammar for academic writing (though there are arguments that it doesn’t belong there either!). Good English uses simple tenses (past, present, and future simple) as well as the present perfect. Words like “first” and “then” indicate the order of actions, instead of complicated grammatical structures. This ensures that the message is easy to absorb, saving time and money.