Jake's Business English

Free PDF · The Real 100

100 English phrases you'll really use at work.

For meetings, emails and calls – from 106 million words of real workplace English.

Free · New episodes every weekday from Tue 17 Nov 2026 · unsubscribe anytime · Privacy

The Real 100 – a free PDF with 100 workplace phrases in 10 situations
  • 10 work situations: meetings, emails, calls, feedback, small talk
  • 10 phrases for each situation, with a short explanation
  • In your inbox as soon as you confirm your email

Textbook vs. real

TEXTBOOK

Repeat, please.

REAL · #1,423 OF 6,378

Sorry, I didn't catch that.

TEXTBOOK

Thank you for the information.

REAL · #681 OF 6,378

Thanks for the heads-up.

TEXTBOOK

I am writing to ask you…

REAL · #29 OF 6,378

I was wondering if…

The first 20 of the Real 100

Ten situations, ten phrases each. Here are two of them.

01Giving your view in a meeting

  • It sounds like…Show you listened before you add your view.
  • I agree to some extent.Agree, but not completely.
  • As far as I know,…Share what you know without promising it's certain.
  • I would say…Give an opinion softly.
  • On the other hand,…Bring in the other side of the argument.
  • I see your point, but…Disagree politely – show respect first.
  • I have some concerns about…Raise a worry without attacking the idea.
  • Have we considered…?Suggest an alternative as a question.
  • Let me play devil's advocate.Test an idea when everyone agrees too fast.
  • Fair enough.Accept someone's point, even if you'd do it differently.

02Clarifying and getting a word in

  • Just to clarify,…Check one detail – a date, a number, a name.
  • My understanding is…Say what you think is true, and invite correction.
  • If I understand your question correctly,…Repeat a question before you answer it.
  • In other words,…Say the same thing more simply.
  • Does that mean…?Check what follows from what you just heard.
  • Let me check and get back to you.You don't know yet – and you promise an answer.
  • If I may,…Enter a discussion politely.
  • Can I jump in here?Join a fast discussion without being rude.
  • Going back to what I was saying,…Return to your point after an interruption.
  • I'd like to add…Build on what someone else just said.
Get all 100 by email

How we counted

106 millionwords of real meetings, work emails, company calls and presentations
6,378workplace phrases in 113 situations, ranked by how often people need them
100phrases worth learning first, picked for how useful and natural they are

How we choose phrases