What does “to chair” mean?

“to chair” means lead a meeting and keep it moving. Pronounced /ˈtʃɛr/. Close synonyms: lead, run, preside over. For example: Priya will chair Thursday's review, so send her anything you want on the list.

What does “chairperson” mean?

“chairperson” means person who leads a meeting or a committee. Pronounced /ˈtʃɛrˌpɜrsən/. Close synonyms: chair, meeting leader, presiding officer. For example: As chairperson, Daniel cut the discussion short and moved the group to the next item.

What does “to moderate” mean?

“to moderate” means guide a discussion so that everyone gets a fair turn. Pronounced /ˈmɑdəˌreɪt/. Close synonyms: host, facilitate, guide. For example: She agreed to moderate the panel and keep each speaker to five minutes.

What does “attendee” mean?

“attendee” means someone who is present at a meeting or event. Pronounced /əˌtɛnˈdi/. Close synonyms: participant, guest, person present. For example: Please send the deck to every attendee before the session starts on Monday.

What does “to attend” mean?

“to attend” means be present at a meeting or an event. Pronounced /əˈtɛnd/. Close synonyms: go to, be at, join. For example: I can't attend the Monday call, so Marco will take notes for me.

What does “turnout” mean?

“turnout” means number of people who come to an event. Pronounced /ˈtɜrnˌaʊt/. Close synonyms: attendance, numbers, headcount. For example: We had a poor turnout for the training, so we are running it again in May.

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Business English — Meetings & Email Official

The English of meetings, calls and email that working life actually uses, defined in English. The words and expressions for agendas and action items, chairing and interrupting, scheduling, following up and closing a thread, each with an English definition, IPA, synonyms and a usage note on how formal it sounds.

CEFR B1–B2 — Intermediate to Upper Intermediate

At this level you can discuss opinions, travel independently, describe experiences. Vocabulary: ~2,500–4,000 words (cumulative).

Words in this deck

What does “to chair” mean?: “to chair” means lead a meeting and keep it moving. Pronounced /ˈtʃɛr/. Close synonyms: lead, run, preside over. For example: Priya will chair Thursday's review, so send her anything you want on the list.
What does “chairperson” mean?: “chairperson” means person who leads a meeting or a committee. Pronounced /ˈtʃɛrˌpɜrsən/. Close synonyms: chair, meeting leader, presiding officer. For example: As chairperson, Daniel cut the discussion short and moved the group to the next item.
What does “to moderate” mean?: “to moderate” means guide a discussion so that everyone gets a fair turn. Pronounced /ˈmɑdəˌreɪt/. Close synonyms: host, facilitate, guide. For example: She agreed to moderate the panel and keep each speaker to five minutes.
What does “attendee” mean?: “attendee” means someone who is present at a meeting or event. Pronounced /əˌtɛnˈdi/. Close synonyms: participant, guest, person present. For example: Please send the deck to every attendee before the session starts on Monday.
What does “to attend” mean?: “to attend” means be present at a meeting or an event. Pronounced /əˈtɛnd/. Close synonyms: go to, be at, join. For example: I can't attend the Monday call, so Marco will take notes for me.
What does “turnout” mean?: “turnout” means number of people who come to an event. Pronounced /ˈtɜrnˌaʊt/. Close synonyms: attendance, numbers, headcount. For example: We had a poor turnout for the training, so we are running it again in May.

English · definitions in English 200 words ~20 days at 10 words/day 0 downloads B1 B2

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Word List — click grammar notes to expand

Word	Translation	Example
to chairB2neutral /ˈtʃɛr/ lead a meeting and keep it moving Synonyms: lead, run, preside over	run a meeting	Priya will chair Thursday's review, so send her anything you want on the list.
You chair a meeting, a session or a committee, and the person doing it is the chair. It means keeping order and time, not doing most of the talking. Fine in speech and in writing. Older company documents say chairman; chair is the safe modern choice.
chairpersonB2neutral /ˈtʃɛrˌpɜrsən/ person who leads a meeting or a committee Synonyms: chair, meeting leader, presiding officer	the person leading	As chairperson, Daniel cut the discussion short and moved the group to the next item.
Safe when you do not know the person's gender or when chairman would look dated, though most people simply say chair. Chairman and chairwoman survive as board titles. It can mean the permanent head of a board, not only whoever runs today's call.
to moderateB2neutral /ˈmɑdəˌreɪt/ guide a discussion so that everyone gets a fair turn Synonyms: host, facilitate, guide	guide a discussion	She agreed to moderate the panel and keep each speaker to five minutes.
A moderator manages the talking and the clock without taking a side, so the word fits panels, webinars and public sessions rather than a decision meeting, which you chair. The adjective moderate, meaning not extreme, ends differently, /ˈmɑdərət/.
attendeeB2neutral /əˌtɛnˈdi/ someone who is present at a meeting or event Synonyms: participant, guest, person present	person at a meeting	Please send the deck to every attendee before the session starts on Monday.
Administrative rather than conversational: it belongs in invitations, lists and reports, while in speech people say the people on the call. The -ee ending usually marks the person something is done to, so attendee is irregular but completely standard.
to attendB1neutral /əˈtɛnd/ be present at a meeting or an event Synonyms: go to, be at, join	go to; be present at	I can't attend the Monday call, so Marco will take notes for me.
The event follows straight after it with no preposition: attend a meeting, never attend to a meeting. Attend to something means deal with it, which is a different verb. Slightly formal, so speech prefers go to; use attend in notices and reports.
turnoutB2neutral /ˈtɜrnˌaʊt/ number of people who come to an event Synonyms: attendance, numbers, headcount	number who came	We had a poor turnout for the training, so we are running it again in May.
It counts heads and says nothing about quality: a good turnout means many people came, whatever happened afterwards. Normally singular with an adjective in front, as in a strong turnout or a disappointing turnout. The verb behind it is turn out, two words.
no-showB2neutral /ˈnoʊ ˌʃoʊ/ someone who books a place and does not come Synonyms: absentee, missing attendee, empty seat	person who didn't come	We had three no-shows this morning, so the room was half empty.
Mildly critical, so it is normal in internal notes but blunt written to the person who missed the call. Countable and usually about the person: two no-shows, a high no-show rate. Keep the hyphen, since no show without it reads as a canceled performance.
to hostB1neutral /ˈhoʊst/ organize a meeting and look after the people in it Synonyms: run, organize, put on	organize and run	I'll host the call, so use my link and I'll let everyone in.
In video tools the host is a real role with controls: starting the meeting, admitting people, recording. Hosting covers the arrangements, chairing covers the discussion, and one person often does both. You host a call, a session, a visitor or a conference.
kickoffB2neutral /ˈkɪkˌɔf/ first meeting at the start of a project Synonyms: opening meeting, launch meeting, first session	first project meeting	The kickoff is Tuesday at ten, and every team lead should be there.
People arrive at a kickoff expecting scope, owners and dates, so calling a meeting one raises what the room will ask for. Used alone or before a noun: a kickoff meeting, a kickoff call, just the kickoff. The noun is one word and the verb two: the project kicks off Monday.
standupB2informal /ˈstændˌʌp/ short daily meeting where each person reports quickly Synonyms: daily meeting, huddle, quick check-in	short daily team meeting	Bring it to standup tomorrow instead of scheduling a separate call.
Software-team jargon that has spread widely, but outside technology companies many readers will not know it, so explain it or write daily meeting. People stand so that it stays short, usually fifteen minutes. Stand-up with a hyphen more often means comedy.
one-on-oneB2neutral /ˌwʌn ɑn ˈwʌn/ regular private meeting between a worker and their manager Synonyms: private meeting, individual meeting, check-in	private two-person meeting	I'll raise the workload question in my one-on-one with Elena on Friday.
In American offices this usually means the standing meeting with your manager, so it carries an expectation of honesty rather than small talk. It works as a noun or an adjective: we have a one-on-one, a one-on-one conversation. British English says one-to-one.
all-handsB2neutral /ˌɔl ˈhændz/ meeting that everyone in the company joins Synonyms: company meeting, town hall, general meeting	whole-company meeting	The CEO announced the reorganization at the all-hands, not by email.
From a ship's call for the whole crew, so it implies everybody, not just a big team. Used alone or before a noun: the all-hands, an all-hands meeting. Town hall is the common American alternative and suggests questions from the audience.
offsiteB2neutral /ˈɔfˌsaɪt/ planning day held away from the usual workplace Synonyms: retreat, planning day, team retreat	meeting away from work	We booked a hotel in Denver for the two-day offsite in October.
It suggests a whole day or more of planning with the same team, not simply a meeting held somewhere else. Used as a noun or an adjective: go on an offsite, run an offsite workshop. British English says away day, and onsite usually means at the customer's place.
breakoutB2neutral /ˈbreɪkˌaʊt/ small group that leaves the main meeting to talk separately Synonyms: small group, subgroup, discussion group	small split-off group	We'll split into breakout groups for twenty minutes and then report back.
Almost always in front of another noun: breakout group, breakout room, breakout session. In video calls the breakout rooms are a feature the host turns on. Do not confuse it with outbreak, the word used for disease, which reverses the two halves.
huddleB2informal /ˈhʌdəl/ short unplanned meeting of a few people Synonyms: quick chat, short meeting, catch-up	quick informal meeting	Can we have a quick huddle after lunch to decide who is calling the client?
Fine among colleagues, too casual for a client, who gets invited to a call rather than a huddle. It implies five or ten minutes and no written list of topics. Also a verb, from players gathering in a tight circle before the next play.
debriefB2neutral /ˈdiˌbrif/ meeting to go over what happened and what to change Synonyms: review meeting, wrap-up, after-action review	review after an event	Let's schedule a debrief on Thursday while the client visit is still fresh.
The stress moves between the two forms: the noun is /ˈdiˌbrif/ and the verb, as in debrief the team, is /diˈbrif/. It looks backwards at a single event, so it is never a planning meeting. Came from the military and is now ordinary office English.
to briefB2neutral /ˈbrif/ tell someone the facts they need before they act Synonyms: fill in, update, inform	give someone key facts	Can you brief me on the account before I join the call at three?
I was never briefed on this is a standard way of shifting blame, so the passive matters as much as the frame brief someone on something. Briefing hands over facts in advance, which is why doing it afterwards is a debrief. The adjective brief, meaning short, is the same word.
briefingB2neutral /ˈbrifɪŋ/ short meeting or document that gives people the facts Synonyms: update, rundown, information session	short information meeting	The security briefing lasted ten minutes and every new hire has to attend it.
A briefing informs and decides nothing, so nobody should leave one expecting a vote. Countable, and it can be either a meeting or a written document. Some companies call the written version a brief and the spoken one a briefing, but the two get mixed.
postmortemB2neutral /ˌpoʊstˈmɔrtəm/ meeting that examines why something went wrong Synonyms: review, debrief, failure analysis	review of what failed	The postmortem showed the outage started with an untested change on Friday.
Taken from medicine, where it means an examination after a death, so some readers find it heavy for a project. It looks for causes rather than people to punish, which is why blameless postmortem is a fixed phrase. Retrospective is the softer alternative.
webinarB2neutral /ˈwɛbəˌnɑr/ talk or training given online to an audience Synonyms: online seminar, online session, virtual talk	online talk or seminar	Two hundred people signed up for the webinar on the new reporting rules.
A blend of web and seminar, so it means one-way teaching with questions at the end, not a meeting where everybody speaks. You host, run or attend a webinar, and the audience registers for one. Countable. Marketing departments use the word heavily.
to adjournB2formal /əˈdʒɜrn/ officially stop a meeting, often to continue later Synonyms: break off, suspend, close	end or pause a meeting	The chair adjourned the meeting until two o'clock so that people could eat.
An everyday meeting simply breaks or finishes; adjourn belongs to boards, committees and courts. Adjourn until plus a time promises a second half, and without it the meeting is over. Often passive: the meeting was adjourned. The noun is adjournment.
quorumB2formal /ˈkwɔrəm/ smallest number of people needed to make decisions Synonyms: minimum attendance, required number, minimum present	minimum number present	Only four directors came, so we had no quorum and postponed the vote.
Only boards, associations and committees whose written rules set a number have one; an ordinary team meeting does not. The frames are have a quorum, reach a quorum and lack a quorum. Decisions taken without one can be challenged later. Plural quorums.
proceedingsB2formal /prəˈsidɪŋz/ official record of what happens at a formal meeting Synonyms: record, published papers, transactions	record of a formal meeting	The proceedings of the annual conference are published online every January.
It covers both what happened in a formal session and the published volume that records it, which is why conference proceedings sit in libraries. Always plural here, never proceeding. In legal English the same word means a court case, so the setting decides.
to sit inB2neutral /ˌsɪt ˈɪn/ join a meeting to listen rather than to take part Synonyms: observe, listen in, shadow	attend without taking part	Would you mind if I sit in on your client call tomorrow just to listen?
It signals that you will stay quiet, so asking to sit in is polite, while telling a team that a manager will sit in sounds like inspection. The frame keeps both particles: sit in on the interview. A sit-in with a hyphen is a protest.
to dial inB1neutral /ˌdaɪl ˈɪn/ join a meeting by phone or video from somewhere else Synonyms: join remotely, call in, connect	join a call remotely	I'm traveling on Thursday, so I'll dial in from the airport.
Left over from telephone conferences but now used for video too: dial in to the call, dial in from home. The noun is the dial-in, meaning the number or the link. Dialed in as an adjective means fully focused, a separate sense.
to unmuteB1neutral /ˌʌnˈmjut/ switch your microphone back on during a call Synonyms: turn your mic on, come off mute, switch on audio	turn your microphone on	You need to unmute before you answer, Sam, because we can't hear anything.
You unmute yourself, or simply unmute with no object at all. You are on mute describes the state, and sorry, I was on mute is the apology everyone accepts after a silence. Come off mute is the informal alternative.
to freezeB1neutral /ˈfriz/ stop responding so that the picture stays still Synonyms: lock up, stick, stop responding	stop moving, of screens	Her screen froze halfway through the demo and she had to rejoin the call.
Irregular: freeze, froze, frozen, so it was frozen and never it was freezed. On calls the subject is the screen, the video or the person: you froze for a second. A hiring freeze is an unrelated noun, meaning a deliberate stop.
deckB2informal /ˈdɛk/ set of slides prepared for a presentation Synonyms: slides, slide deck, presentation	set of presentation slides	I'll send the deck around tonight so everyone can read it before the meeting.
Office jargon, normal in American internal email but a client may not recognize it, so slides is the safer word outside the company. It comes from a deck of cards, is often expanded to slide deck, and you build, send or walk someone through one.
slideB1neutral /ˈslaɪd/ one screen of a presentation Synonyms: screen, page, visual	one presentation page	Go back one slide, please, because the number in the second column looks wrong.
Counted and named by number, and things appear on a slide rather than in one: go back one slide, the number on slide four. A slide carrying too much text is called busy, which is the commonest complaint about a deck. The whole set is a deck.
handoutB1neutral /ˈhændˌaʊt/ printed page given to people at a meeting Synonyms: printed sheet, printout, information sheet	printed page given out	There's a one-page handout on the table summarizing the four options.
The other sense, money given to people in need, carries a sting, so a government handout is always criticism; at work only the printed sheet is meant. Countable and one word as a noun, though the verb behind it is two words.
whiteboardB1neutral /ˈwaɪtˌbɔrd/ large white surface for writing on in meetings Synonyms: board, dry-erase board, wall board	large writing board	Someone drew the whole process on the whiteboard and we photographed it.
Also a verb in American offices, as in whiteboard an idea, meaning sketch it out together; that use is jargon and best kept internal. Online versions are called virtual whiteboards. The older blackboard belongs to classrooms, not meeting rooms.
to presentB1neutral /prɪˈzɛnt/ show and explain something to a group Synonyms: show, explain, deliver	show and explain formally	Yuki will present the results and then take questions for ten minutes.
Prepared material and an audience are implied, so answering a question at your desk is explaining, not presenting. You present something to someone, or present to a group. The verb stresses the second syllable, /prɪˈzɛnt/, unlike the noun meaning gift, /ˈprɛzənt/.
to walk throughB2neutral /ˌwɔk ˈθru/ explain something to someone one step at a time Synonyms: take through, explain, guide	explain step by step	Can you walk me through the numbers before I send them to the client?
Offering to walk somebody through something sounds generous and asking for it sounds humble, because the phrase promises patience and detail. The person goes in the middle: walk me through it, walk the team through the plan. Without a person it means you go through it alone.
walkthroughB2neutral /ˈwɔkˌθru/ explanation that goes through something step by step Synonyms: demonstration, guided tour, rundown	step-by-step explanation	She recorded a ten-minute walkthrough of the new expense system for the team.
Promising a walkthrough promises every step in order, so it takes longer than an overview and disappoints anyone who only wanted the summary. It goes with of: a walkthrough of the new system. One word as a noun and two as the verb: she walked us through it.
to fieldB2neutral /ˈfild/ answer questions as they come, especially difficult ones Synonyms: handle, take, answer	answer questions	The director fielded questions about the layoffs for nearly half an hour.
The word hints that the questions were hard and were handled calmly, so fielded questions is quiet praise for whoever answered. You field questions, calls or complaints, and the object is usually plural, though fielding one difficult question is normal. From baseball, where a player catches whatever comes.
Q&AB2neutral /ˌkju ənd ˈeɪ/ part of a session where listeners ask questions Synonyms: questions, question time, open discussion	question and answer session	We'll keep the talk to twenty minutes and leave fifteen for Q&A.
Announcing how long it will be, as in fifteen minutes for Q&A, is what keeps a session from running over. Often with no article: time for Q&A, during Q&A. Said as three letters and normally written with the ampersand; spelled out, it appears mainly in front of session.
the floorB2neutral /ðə ˈflɔr/ the right to speak in a meeting Synonyms: the right to speak, speaking turn, your turn	the right to speak	Marta has the floor, so let her finish before anyone else comes in.
Fixed phrases carry it: have the floor, take the floor, give someone the floor, and the chair decides who gets it. A question from the floor comes from the audience, not the panel. Always with the, and no plural in this sense.
to open the floorB2neutral /ˈoʊpən ðə ˈflɔr/ invite the people listening to speak or ask questions Synonyms: invite questions, take questions, hand over to the room	invite audience questions	I'll finish with the timeline and then open the floor to questions.
Use it to hand a session to the audience: control passes from the speaker to everybody, so it suits a planned event rather than a meeting of four people. Followed by to: open the floor to questions, to comments, to the room. Usually said by whoever is chairing.
venueB2neutral /ˈvɛnju/ place where an event or meeting is held Synonyms: place, site	place an event happens	The venue holds two hundred people and has parking for the visiting teams.
Fits events, conferences and training days; for an ordinary meeting say room or just where. Countable, with the frames the venue for something and to change venue. It means the building or space, not the town, which would be the location.
note-takerB2neutral /ˈnoʊt ˌteɪkər/ person who writes down what a meeting decides Synonyms: recorder, scribe, minute writer	person recording the meeting	We need a note-taker for the board meeting, and Lucia has volunteered.
The work is described as taking notes, or in a formal meeting taking the minutes; you take them in the room and write them up afterwards. Keep the hyphen in the noun. Asking someone to take the minutes is a bigger favor than asking for notes.
transcriptB2neutral /ˈtrænˌskrɪpt/ written record of everything that was said Synonyms: written record, transcription, text	written record of speech	The transcript of the call runs to forty pages, so read the summary instead.
Every word in order, which is what separates it from minutes or notes. Countable, and it goes with of: the transcript of the meeting. Meeting tools now produce one automatically, worth remembering before you say something you would not write.
to tableB2neutral /ˈteɪbəl/ decide not to discuss something for now Synonyms: postpone, put aside, shelve	put off discussing	Let's table the pricing question until Anna is back from vacation.
Dangerous across the Atlantic: in American English tabling an item takes it off today's list, while in British English tabling it means putting it forward for discussion. You table a question, a motion or a proposal, so say which you mean with a mixed group.
action itemB2neutral /ˈækʃən ˌaɪtəm/ task that someone agreed to do after a meeting Synonyms: task, to-do, assigned job	a task from a meeting	There are six action items from Tuesday and four of them are mine.
Each one needs an owner and a date, or it will not happen, which is why minutes put a name beside every action item. Countable, and American; British minutes often say action point. People capture them during the meeting and circulate them afterwards.
to actionB2neutral /ˈækʃən/ deal with a task that was agreed Synonyms: deal with, handle, do	deal with a task	Can you action the vendor request today so we don't lose the week?
Jargon: the noun action pressed into service as a verb, and plenty of readers dislike it. Deal with or do says the same thing and annoys nobody. Common in minutes, as in Priya to action, where the plain version is Priya will do this.
takeawayB2neutral /ˈteɪkəˌweɪ/ main point that people should remember Synonyms: main point, lesson, conclusion	main point to remember	The takeaway from the review is that we underestimated the testing time.
Readers treat it as the answer to what should we remember, so it belongs at the end of a session or an email and not in the middle. Usually with key or main in front and often plural: the key takeaways. In British English a takeaway is food you carry home.
next stepsB1neutral /ˌnɛkst ˈstɛps/ actions that will follow a meeting Synonyms: follow-up actions, what happens next, the plan	what happens next	Before we finish, let's agree on the next steps and who owns each one.
The standard closing item of an American meeting, and softer than action items because names may not be attached yet. Nearly always plural and often with no article: agree on next steps, next steps are below. American English needs the on; agree next steps is British.
deliverableB2neutral /dɪˈlɪvərəbəl/ piece of work you promised to produce Synonyms: output, promised work, product	promised piece of work	The first deliverable is a written plan, due at the end of the month.
It names something you can hand over, such as a document or a working system, not an activity, so training is not a deliverable but a training plan is. Usually plural: the deliverables for this phase. Project jargon, and standard in contracts.
ownerB2neutral /ˈoʊnər/ person responsible for finishing a task Synonyms: person responsible, lead, point person	person responsible	Every item on this list needs an owner, or nothing moves before Friday.
In meetings it means the person accountable, not the person who possesses something, and one task takes exactly one owner. The frames are the owner of something and to own an item. Naming an owner aloud is how a discussion turns into work.
to assignB2neutral /əˈsaɪn/ give a task or duty to a particular person Synonyms: give, allocate, hand	give a task to someone	The chair assigned the follow-up to me and gave me two weeks.
Authority comes with it, so you assign work to people who report to you and ask everybody else; assigning a task to a peer will be noticed. Two patterns, both correct: assign a task to someone, or assign someone a task. The passive hides the decider: I was assigned the report.
to sign offB2neutral /ˌsaɪn ˈɔf/ give official approval to something Synonyms: approve, authorize, clear	approve officially	Legal still has to sign off on the contract before we send it.
Saying legal has to sign off names the person who can stop you, since the phrase implies authority and usually a written trace. Takes on before the thing approved: sign off on the budget, where British English drops the on.
to finalizeB2neutral /ˈfaɪnəˌlaɪz/ finish something so that nothing more will change Synonyms: complete, settle, confirm	finish and fix	We'll finalize the agenda tomorrow and send it out on Wednesday morning.
It promises no further changes, so do not use it while things are still moving; write update or revise instead. Common objects are a plan, a date, a list and a contract. American spelling takes -ize, and British -ise is the same word.
recapB2neutral /ˈriˌkæp/ short repeat of the main points Synonyms: summary, rundown, review	short summary	Here's a quick recap for anyone who joined the call late.
Sending a recap after a call quietly fixes the version of events everyone will work from, so write it the same day and keep it to decisions. Countable, and it goes with quick, brief or short; a formal report says summary. The noun stresses the first syllable, /ˈriˌkæp/.
to summarizeB1neutral /ˈsʌməˌraɪz/ state the main points briefly Synonyms: sum up, recap, condense	give the main points	Could you summarize the client's objections in a few lines for the team?
You summarize something in a sentence, in a paragraph or in writing, and the noun is a summary. Sum up is the more spoken alternative. Keep it honest: summarizing means shortening, so dropping the inconvenient half is misrepresenting instead.
resolutionB2formal /ˌrɛzəˈluʃən/ formal decision made and recorded by a group Synonyms: formal decision, motion, ruling	formal decision	The board passed a resolution to close the Boston office by June.
You pass, adopt or reject a resolution, and it lives in boards, committees and shareholder meetings rather than in a team discussion. The other sense, the resolution of a problem, means solving it, and screen resolution is unrelated again.
unanimousB2formal /juˈnænəməs/ agreed by every single person present Synonyms: agreed by all, undivided, with no objections	agreed by everyone	The decision was unanimous, so no one can claim later they objected.
It means every single person, so nearly unanimous is the honest phrase when one person held out. The frames are a unanimous decision and the vote was unanimous. The adverb turns up constantly in minutes: approved unanimously.
to abstainB2formal /əbˈsteɪn/ choose not to vote for or against something Synonyms: not vote, hold back, stay neutral	not vote either way	Two directors abstained because their own departments would gain from the change.
Abstaining is a recorded position, not absence: it says you were there and chose neither side, often because of a conflict of interest. The full frame is abstain from voting, though minutes just say two members abstained. The noun is abstention.
show of handsB2neutral /ˌʃoʊ əv ˈhændz/ quick vote taken by raising hands Synonyms: quick vote, informal vote, hand count	quick informal vote	Let's take a show of hands on whether to move the deadline to Friday.
A fast reading of the room rather than a binding decision, which is why a board with written rules still records a proper vote afterwards. The frames are take a show of hands and by a show of hands, and the phrase stays singular.
to approveB1neutral /əˈpruv/ officially agree that something can happen Synonyms: agree to, authorize, pass	officially agree to	The committee approved the plan but asked for monthly updates on spending.
With a direct object it means authorize: approve the budget. Approve of something is a different verb meaning think it is good, so a manager can approve your expenses without approving of the trip. The passive is very common in email.
approvalB1neutral /əˈpruvəl/ official permission for something to go ahead Synonyms: permission, sign-off, authorization	official permission	We need written approval from the director before we can order the equipment.
Pending approval in an email means nothing can move yet, so it is a polite way of saying wait. Uncountable in this sense: get approval, await approval, subject to approval. It takes from before a person and for before a thing.
amendmentB2formal /əˈmɛndmənt/ small official change to a document or plan Synonyms: change, revision, alteration	small official change	The minutes were approved with one amendment about the start date.
You propose, accept or reject one, and in a formal meeting an amendment changes a motion before the group votes on it. It goes with to: an amendment to the contract. In everyday email people simply say a change.
draftB1neutral /ˈdræft/ early version of a document, not yet final Synonyms: early version, rough copy, working version	an early version	I've attached a first draft, so please mark anything that reads wrong.
Labeling something a draft buys you room: it invites comments and excuses the rough edges, so send a draft when you want help and a final version when you want a decision. Also a verb, so you draft the email and then redraft it.
to distributeB2formal /dɪˈstrɪbjut/ send something out to all the people who need it Synonyms: send out, share, hand out	send out to everyone	The minutes will be distributed to everyone who attended by Friday.
Notices and minutes use it, while an email to colleagues says send around or share. You distribute something to people, and the passive is the usual shape in minutes: the papers were distributed. Stress the second syllable, /dɪˈstrɪbjut/.
outstandingB2neutral /aʊtˈstændɪŋ/ still not finished or not yet paid Synonyms: unfinished, unresolved, still open	still not done	Three action items from last month are still outstanding, including mine.
Two opposite-feeling senses share one spelling: outstanding items are items nobody has dealt with, while outstanding work in a review means excellent. Only the context decides, so in a list of tasks read it as unfinished, factual rather than as a complaint.
to check offB1neutral /ˌtʃɛk ˈɔf/ mark an item on a list as finished Synonyms: check, mark complete, record as done	mark as done	I checked off the first two items and the rest are still waiting.
A checkbox exercise, meaning work done only so that somebody can mark it complete, comes from the same picture and is always criticism. Separable, so a pronoun splits it: check it off. British English says tick off, which Americans hear as annoying someone.
to cross offB1neutral /ˌkrɔs ˈɔf/ remove an item from a list by drawing a line Synonyms: remove, take off the list, delete	remove from a list	You can cross me off the list, because I'll be in Chicago that day.
Slightly different from checking off: crossing something off removes it, while checking it off records it as done. People say cross me off the invitation list. Separable, and cross out applies to words inside a text rather than lines on a list.
itemB1neutral /ˈaɪtəm/ single thing on a list or agenda Synonyms: point, entry, thing	one thing on a list	We got through five items and left the difficult one for next week.
Meeting English is full of it: item three, the next item, an agenda item. The first syllable is /ˈaɪ/ and not /ˈi/, worth fixing early because the word comes up constantly. American agendas close with new business, where British ones say any other business.
to parkB2informal /ˈpɑrk/ stop discussing something and come back to it later Synonyms: leave for later, set aside, postpone	leave for later	Can we park this and pick it up in the one-on-one tomorrow?
Softer than refusing: parking a question says it matters but not now, and a good chair writes it down so that it really does come back. The written list of parked questions is often called the parking lot. Too casual for formal minutes.
to revisitB2neutral /riˈvɪzɪt/ look at or discuss something again later Synonyms: return to, reconsider, look at again	discuss again later	We agreed to revisit the pricing after the first three months of sales.
A promise with a date attached is real; without one, let's revisit this is a polite burial, and experienced colleagues hear it that way. You revisit a decision, an assumption or a plan. Safe in speech and writing, including with clients.
to deferB2formal /dɪˈfɜr/ delay something until a later time Synonyms: delay, postpone, put off	delay until later	The committee deferred the decision until the legal review is finished.
Defer to someone is a different thing entirely, meaning accept their judgment, so deferring to the chair delays nothing at all. Doubles the r in deferred and deferring, and the noun is deferral. Minutes use it more often than speech does.
to logB2neutral /ˈlɔg/ write something in an official list or system Synonyms: record, enter, register	record in a list	Every complaint gets logged, even the ones we resolve on the call.
You log a call, a ticket or a defect, because the word needs a system that keeps a list; a decision is recorded rather than logged. Doubles the g: logged, logging. Log in and log out are separate phrasal verbs.
to keep track ofB1neutral /ˈkip ˈtræk əv/ stay informed about the progress of something Synonyms: monitor, follow, stay on top of	follow the progress of	I use a shared sheet to keep track of who owes me what each week.
I lost track of this thread is the apology you will need more often than the promise, so learn the negative half too. The frame is fixed with of at the end: keep track of the changes. Track stays singular, so never keep tracks of.
for the recordB2neutral /fər ðə ˈrɛkərd/ said so that it is officially written down Synonyms: officially, on the record, to be noted	so it is officially noted	For the record, I asked for that test two weeks before the release.
It marks the sentence as a claim you want preserved, which usually means you expect to be blamed later, so it lands as defensive or combative. Off the record is the opposite and is only a request, never a guarantee. The noun is /ˈrɛkərd/.
to prioritizeB2neutral /praɪˈɔrəˌtaɪz/ decide which tasks matter most and do those first Synonyms: rank, order, put first	put in order of importance	We had to prioritize the customer complaints over the internal reporting work.
Choosing is the whole point, so a plan in which everything is a priority has prioritized nothing, and asking somebody to prioritize is usually a polite request to drop something. Two patterns: prioritize one thing over another, or prioritize a whole list.
to slipB2neutral /ˈslɪp/ happen later than planned Synonyms: fall behind, be delayed, run late	fall behind schedule	If the review slips again, the launch moves into the next quarter.
With dates and plans it needs no object: the date slipped, the timeline has slipped. It sounds accidental and blames nobody, which is exactly why project reports prefer it to we were late. Slippage is the noun, and slipped doubles the p.
to greenlightB2informal /ˈgrinˌlaɪt/ give permission for a project to start Synonyms: approve, authorize, give the go-ahead	approve a project	The board greenlit the redesign but asked us to start in September.
From film studios, and it still sounds a little dramatic for routine approvals, where sign off is the plain choice. The past form is usually greenlit, sometimes greenlighted. The noun phrase is two words: we finally got the green light.
to shelveB2neutral /ˈʃɛlv/ stop working on a plan, with no date to restart Synonyms: drop, put aside, abandon	stop work indefinitely	The second phase was shelved when the funding disappeared in March.
Heavier than postponing, because shelving something sets no new date, so it is closer to cancellation than to delay and people hear it that way. Usually passive: the project was shelved. From putting a thing on a shelf and forgetting it.
to overruleB2formal /ˌoʊvərˈrul/ use your authority to reject someone's decision Synonyms: reject, override, veto	reject someone's decision	The director overruled the team and kept the original launch date.
It needs a difference in power, so a manager can overrule a team while colleagues can only disagree. You overrule a person, an objection or a decision. Courts and boards use it most. Overrule is about authority, outvote is about numbers.
to secondB2neutral /ˈsɛkənd/ formally support a proposal so it can be discussed Synonyms: support, back, endorse	formally support a proposal	I'll second that, and I think we should vote before people leave.
In a formal meeting a motion dies unless somebody seconds it, which is how I'll second that spread into ordinary speech as a way of agreeing. This verb keeps the stress of the number word, /ˈsɛkənd/, and the person is the seconder.
motionB2formal /ˈmoʊʃən/ formal proposal that a meeting votes on Synonyms: formal proposal, resolution, proposition	formal proposal to vote on	The motion to delay the vote passed by seven votes to three.
Boards and associations with written rules are where it belongs, so calling your suggestion a motion in a team meeting sounds like play-acting. Fixed verbs surround it: you make a motion, somebody seconds it, and it is carried, passed or defeated. Followed by to plus a verb; British practice says move a motion.
to captureB2neutral /ˈkæptʃər/ write down information so that it is not lost Synonyms: record, note, write down	write down for the record	Did anyone capture the decision about the pricing before we moved on?
Office jargon for writing things down, and record or write down says the same in plainer words. Common with action items, decisions, requirements and feedback. It suggests catching something before it escapes, which is why it suits live meetings.
to chime inB2informal /ˌtʃaɪm ˈɪn/ add a short comment to a conversation Synonyms: add, comment, join in	add a comment	Feel free to chime in if you see something wrong with the numbers.
Friendly and casual, so it invites rather than interrupts: feel free to chime in. Takes with before what you add, as in chime in with a question. Keep it for colleagues, since clients read it as very informal. The picture is a ringing bell.
to jump inB1informal /ˌdʒʌmp ˈɪn/ start speaking while someone else is talking Synonyms: cut in, interrupt, break in	start speaking quickly	Sorry to jump in, but that date conflicts with the audit week.
The polite version names itself first: sorry to jump in, or let me jump in here. Said that way it passes in almost any meeting, including with clients. It also means start helping without being asked, as in jump in and take half.
to interjectB2formal /ˌɪntərˈdʒɛkt/ say something quickly in the middle of a discussion Synonyms: cut in, add, put in	put in a quick remark	May I interject briefly to correct one number on the second slide?
Bookish and rather grand, so an ordinary meeting says jump in; save interject for writing or a very formal session. May I interject is the usual frame. The noun interjection also names a word class in grammar, which is a separate meaning.
to talk overB2neutral /ˌtɔk ˈoʊvər/ keep speaking while another person is talking Synonyms: interrupt, speak across, drown out	speak across someone	Two people were talking over each other for most of the call.
Always critical in this sense, and the object is a person: he talked over me. Talk something over is a different verb meaning discuss it, so talking over a plan is useful while talking over a colleague is rude. Word order decides which you said.
handoverB2neutral /ˈhændˌoʊvər/ act of passing work or duties to someone else Synonyms: transfer, briefing, handoff	passing work on	She wrote a two-page handover before she left for her new role.
The word names both the moment and the document, so promising a handover commits you to writing something down. One word as a noun and two as the verb: write a handover before you hand over. American English also says handoff.
to steerB2neutral /ˈstɪr/ guide a discussion toward what matters Synonyms: guide, direct, lead	guide in a direction	She steered the meeting back to the decision we actually needed.
A chair steers a discussion where a manager simply decides, so the word suggests a light hand rather than authority. A direction usually follows: steer the discussion back, away from something, or toward a decision. A steering committee guides a project.
to rein inB2neutral /ˌreɪn ˈɪn/ bring something back under control Synonyms: control, limit, hold back	bring under control	The chair had to rein in a discussion that was going nowhere.
Spelled rein, from the leather strap on a horse, not reign, which belongs to kings; the two sound the same and the wrong one is a common written slip. Separable: rein it in. Objects are spending, expectations and runaway discussions.
to derailB2neutral /diˈreɪl/ stop a discussion or plan from going as intended Synonyms: disrupt, throw off, sidetrack	throw off course	One long complaint about the tool derailed the whole first half.
From a train leaving the rails, so it is stronger than sidetrack: a derailed meeting never really recovers. What gets derailed is a meeting, a plan, a project or a career. The passive is a tactful way to avoid naming who did it.
to digressB2formal /daɪˈgrɛs/ leave the main subject and talk about something else Synonyms: wander, stray, go off topic	leave the main subject	I'm digressing, so let me come back to the question about pricing.
Speakers mostly use it about themselves, as a mid-sentence apology: but I digress. Said about somebody else it sounds superior, so people switch to going off topic there. Nothing follows the verb, and the noun is a digression.
tangentB2neutral /ˈtændʒənt/ different subject that leads away from the main one Synonyms: side topic, digression, detour	an unrelated topic	We went off on a tangent about office chairs for ten minutes.
Gently critical but not rude, so you can say it about a meeting you ran yourself without insulting anybody. The American frame is go off on a tangent, where British English says go off at a tangent. The geometry sense shares the spelling.
to sidetrackB2neutral /ˈsaɪdˌtræk/ make someone leave the subject they were on Synonyms: distract, divert, throw off course	pull off the subject	Don't let the pricing question sidetrack us before we agree on the date.
Most often passive: we got sidetracked, I was sidetracked by email. Milder than derail, since a sidetracked meeting usually comes back. From a railway siding, a short track off the main line, which explains the picture behind it.
on trackB1neutral /ɑn ˈtræk/ going as planned, with no delay Synonyms: on schedule, going well, as planned	going as planned	The build is on track for June, though testing is tighter than we hoped.
In a status report it is the safest thing to write and therefore the least informative, so an experienced reader will ask what sits behind it. Used with be, stay, keep and get back: keep the project on track. The opposite is off track or behind.
to rambleB2informal /ˈræmbəl/ talk for a long time without a clear point Synonyms: go on, drone on, talk aimlessly	talk on and on	He rambled for ten minutes and nobody could find the actual question.
Unkind about somebody else, so keep it out of email the person might read; about yourself it works as an apology: sorry, I'm rambling. Takes on, as in ramble on about something. The literal sense, walking in the country, is unrelated.
long-windedB2neutral /ˌlɔŋ ˈwɪndɪd/ taking far too many words to say something Synonyms: wordy, drawn-out, rambling	too long and wordy	The update was long-winded, so I sent a three-line summary instead.
Criticism, and it fits a person, a document or an explanation equally. The second part sounds /ˈwɪndɪd/, like the wind that blows, not like winding a clock. Keep the hyphen. Concise and to the point are the compliments it contrasts with.
to the pointB2neutral /tə ðə ˈpɔɪnt/ saying only what matters, with nothing extra Synonyms: concise, direct, brief	short and relevant	Her answer was short and to the point, which the client appreciated.
Praise when it follows be: the email was to the point. It is not the same as blunt, which is about tone rather than length. Get to the point, said to somebody who is still talking, is a demand and sounds impatient.
inputB2neutral /ˈɪnˌpʊt/ comments or ideas that people give to help Synonyms: comments, feedback, contribution	comments and ideas	I'd like your input on the draft before it goes to the client.
Asking for somebody's input is flattering and low-pressure, which makes it a common way to include a senior colleague without asking them for work. Uncountable in this sense, so ask for input and never for inputs when you mean opinions.
to contributeB2neutral /kənˈtrɪbjut/ add something useful to a discussion or piece of work Synonyms: add, give, take part	add something useful	Two people contributed nothing to the discussion but complained afterwards.
Saying a colleague did not contribute is a serious criticism in a written review, so choose it carefully. Takes to before what you help: contribute to the discussion. The main American stress is on the second syllable, /kənˈtrɪbjut/.
to voiceB2formal /ˈvɔɪs/ say an opinion or worry openly Synonyms: express, state, raise	say openly	Several managers voiced concerns about the timing of the announcement.
Voicing something puts it on the record, which is why minutes prefer several managers voiced concerns to several managers complained. It pairs with a small set of nouns, nearly all negative: concerns, doubts, objections. Written English uses it far more than speech.
to floatB2neutral /ˈfloʊt/ suggest an idea to see how people react Synonyms: suggest, propose, try out	suggest tentatively	Let me float an idea and you can tell me if it sounds impossible.
It protects you: floating an idea says you are not committed to it yet, so nobody has to fight you over it. You float an idea, a name or a proposal, often past somebody. In finance, floating a company means selling its shares publicly.
to brainstormB2neutral /ˈbreɪnˌstɔrm/ produce many ideas quickly without judging them Synonyms: generate ideas, throw around ideas, think up	generate ideas together	We brainstormed twenty options and then cut the list down to four.
The rule inside the word is no criticism while ideas are still coming, which is why brainstorming and deciding do not belong in the same half-hour. Used with or without an object: brainstorm ideas, or simply brainstorm for ten minutes.
to make a pointB2neutral /ˈmeɪk ə ˈpɔɪnt/ state something clearly in a discussion Synonyms: argue, state, say something	state something clearly	She makes a fair point about the cost of training the new staff.
Adjectives go inside the phrase: make a good point, a fair point, a valid point, and saying that to somebody is a real compliment. Make a point of doing something is unrelated and means do it deliberately, so watch for the of.
to shoot downB2informal /ˌʃut ˈdaʊn/ reject someone's idea quickly and completely Synonyms: reject, dismiss, refuse	reject an idea firmly	They shot down the proposal before I had finished explaining it.
It describes speed and force, so it always makes the rejecter sound harsh, which is why nobody writes it about themselves. Separable: shoot it down. Shot down in flames is the emphatic version, and reject is the neutral choice.
buy-inB2neutral /ˈbaɪ ˌɪn/ real agreement and support from the people involved Synonyms: support, agreement, backing	agreement and support	The plan failed because we never had buy-in from the sales team.
More than permission, because people with buy-in actually help, and the plain alternative is support. Business jargon, uncountable and hyphenated: get buy-in, need buy-in from somebody. The verb is buy into, as in nobody bought into the plan.
stand-inB2neutral /ˈstænd ˌɪn/ a person who takes someone else's place on one occasion Synonyms: substitute, cover, deputy	someone covering for another person	I sent a stand-in to the review because both of us were traveling that week.
A stand-in covers one meeting or one day, which is what separates the word from a replacement, who takes the job. Countable: send, find or act as a stand-in for somebody. The verb is two words with no hyphen: stand in for me on Friday.
to objectB2neutral /əbˈdʒɛkt/ say that you disagree with something proposed Synonyms: disagree, protest, oppose	say you disagree	Nobody objected to the new schedule, so we published it that afternoon.
Takes to: object to the plan, never object the plan. Stress separates it from the unrelated noun, since the verb is /əbˈdʒɛkt/ and a thing is /ˈɑbdʒɛkt/. In minutes it is a formal act, so recording that somebody objected preserves their position.
to concurB2formal /kənˈkɜr/ agree with someone, in formal language Synonyms: agree, go along with, support	agree formally	I concur with the recommendation, though I would add one condition.
Very formal, so in an ordinary meeting it can sound stiff or even ironic, and agree is the safe word. Takes with before a person or a view: concur with the finding. Doubles the r in concurred. Reports and legal opinions use it most.
to be on the same pageB2informal /bi ɑn ðə ˈseɪm ˈpeɪdʒ/ understand a situation in the same way as someone else Synonyms: agree, be aligned, share an understanding	share the same understanding	Before we tell the client, let's make sure we are on the same page.
About understanding, not approval: two people can be on the same page and still dislike the plan. Fixed, with the same page always singular. Heavily overused in American business speech, so a plain sentence often reads better in writing.
to play devil's advocateB2neutral /ˌpleɪ ˌdɛvəlz ˈædvəkət/ argue against something on purpose, to test it Synonyms: argue the other side, test an idea, challenge	argue against on purpose	Let me play devil's advocate and ask what happens if nobody signs up.
Saying it first is what makes it safe, because it tells the room the objection is a test and not your real position. Fixed phrase, always with play. Doing it too often annoys people, since the position starts to look genuine.
to put someone on the spotB2neutral /ˈpʊt ˈsʌmˌwʌn ɑn ðə ˈspɑt/ force someone to answer or decide immediately Synonyms: corner, press, force an answer	force an immediate answer	I don't want to put you on the spot, but can you commit to Friday?
Announcing it softens the demand, which is why I don't want to put you on the spot is nearly always followed by exactly that. The person goes in the middle: put me on the spot. Being on the spot means answering with no warning.
bear with meB1neutral /ˈbɛr wɪð mi/ please wait patiently for a moment Synonyms: please wait, give me a moment, hold on	please be patient	Bear with me while I find the right version of the spreadsheet.
Used for seconds rather than days: bear with me, I'm sharing my screen. Spelled bear, the same word as the animal, and bare with me is a well-known and embarrassing typo. For a long wait, write thank you for your patience instead.
clarificationB2formal /ˌklɛrəfəˈkeɪʃən/ explanation asked for when something is unclear Synonyms: explanation, further detail, confirmation	explanation that makes clear	I've asked the client for clarification on which invoice they mean.
It sounds official, and that cuts both ways: asking a colleague for clarification can read as building a paper trail rather than as curiosity. Uncountable in normal use, with ask for, seek or provide, and on before the topic.
to rephraseB2neutral /riˈfreɪz/ say the same thing using different words Synonyms: reword, put differently, restate	say it differently	Let me rephrase that, because it sounded harsher than I meant.
Let me rephrase that is a repair tool: it takes back the wording without taking back the point, which is useful after a sentence lands badly. You rephrase a question, a sentence or yourself. No hyphen, and the noun is rephrasing.
to reiterateB2formal /riˈɪtəˌreɪt/ say something again to make sure it is understood Synonyms: repeat, restate, stress	say again for emphasis	Let me reiterate that the date is fixed and cannot move again.
It carries a warning: reiterating means you already said this and are not happy to be saying it twice, so it reads firmer than repeat. Formal, and usually with that plus a clause. Speech often softens it to let me just say again.
misunderstandingB1neutral /ˌmɪsʌndərˈstændɪŋ/ situation where people understood something differently Synonyms: confusion, mix-up, misreading	a failure to understand	There seems to have been a misunderstanding about who books the room.
There seems to have been a misunderstanding is a diplomatic gift: it blames the situation rather than a person, so both sides keep their dignity. Countable. It can also mean a mild argument, as in a misunderstanding between the teams.
synergyB2neutral /ˈsɪnərdʒi/ extra benefit produced when groups work together Synonyms: combined benefit, cooperation, joint gain	benefit from working together	The email promised synergy between the two teams without explaining how.
The most mocked word in business English, so many readers take it as a sign that nothing real is being said. If you mean the two teams will save money by sharing a system, write that. Uncountable, though merger documents say synergies.
to double-bookB2neutral /ˈdʌbəl ˈbʊk/ arrange two things for the same time by mistake Synonyms: overbook, clash, schedule twice	book two things at once	I double-booked myself for Thursday at two and had to cancel one.
Usually reflexive or passive: I double-booked myself, the room was double-booked. It normally admits a mistake, so an apology follows, though restaurants do it deliberately. Keep the hyphen, and the noun is a double-booking.
back-to-backB2neutral /ˌbæk tə ˈbæk/ happening one immediately after another Synonyms: one after another, consecutive, in a row	one straight after another	I have back-to-back calls until three, so email is better today.
In a calendar it means no gap at all, which is why back-to-back meetings is a standard excuse for arriving late or unprepared. Used before a noun or after be: my whole day is back-to-back. Keep both hyphens.
recurringB2neutral /rɪˈkɜrɪŋ/ happening again and again at regular times Synonyms: regular, repeating, ongoing	repeating regularly	Make it a recurring meeting on the first Monday of every month.
In calendar software it is the setting that repeats an appointment, so a recurring invite books every future date at once. It also describes a problem that keeps returning. Recurrent is the more formal twin, used mainly of illness and patterns.
standingB2neutral /ˈstændɪŋ/ arranged permanently so it happens regularly Synonyms: regular, permanent, fixed	permanent and regular	We have a standing call with the vendor every Tuesday morning.
Nobody has to arrange it again, so canceling a standing meeting counts as a small event and people read something into it. Before a noun only: a standing meeting, a standing invitation, a standing order. Nothing to do with standing up, unlike a standup.
to block offB2neutral /ˌblɑk ˈɔf/ keep a period of time free for one purpose Synonyms: reserve, set aside, hold	reserve time	I've blocked off Friday morning to finish the report properly.
It is about defending time rather than arranging a meeting: you block off an afternoon so that nobody else can take it. Separable: block it off. Block out is the common variant, and the noun is a calendar block.
inviteB1informal /ˈɪnˌvaɪt/ message asking someone to a meeting Synonyms: invitation, meeting request, calendar entry	a calendar invitation	I never got the invite, so I missed the first ten minutes.
Casual, and for a calendar entry it is now standard even in writing, but a wedding or anything printed gets an invitation. I never got the invite is how people report a missed meeting. The noun stresses the first syllable, /ˈɪnˌvaɪt/, and the verb the second.
invitationB1neutral /ˌɪnvəˈteɪʃən/ written request asking someone to attend Synonyms: invite, request	formal written request	The invitation says the session runs from nine until four with lunch included.
Safe everywhere, while invite is casual, so use invitation with clients and for anything printed. It takes to before the event: an invitation to the launch. An open invitation has no fixed date and stays available.
to RSVPB2neutral /ˌɑr ɛs vi ˈpi/ reply to say whether you will come Synonyms: reply, confirm, respond	reply to an invitation	Please RSVP by Friday so we can confirm numbers with the caterer.
Events use it and ordinary meeting invitations do not, so asking colleagues to RSVP to a Tuesday call sounds grand. Said as four letters and used as a verb: RSVP by Friday, or I have not RSVPed yet. The letters spell nothing in English.
availabilityB2neutral /əˌveɪləˈbɪləti/ times when you are free to meet Synonyms: free time, open times, schedule	times you are free	Send me your availability for next week and I'll find a slot.
In scheduling it means your free times rather than whether you exist: send me your availability. Uncountable. It is the polite way to ask when somebody is free without first offering your own times, and it also covers rooms and hotels.
time slotB1neutral /ˈtaɪm ˌslɑt/ period of time set aside for one thing Synonyms: slot, period, window	a period for something	There's a thirty-minute time slot at eleven if that works for everyone.
People shorten it to slot once the subject is clear: book a slot, take the early slot. It implies a fixed length chosen from several, which is why conferences and clinics use it constantly. Two words in American writing, and countable.
windowB2neutral /ˈwɪndoʊ/ period of time when something is possible Synonyms: period, opening, opportunity	a period of opportunity	We have a two-week window before the team goes on vacation.
A window is longer and vaguer than a slot, since a slot is booked and a window is merely available. A length usually comes in front: a three-day window. Window of opportunity is the fixed phrase, and a window can close.
minutesB2neutral /ˈmɪnɪts/ the official record of what a meeting decided Synonyms: meeting record, proceedings, written notes	the written record of a meeting	Read the minutes before Thursday and tell me whether I recorded your objection correctly.
Minutes record decisions rather than conversation, so anything you want remembered has to be said as a decision. Plural in this sense and always with a plural verb: the minutes say, the minutes were approved. You take, circulate, approve and correct them.
to bring forwardB2neutral /ˌbrɪŋ ˈfɔrwərd/ move a meeting to an earlier time or date Synonyms: move up, advance, reschedule earlier	move to an earlier time	Can we bring the review forward to Monday so it beats the deadline?
Give the new time as well as the direction, because forward and up both confuse readers: bring the review forward to Monday. It normally splits around the object. British speakers use it far more than Americans, who say move up.
to bumpB2informal /ˈbʌmp/ move a meeting or person out of a booked time Synonyms: move, postpone, displace	push out of a slot	My one-on-one got bumped again because the client call ran long.
Usually passive, and it carries a small sting, since being bumped means somebody else's meeting won. Airlines bump passengers off full flights, which is the same picture. Too casual for a client. Bump also means raise slightly, as with a price.
to bailB2informal /ˈbeɪl/ decide not to come at the last moment Synonyms: drop out, pull out, cancel	not turn up	Two people bailed on the workshop an hour before it started.
Very casual and mildly critical: you bail on a meeting or on a person. Never write it about a client or in anything formal, where pull out or cancel is the right choice. Bail somebody out means rescue them, which is unrelated.
to run lateB1neutral /ˌrʌn ˈleɪt/ be later than you planned to be Synonyms: be delayed, be behind, be late	be behind schedule	I'm running late for the eleven o'clock, so start without me.
The progressive is the normal form because it describes this moment: I'm running late. It works for things too, as in the clinic is running late. Sending a short message early is expected courtesy, and no explanation is needed.
to cancelB1neutral /ˈkænsəl/ decide that something arranged will not happen Synonyms: call off, drop, scrap	call off, stop	We canceled the Friday session because half the team was traveling.
Canceling on a person, rather than canceling a thing, adds the sense that you let them down, so the polite version gives a reason and a new date. One l in American spelling, canceled and canceling, though the noun doubles it: cancellation.
cancellationB2neutral /ˌkænsəˈleɪʃən/ act of deciding something will not happen Synonyms: calling off, withdrawal, scrapping	calling something off	Send a cancellation notice as soon as you know the visit is off.
A late cancellation is the polite name for letting somebody down close to the day. It doubles the l even in American spelling, which is why canceled with one and cancellation with two look inconsistent together. Countable.
conflictB2neutral /ˈkɑnflɪkt/ situation where two appointments overlap Synonyms: clash, overlap, double booking	a clash of appointments	I have a conflict at two, so could we start half an hour later?
Saying you have a conflict hides whose meeting wins, which is often exactly the point. Americans use it for calendars where British speakers say clash. The noun stresses the first syllable and the verb the second, /kənˈflɪkt/.
to clashB2neutral /ˈklæʃ/ happen at the same time so you cannot do both Synonyms: conflict, overlap, collide	happen at the same time	The training clashes with the board meeting, so somebody has to move.
It takes with: the training clashes with the board meeting. British English uses it for calendars far more than American English, which prefers conflicts with. The other senses, fighting and colors that look wrong together, travel everywhere.
to overlapB2neutral /ˌoʊvərˈlæp/ happen partly at the same time as something else Synonyms: coincide, run together	share part of a period	The two sessions overlap by fifteen minutes, which nobody noticed until today.
Partly and not fully, which is the difference from a clash: overlapping meetings share only some of their minutes. The verb stresses the last syllable while the noun stresses the first, /ˈoʊvərˌlæp/. Also used of duties two people share.
time zoneB1neutral /ˈtaɪm ˌzoʊn/ area of the world using the same clock time Synonyms: zone, local time, region	regional clock setting	Please confirm which time zone you mean, because we have three on the call.
Naming one is basic courtesy on an international invitation, since three in the afternoon means nothing by itself. Two words in American writing, and countable. Across time zones is fixed, and teams talk about the time zone difference.
calendarB1neutral /ˈkæləndər/ record showing your appointments and free time Synonyms: schedule, planner, appointment book	record of appointments	Put it on my calendar and I'll see it when I plan the week.
Things go on your calendar, never in it, and put it on my calendar usually means send me an invitation rather than a note. The American word for what British English calls a diary, which to an American is a private journal. The middle vowel is an a, a frequent written slip.
time-sensitiveB2neutral /ˈtaɪm ˌsɛnsətɪv/ needing to be dealt with quickly to be useful Synonyms: urgent, deadline-driven, pressing	must be done soon	This request is time-sensitive, because the supplier holds the price until Friday.
It explains the pressure instead of merely applying it, which is why it reads better than urgent. Keep the hyphen before a noun: a time-sensitive request. Give the actual date in the next sentence, or the word means nothing.
to fast-trackB2neutral /ˈfæst ˈtræk/ make something happen faster than the normal process Synonyms: speed up, prioritize, rush through	speed through the process	Legal agreed to fast-track the review so we can sign this week.
It means skipping the usual queue rather than working faster, so somebody else waits longer and the request needs a reason. Keep the hyphen in the verb. As a noun, being on the fast track means heading for quick promotion.
ETAB2neutral /ˌi ti ˈeɪ/ time something or someone is expected to arrive Synonyms: expected time, arrival time, estimated finish	expected arrival time	What's your ETA on the draft, because the client is asking today?
Borrowed from travel into office life, where asking for an ETA on a document is a polite way of chasing it, since do you have an ETA sounds softer than when will this be done. Three letters, standing for estimated time of arrival.
EODB2informal /ˌi oʊ ˈdi/ close of the working day, used as a deadline Synonyms: end of day, close of business, tonight	by the end of today	I need the numbers by EOD so I can send the report tonight.
Internal shorthand for end of day, so it belongs in messages to colleagues and never to a client, who should be given a clock time. It is vaguer than it looks, because your end of day may be three hours before somebody else's.
ASAPB1informal /ˌeɪ ɛs eɪ ˈpi/ as soon as you possibly can Synonyms: immediately, right away, urgently	as quickly as possible	He wants the revised figures ASAP, which in practice means this morning.
It reads as pressure and often as rudeness, because it names no real date and makes your work into somebody else's emergency. A time is kinder and clearer: by three today. Said either as four letters or as one word, /ˈeɪsæp/.
at short noticeB2neutral /ət ˈʃɔrt ˈnoʊtəs/ with very little warning or time to prepare Synonyms: with little warning, suddenly, last minute	with little warning	Thanks for joining at short notice, I know today was already full.
Nearly always part of an apology or a thank-you, since asking somebody at short notice puts them out. American English prefers on short notice, and at short notice is the British-leaning form. Notice is uncountable here, so never write at a short notice.
at your earliest convenienceB2formal /ət jʊr ˈɜrliəst kənˈvinjəns/ as soon as it is easy for you Synonyms: as soon as possible, soon, when you can	as soon as you can	Please return the signed copy to me at your earliest convenience.
Stiff and formal, and most readers hear it as a polite way of saying hurry up, so it is not as gentle as it looks. With a colleague, write when you get a chance instead. At your convenience, without earliest, is the milder version.
promptlyB2neutral /ˈprɑmptli/ quickly and without delay Synonyms: quickly, right away, without delay	quickly, without delay	She replied promptly, which is why the client trusts her with deadlines.
Two senses live side by side: without delay, as in she replied promptly, and exactly at a stated time, as in the meeting began promptly at nine. Only what follows tells the reader which you mean. Thanking somebody for replying promptly is real praise.
timelyB2formal /ˈtaɪmli/ happening at a useful or suitable moment Synonyms: well-timed, prompt, opportune	at the right moment	A timely reminder from Ana stopped us sending the wrong version.
An adjective in spite of the -ly ending, so a reply can be timely but nobody answers timely; the adverb you want is promptly. In a timely manner is the fixed formal phrase. It means well-timed rather than simply fast.
to accommodateB2formal /əˈkɑməˌdeɪt/ change your plan to fit what someone needs Synonyms: fit in with, allow for, make room for	fit in with someone	We moved the call to seven to accommodate the team in Singapore.
Doubles both the c and the m, which makes it one of the most misspelled words in business email. You accommodate a person, a request or a schedule. It signals effort on your side, so it is worth saying that you did it.
to be tied upB2neutral /bi ˈtaɪd ˈʌp/ busy with something so you cannot do anything else Synonyms: busy, occupied, unavailable	busy and unavailable	I'll be tied up until four, but I could call you straight afterwards.
Always passive, and it explains nothing, which is exactly why people choose it: tied up in meetings gives no detail and needs none. It takes in or with. Polite enough for clients, unlike swamped or buried.
swampedB2informal /ˈswɑmpt/ having far too much work to do Synonyms: overloaded, overwhelmed, very busy	extremely busy	I'm swamped this week, so can we look at it on Monday instead?
Casual and slightly dramatic, from the picture of a swamp, and fine with colleagues but weak with a client, who wants a date instead. Used with be or get. Buried is the same register, and busy is the neutral word for writing.
on my plateB2informal /ɑn maɪ ˈpleɪt/ work you already have to deal with Synonyms: on my list, in my workload, to deal with	work you already have	I have a lot on my plate this month, so I'd rather not take the review.
Always with a quantity in front: a lot on my plate, too much on my plate, never simply on my plate. The possessive changes with the person, as in what is on your plate. Casual and self-protective, so keep it for colleagues.
to juggleB2neutral /ˈdʒʌgəl/ deal with several tasks or duties at the same time Synonyms: handle, balance, manage	handle several things at once	She's juggling three projects and the audit, so ask before adding work.
The picture is objects in the air, so juggling quietly admits that something may drop, which makes it a useful warning about your own workload and a risky word about somebody else's. It needs more than one thing as its object: juggle deadlines, juggle two roles, juggle work and study.
bandwidthB2informal /ˈbændˌwɪdθ/ time and energy someone has for extra work Synonyms: capacity, time, spare effort	time and energy available	I don't have the bandwidth to take on another project this quarter.
Borrowed from networks and widely disliked, since it treats people as equipment; time or capacity says the same thing plainly. Uncountable: have bandwidth, not enough bandwidth. Ordinary now across American offices, technology companies most of all, and much rarer outside the United States.
to make timeB1neutral /ˌmeɪk ˈtaɪm/ deliberately find time for something important Synonyms: find time, set aside time, fit in	find time deliberately	I'll make time on Wednesday, because this has waited long enough already.
Choosing is what it implies, so promising to make time flatters whoever asked, where I don't have time refuses without offering anything. Takes for before the thing or the person: make time for the review.
to attachB1neutral /əˈtætʃ/ add a file to an email message Synonyms: add, include, send with	add a file to email	I've attached the signed copy, so let me know if it won't open.
The past participle does nearly all the work in email: I've attached the file, attached is the report. You attach a file to a message. Forgetting the file is so common that many people type the word attaching first as a reminder to themselves.
please find attachedB2formal /ˈpliz ˈfaɪnd əˈtætʃt/ formal way of saying a file is included Synonyms: here is, I've attached, enclosed is	here is the file	Please find attached the minutes and the revised list of action items.
Stiff but entirely standard, and nobody will object to it, though I've attached the minutes sounds more human and is now commoner in American email. What you sent follows the phrase directly. Please find enclosed belongs to paper letters only.
enclosedB2formal /ɪnˈkloʊzd/ included inside a letter or package Synonyms: included, attached, inside	included with this	Enclosed is the signed contract, along with a copy for your records.
It belongs to paper: things are enclosed in an envelope and attached to an email, so using enclosed for a file marks you as out of date. Enclosed is and enclosed please find are the frames, and the noun is an enclosure.
subject lineB1neutral /ˈsʌbdʒɪkt ˌlaɪn/ short title at the top of an email Synonyms: email title, heading, subject	email title field	Put the invoice number in the subject line so it can be found later.
A good one names the thing and the action, because most readers decide from it alone whether to open the message today or never. Two words, and the field itself is called the subject, which is why the phrase adds line.
threadB2neutral /ˈθrɛd/ chain of emails that reply to one another Synonyms: email chain, conversation, exchange	chain of related emails	Everything is in the thread, so read from the bottom up if you're lost.
Reviving an old thread is normal and needs no apology, and the verbs are start, reply to, follow and revive. Adding somebody halfway means they can read everything above, which is worth checking before you loop them in.
to ccB1neutral /ˌsi ˈsi/ send someone a copy of an email Synonyms: copy in, include, keep informed	copy someone in	I've cc'd Maria so she knows the date has changed.
Copying somebody in is never neutral, since adding a manager reads as pressure, so ask why the extra name is there before you send. The past is written cc'd or cc'ed. It stands for carbon copy, from the days of typewriters.
to bccB2neutral /ˌbi si ˈsi/ send a copy without other readers seeing it Synonyms: blind copy, hide a copy, copy privately	copy someone secretly	Bcc the whole list so nobody sees everyone else's address.
Two honest uses: protecting addresses on a large mailing, and taking yourself off a thread. Anything else means hiding a reader, which colleagues resent when they find out. It stands for blind carbon copy, and the past is bcc'd.
to reply allB1neutral /rɪˌplaɪ ˈɔl/ send your answer to everyone who got the email Synonyms: answer everyone, respond to all, copy everyone	answer everyone at once	Please don't reply all, because forty people don't need my answer.
The classic office mistake, so check the recipient list whenever the message came to a large group. Two words with no hyphen, used as a verb or a noun: hit reply all. A reply-all storm is what follows when several people do it.
kind regardsB1neutral /ˈkaɪnd rɪˈgɑrdz/ polite phrase for ending an email Synonyms: best regards, best wishes, regards	polite email ending	Kind regards, and thanks again for turning this around so quickly.
Safe with anybody, including a client you have never met, and it sits between the warm Best and the cooler Regards. Capitalize the first word only and put a comma after it. Regards on its own can read as cold or faintly annoyed.
sincerelyB2formal /sɪnˈsɪrli/ formal phrase for ending a letter Synonyms: yours truly, respectfully, regards	formal letter ending	Sincerely is the right ending for a letter to somebody you have never met.
It suits a letter, a job application or a complaint, and looks heavy at the end of a short email to a colleague. American letters close with Sincerely, or Sincerely yours for extra formality, where British ones use Yours sincerely.
cheersB2informal /ˈtʃɪrz/ casual phrase for ending a message Synonyms: thanks, best, all the best	casual email ending	Cheers, and let me know if Thursday stops working for you.
Fine between colleagues who know each other, wrong in a first message to a client or in anything formal. It came from British and Australian English and now also means thanks in American email. The drinking toast is the original sense.
to whom it may concernB2formal /tə ˌhum ɪt meɪ kənˈsɜrn/ greeting used when you do not know the reader's name Synonyms: Dear Sir or Madam, Dear Hiring Manager	greeting with no name	To whom it may concern, I am writing about the invoice dated March third.
Very formal and slightly cold, and many readers take it as a sign you did not look for a name, so Dear Hiring Manager is warmer and just as safe. The wording never changes. Keep it for references and open letters.
looking forward toB1neutral /ˈlʊkɪŋ ˈfɔrwərd tu/ pleased about something that will happen soon Synonyms: eager for, glad about, anticipating	eager for something ahead	Looking forward to meeting the team in person next month.
A verb after it must take -ing, never the infinitive: looking forward to meeting you, not to meet you. I look forward to is the formal full version, while the short form closes an ordinary email. What you await always lies ahead, though the waiting itself can be past: I was looking forward to it.
apologiesB2neutral /əˈpɑlədʒiz/ short way of saying you are sorry Synonyms: sorry, my apologies, regrets	a brief apology	Apologies for the delay, I was out of the office on Monday and Tuesday.
Shorter and cooler than I'm sorry, which is why email leans on it so heavily: apologies for the delay, or my apologies. It stays plural and takes no article. In British minutes it also names the people who could not come.
to apologizeB1neutral /əˈpɑləˌdʒaɪz/ say that you are sorry for something Synonyms: say sorry, express regret, admit fault	say you are sorry	I apologize for missing the call, the invitation went to my old address.
Takes for before the thing and to before the person: apologize to the client for the delay. American spelling uses -ize. I apologize is more formal than I'm sorry and it accepts fault, which is why it carries weight in writing.
I'm afraidB1neutral /aɪm əˈfreɪd/ phrase that introduces bad news politely Synonyms: unfortunately, sorry, regrettably	sorry to say	I'm afraid Thursday doesn't work for me, but Friday morning is open.
Nothing to do with fear: it softens a refusal or bad news and is one of the most useful polite phrases in business English. It comes first and the bad part follows. Unfortunately and regrettably are the written equivalents.
please adviseB2formal /ˈpliz ədˈvaɪz/ asking someone to say what should happen next Synonyms: let me know, tell me, confirm	tell me what to do	The supplier has not replied, so please advise on how to proceed.
Widely disliked, because it closes a message with a demand and no actual question, and many readers hear it as cold or passive-aggressive. Ask the question instead: should we wait, or call them? Keep it for formal external mail if at all.
kindlyB2formal /ˈkaɪndli/ formal word used when asking for something Synonyms: please, if you would, respectfully	please, in formal style	Kindly confirm the figures before the meeting on Thursday afternoon.
In a request, American readers often hear it as stiff, old-fashioned or faintly annoyed, so please is the safer choice and kindly confirm sounds like a second reminder. It is ordinary in Indian business English, which is worth knowing when you read it.
notedB2neutral /ˈnoʊtəd/ short reply meaning you have read and understood Synonyms: understood, got it, will do	I have seen it	Noted, I'll make the change before I send the file tonight.
Sent alone it is a complete reply, and there lies the danger: it reads as efficient to some people and as cold or dismissive to others. Noted with thanks is warmer. Add what you will do next and nobody can misread you.
will doB2informal /ˈwɪl ˈdu/ short reply promising to do something Synonyms: I'll do it, sure, of course	I'll do that	Will do, I'll have the numbers with you before lunch tomorrow.
Friendly and confident between colleagues, too casual for a client, where I'll take care of that reads better. It answers only a request made of you, so it cannot be said about anybody else: never will do for Ana. Two words, and no subject.
read receiptB2neutral /ˈrɛd rɪˈsit/ message telling you an email has been opened Synonyms: delivery confirmation, opened notice, confirmation	proof an email was opened	He asked for a read receipt, which made the whole request feel like surveillance.
Read is the past form here, so the first word sounds /ˈrɛd/, and the p in receipt is silent. Asking for one signals distrust, which is why most people simply ask the reader to confirm instead. Countable: request a read receipt.
out of officeB1neutral /ˌaʊt əv ˈɔfəs/ away from work and not answering messages Synonyms: away, on leave, unavailable	away from work	I'll be out of office until the fifth, and Rafael will cover urgent things.
It names both the state and the automatic message: set an out of office, or write an out-of-office reply with hyphens before the noun. A useful one gives a return date and another name. Americans also write OOO in internal messages.
in the loopB2informal /ɪn ðə ˈlup/ kept informed about what is happening Synonyms: informed, up to date, included	kept informed	Keep me in the loop, even if nothing changes before next week.
Asking to be kept in the loop asks for messages rather than work, which is why it is an easy request to grant. Out of the loop is the opposite and complains about being left out. Casual, so a client hears I'll keep you updated instead.
to keep someone postedB2neutral /ˈkip ˈsʌmˌwʌn ˈpoʊstəd/ keep telling someone what is happening Synonyms: keep informed, update, keep in the loop	keep someone informed	I'll keep you posted as soon as the supplier gives us a date.
A real commitment rather than a polite ending: it promises further messages, and people notice when none arrive. The person goes in the middle and posted never changes: keep me posted, I'll keep you posted. Nothing to do with mail or posting online.
to circle backB2informal /ˌsɜrkəl ˈbæk/ return to a subject or person later Synonyms: come back, return, follow up	return to something later	Let me circle back to you on Friday once I've spoken to the client.
Casual office jargon and one of the most mocked phrases in American business speech, so get back to you is safer in writing to a client. Takes to before a person and on before a subject. Without a date it often means never.
to touch baseB2informal /ˌtʌtʃ ˈbeɪs/ make short contact to check how things are Synonyms: check in, make contact, catch up	make brief contact	I wanted to touch base before the quarter ends and see where you landed.
The promise is a short, low-pressure conversation, which is why salespeople use it constantly and some readers now find it hollow; keep it for colleagues and warm contacts. Base stays singular: touch base with somebody, from baseball.
to pingB2informal /ˈpɪŋ/ send someone a short message to get attention Synonyms: message, drop a line, contact	send a quick message	Ping me when you're free and I'll come down to your desk.
A ping implies no reading time, which is why people ping instead of writing properly and why it is far too casual for a client. It means a very short message, usually in chat rather than email. Ping me when you're free is normal between colleagues.
to syncB2informal /ˈsɪŋk/ meet briefly so everyone has the same information Synonyms: check in, meet briefly, compare notes	meet briefly to align	Let's sync on Monday before the client sees any of the numbers.
Technology-company jargon that has spread into general office speech; a client is offered a short call instead. Takes on before the topic and with before the person: let's sync on pricing with Ana. Also a noun, a quick sync, and short for synchronize.
follow-upB2neutral /ˈfɑloʊ ˌʌp/ message or action that comes after an earlier one Synonyms: reminder, second message, next step	a later related message	This is a follow-up to my email from last Tuesday about the invoice.
Calling your own message a follow-up is a gentle way of pointing out that the first one was ignored, and readers take the hint. Hyphenated and countable as a noun, while the verb stays two words: send a follow-up, or follow up on the request.
to chaseB2neutral /ˈtʃeɪs/ contact someone again about something that is late Synonyms: pursue, follow up, remind	ask again for something late	I hate to chase, but the signed contract is now three weeks late.
You chase a thing or a person, though American writing leans on follow up or chase down; chase on its own and chase up are both more British. It admits openly that you are asking again, which makes it honest but a little sharp, so with a client people write following up instead.
to nudgeB2informal /ˈnʌdʒ/ remind someone gently about something Synonyms: remind, prompt, poke	remind someone gently	I'll nudge her on Thursday if we still haven't heard anything.
The softest word for chasing, and it admits the reminder is small: just a nudge on this. Also a noun. It works only between people on good terms, since nudging a senior stranger sounds presumptuous. From pushing gently with an elbow.
reminderB1neutral /rɪˈmaɪndər/ message sent to make someone remember something Synonyms: prompt, note, nudge	message that prompts you	This is a reminder that timesheets are due before noon on Friday.
A gentle reminder is the standard softener, though a second gentle reminder reads as anything but gentle. Just a reminder does the same work. It takes that plus a clause, or about plus a noun, and it is countable.
just checking inB2informal /dʒʌst ˈtʃɛkɪŋ ˈɪn/ polite phrase used when asking again about something Synonyms: following up, any news, chasing	polite way of chasing	Just checking in on the report, since the client meeting is Thursday.
A chase dressed as politeness, and every reader knows it, so what they hear is where is my thing. It is friendly and widely accepted anyway. Name the deadline you are worried about and the reader has a reason to answer.
as discussedB2neutral /əz dɪˈskʌst/ referring to something already talked about Synonyms: as agreed, as we said, per our conversation	as we agreed earlier	As discussed, I've moved the deadline to the fifteenth and told the team.
It does two opposite jobs: reminding a colleague helpfully, and warning somebody that you both remember what they agreed to. Tone decides which one the reader hears. No subject follows it, so it stands alone before your main clause.
per my last emailB2formal /pər maɪ ˈlæst ˈiˌmeɪl/ phrase pointing out that you already wrote this Synonyms: as I wrote before, as mentioned, as stated	as I already wrote	Per my last email, the figures were signed off on the fourth of June.
Openly hostile in American business English, and used that way on purpose, because it tells the reader they failed to read your message. Nobody misses the edge in it. If you only mean to help, repeat the information without the phrase.
as perB2formal /əz ˈpɜr/ according to something agreed or written Synonyms: according to, in line with, following	according to	As per the contract, we have thirty days to raise any objection.
Legal and commercial in flavor, and many editors think it unnecessary, since according to or under does the same work. A noun follows: as per the schedule. As per usual is a set phrase and is often faintly sarcastic.
FYIB1informal /ˌɛf waɪ ˈaɪ/ marking a message as information only Synonyms: for information, just so you know, note	for your information	FYI, the client moved their launch to October, so nothing is urgent yet.
No action is needed, which is why it should not head a message that actually asks for something. Forwarding a long thread with FYI and nothing else is common and reads as cold, since the reader has to work out why they got it.
heads-upB2informal /ˈhɛdz ˌʌp/ warning given before something happens Synonyms: warning, advance notice, tip-off	an advance warning	Thanks for the heads-up about the audit, we had no idea it was coming.
It marks a favor rather than an official notice, so thanking somebody for a heads-up admits they did not have to tell you. Hyphenated and countable, and it goes with give or get: give me a heads-up. Casual, but heard in every office.
to revertB2formal /rɪˈvɜrt/ go back to an earlier state or version Synonyms: go back, return, undo	return to an earlier state	We reverted to the old template because the new one broke the printing.
In American English it does not mean reply, so I will revert to you tomorrow reads as an error, although it is standard business English in India and parts of Asia. Write reply or get back to you. It takes to and means returning to a former state.
status updateB1neutral /ˈstætəs ˌʌpdeɪt/ short report saying how work is going Synonyms: progress report, update, report	report on current progress	Send a status update every Friday, even when nothing has changed.
A useful one names what changed, what is stuck and what you need, since a report that says only on track tells the reader nothing. Two words and countable, with send, give and ask for. Both /ˈstætəs/ and /ˈsteɪtəs/ are heard.
blockerB2informal /ˈblɑkər/ problem that stops work going forward Synonyms: obstacle, holdup, obstruction	what is stopping you	My only blocker is access to the test system, which IT has not granted.
Software-team jargon that spread with daily standups, where everyone names their blockers in turn. Countable, and a person is blocked on something. Outside technology companies, write what is stopping me, which every reader understands.
bottleneckB2neutral /ˈbɑtəlˌnɛk/ one narrow point that slows the whole process Synonyms: holdup, choke point, constraint	narrow point slowing everything	Approval by one person is the bottleneck, and everything waits behind it.
The picture is the narrow neck of a bottle, so it names the single slowest step rather than a general delay. Countable. It can describe a person without insulting them, which is why managers reach for it when one approver holds up the work.
roadblockB2neutral /ˈroʊdˌblɑk/ obstacle that stops something from continuing Synonyms: obstacle, barrier, blocker	obstacle that stops work	The licensing question turned into a roadblock nobody had planned for.
It suggests something that has to be removed before work can go on, where a bottleneck merely slows things down. You hit or run into a roadblock. The literal sense, a police barrier across a road, keeps the word vivid.
workaroundB2neutral /ˈwɜrkəˌraʊnd/ temporary way of getting past a problem Synonyms: temporary fix, stopgap, way around it	temporary way around a problem	We found a workaround, so the team can keep working until the fix arrives.
It openly admits the real problem is still there, which is why a workaround should come with a date for the proper fix. One word as a noun, while the verb is two: work around a problem. Countable.
to passB2informal /ˈpæs/ choose not to take part in something Synonyms: decline, skip, opt out	politely decline something	I'll pass on the Friday session, since my part is already finished.
A soft refusal that needs no reason, which is what makes it useful when you would rather not explain: I'll pass on Friday's session. Takes on. With a client, write I won't be joining instead.
TBDB2neutral /ˌti bi ˈdi/ still to be decided or arranged Synonyms: undecided, to be confirmed, open	not decided yet	The venue is TBD, but the date is fixed for the ninth of October.
It fills a gap in an agenda, a plan or an invitation, and it stands for to be determined. Honest about what is missing, but leaving it in a document for a client invites the question of when you will know.

Business English — Meetings & Email Official

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