250

WAYS TO SAY IT IN BUSINESS ENGLISH

FOREWORD

I started compiling these expressions when a student asked me for a list of
“phrases to say” in different business situations. He had gone through a few
English courses and felt that teachers had always taught him the same
functions. “I‟ve learnt how to ask someone to open a window several
times,” he commented, “but no one has told me what to say when I have to
give bad news.”
250 Ways to Say It in Business English is for people who want a quick
guide on what to say in common situations. Five examples have been
written for each function to give readers the opportunity to find the phrase
that suits their needs best.
The last thirty-three examples refer exclusively to telephoning. Language
learners might consider printing and keeping the list near the phone so they
can browse through it when they know an international call is coming.
All in all, a choice of one thousand two hundred and fifty phrases that, I
hope, can help you speak business English more effectively.

ABOUT THIS E - BOOK

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, Barcelona, 2010.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored
in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form without written
authorization from the author.
You may reach the author at , at + 34 934 230
229 or at these websites: www.englishphone.biz – www.words300.com

www.barcelonaenglish.com – www.madridenglish.net

250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010


LIST OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTIONS

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Introduce yourself formally
Introduce yourself less formally
Reply to a formal introduction
Reply to an informal introduction
Introduce yourself before a speech
Introduce people to the public
Say hello
STARTING A SPEECH OR MEETING

8.
9.
10.
11.

12.

Signal the start of a speech
Start a meeting
Introduce a summary
Explain your purpose formally
Explain your purpose informally
PRESENTING

13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.

Present the first item
Present the next item
Present evidence formally
Present evidence less formally
Present data in order
Present apparently contrasting data
ASKING

19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.

25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.

Ask for information
Ask for evidence
Ask for additional information
Ask for further details
Ask about meals
Ask how to contact
Ask for clarification
Ask for instructions
Ask for questions
Ask someone to speak
Ask someone to answer questions
Ask for opinion
Ask about a company
Ask about a product
Ask about price
Ask about responsibility
Ask someone to wait

Ask about waiting times

37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.

Ask about delivery times

Ask about payment terms
Ask for payment
Ask for a physical description
Ask about facilities
Ask for directions
Ask about abilities
Ask for strengths & weaknesses
Ask about what is needed
Ask to borrow
Ask for permission
Ask for help politely
Ask for help less politely
Ask about projects
Ask for the purpose
Ask about jobs
Ask about present activities
Ask about the future
Ask for a substitute
Ask for an explanation
Ask for repetition
Ask for solutions
Ask for confirmation
Ask to comment
Ask for contribution from others
Ask for pronouncement
CORRECTING

63.
64.


Correct misunderstanding
Correct what‟s wrong
CONDUCTING A MEETING

65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
72.
73.

Keep a meeting in order
Keep a meeting in track
Come back to a topic
Postpone an issue
Focus on the main issue
Emphasise on a point
Play down a point
Slow down a meeting
Move the meeting forward

250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010


CHANGING TOPICS


74.
75.
76.

Change topics formally
Change topics less formally
Change topics informally
INTERRUPTING

77.
78.
79.
80.
81.
82.

Interrupt very politely
Interrupt politely
Interrupt strongly
Interrupt very strongly
Avoid interruption
Allow interruption
& DISAGREEING
Check for consensus
Agree with opinions
Disagree partially
Disagree strongly
Disagree less strongly
Disagree politely
Soften disagreement

AGREEING

83.
84.
85.
86.
87.
88.
89.

103.
104.
105.
106.

COMPLAINTS

107.
108.
109.
110.
111.
112.
113.
114.

Express reservation
REASSURING

91.


Reassure
COMPROMISE

92.
93.
94.
95.
96.
97.
98.
99.

Offer compromise
REPETITION & UNDERSTANDING
Repeat in other words
Check understanding formally
Check understanding
informally
Show that you understand
formally
Show that you understand
informally
Show that you don‟t understand
formally
Show that you don‟t understand
informally
INSTRUCTIONS

100. Give instructions – start

101. Give instructions – continue
102. Give instructions – finish

Complain strongly
Complain less strongly
Reply to complaint
Express something sure
Express something probable
Express something possible
Express something improbable
Express something impossible
PROVIDING DETAILS

115. Add further information
116. Provide more detail
GENERALISING

117. Generalise

RESERVATION

90.

& BAD NEWS
Introduce good news
Introduce bad news formally
Introduce bad news informally
Express condolence
GOOD


DESCRIBING

118.
119.
120.
121.
122.
123.
124.
125.
126.
127.

Describe projects
Describe fluctuation
Describe stability
Describe increase
Describe gradual increase
Describe sudden increase
Describe fall
Describe gradual fall
Describe sudden fall
Describe hypothetical scenarios

& CONSEQUENCE
128. Talk about causes
129. Talk about consequences
130. Warn about consequences
CAUSE


CONVINCING

131. Convince
132. Describe advantages
133. Get people to act
PROPOSALS & SUGGESTIONS
134. Propose solutions
135. Explore options
136. Propose what is needed

250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010


137.
138.
139.
140.
141.
142.
143.

Request what is needed
Suggest strongly
Suggest gently
Suggest preference
Suggest an alternative
Accept suggestions
Discard suggestions
OPINIONS & IDEAS

144. Express an opinion formally
145. Express an opinion less formally
146. Comment on an opinion
& LACK OF SUPPORT
Support your ideas with examples
Support an opinion or someone
Support on condition
Challenge an opinion
Deny support politely
Deny support less politely
SUPPORT

147.
148.
149.
150.
151.
152.

RECOMMENDING

153. Recommend a person or firm
154. Recommend an action
DESCRIBING A PRODUCT

155. Describe a product
156. Describe features of a product
FINISH A SPEECH OR MEETING

157.

158.
159.
160.
161.

Refer to what has been said
Summarise
Finish a speech
Close a meeting
Close a conversation

169.
170.
171.
172.
173.

BORROWING

174. Reply yes to a request to borrow
175. Reply no to request to borrow
REPLYING EVASIVELY

176. Reply evasively
177. Reply you don‟t know
178. Reply you‟ll answer later
INVITATION

179.
180.

181.
182.
183.
184.
185.

TIME TO THINK ?

165. Use these words when you need
time to think
166. Use these phrases when you need
time to think
HELP

167. Offer help formally
168. Offer help less formally

Invite someone formally
Invite someone less formally
Accept an invitation formally
Accept an invitation less formally
Decline an invitation formally
Decline an invitation less formally
Thank after an invitation
PERMISSION

186. Grant permission
187. Deny permission
APOLOGY


188. Apologise
PROHIBITION

189. Prohibit

THANKING

162. Say thanks
163. Thank people for coming
164. Thank for letting you speak

Reply yes to an offer of help
Reply no to an offer of help
Reply yes to a request for help
Reject a request for help politely
Reject a request for help less
politely

CONGRATULATIONS

190. Congratulate
REPRIMANDS

191. Reprimand
GIVING ORDERS

192.
193.
194.
195.


Give a verbal order
Transmit a verbal order
Accept a verbal order
Reject a verbal order
BOOKING

196. Book

250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010


SETTING DATES FOR THE FUTURE

197.
198.
199.
200.
201.

Set a date for next meeting
Refer to future relationship
Express your wish to follow up
Make an appointment
Talk about the future
GOOD LUCK !
202. Wish good luck
BRINGING UP A TOPIC


203. Bring up a serious topic
OFFERING

204. Offer something
CONFIRMING

205. Confirm
NOTIFYING

206. Notify
EXPLAINING

207. Explain
208. Explain they must wait
209. Explain that somebody's not
available
210. Explain your job
PLACING AN ORDER

211.
212.
213.
214.

Place an order
Accept an order
Reject an order
Cancel an order
GOODBYE


215. Say bye formally
216. Say bye informally

TELEPHONING

217.
218.
219.
220.
221.
222.
223.
224.
225.
226.
227.
228.
229.
230.
231.
232.
233.
234.
235.
236.
237.
238.
239.
240.
241.

242.
243.
244.
245.
246.
247.
248.
249.
250.

Answer the phone formally
Answer t
Ask for someone on the phone
Ask for caller‟s information
Ask for the purpose of a call
Say someone is not available
Explain why someone‟s not in
Explain that a line is busy
Connect somebody
Ask somebody to hold on
Wrong number or name!
Leave a message
Offer to take a message
Ask for spelling
Ask for repetition
Rectify what was said
Explain a problem with sound
Describe other problems
Ask where someone is
Change to another subject

Interrupt
Avert interruption
Make an appointment
Place an order
Accept an order
Reject an order
Cancel an order
Thank someone for calling
Postpone a call
Set a date for the next call
Explain you have to cut off
Close a phone conversation
Say goodbye
Say that someone phoned

250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010


1.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF FORMALLY

I’d like to introduce myself
I‟d like to introduce myself. I‟m Jack Todd from Dynacore.
Let me introduce myself
Let me introduce myself. Dr Steve Perkins.
How do you do?
How do you do? My name is Helen Byrne. I run the HR division.
Nice to meet you

Nice to meet you. John Bloor. We spoke on the phone last week,
I'm delighted to meet you
I‟m delighted to meet you. My name is Jeffers.

2.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF LESS FORMALLY

I’m
I‟m Jack, Susan‟s cousin.
Hi
Hi. Nice to meet you. I‟m Susan but everyone calls me Sue.
Hello
Hello. Sam Patrick from Sales.
Jack
Jack, from Geneva.
My name is
My name is Liz, Liz Trevor.

250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010


3.

REPLY TO A FORMAL INTRODUCTION

Nice to meet you
Nice to meet you, Colonel Wrigley.
Pleased to meet you

Pleased to meet you, Angela. I‟m Dr Slithers.
I’m delighted to meet you.
I‟m delighted to meet you. Welcome to London.
How do you do?
How do you do? Have you had a good trip?
It’s an honour
It‟s an honour, Ambassador.

4.

REPLY TO AN INFORMAL INTRODUCTION

Hi
Hi. I‟m Sam.
Hello
Hello. Andrew Damson.
Good to meet you too
Good to meet you too. I‟m Sarah.
Lovely to meet you
Lovely to meet you. Would you like a drink?
How are you?
How are you? It‟s good to get to know you at last!

250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010


5.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF BEFORE A SPEECH


I am
I am Dr. Jack Smith from Barcelona. I work at our R&D facility.
I’d like to introduce myself
I‟d like to introduce myself. I am Steve Platt, Chief of Maintenance.
Let me introduce myself
Let me introduce myself. Tom Salinger.
My name is
My name is John Styles. I run Riversoft‟s European operations.
I’m called
I‟m called Roberta Woodall. Robbie to my friends.

6.

INTRODUCE PEOPLE TO THE PUBLIC

This is
This is Amy Stevens.
May I introduce?
May I introduce Sally Young? Sally‟s our PR officer.
Let me introduce
Let me introduce John Oats. He will be joining our sales team.
I’d like you to meet
I‟d like you to meet Dr Li. She‟s the Head Surgeon at BC Hospital.
Have you already met Maria Jones?
Have you already met Maria Jones? She runs the Moscow office.

250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010



7.

SAY HELLO

Hi
Hi, John.
Hello
Hello. May I come in?
How are you?
How are you, Betsy?
Good morning
Good morning, Mr Hendricks.
Nice to see you
Nice to see you again, Paul

8.

SIGNAL THE START OF A SPEECH

Right. Shall we start?
Right Ladies and Gentlemen. Shall we start with our presentation?
OK. Let’s get going.
OK everybody. Let‟s get going. We only have twenty minutes.
Right then. We are ready
Right then. We are ready. The first point in the agenda is cost-cutting.
Is everybody already here?
Fine. Is everybody here? Let‟s get on then.
Time to begin
Well, time to begin. We‟ll set off with an outline.


250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010


9.

START A MEETING

Let's get started
Let‟s get the meetings started. John, would you like to begin?
We need to discuss
We need to discuss whether the campaign is aimed at the right target.
We will to talk about
We will talk about the hazards involved in our Gulf of Mexico drilling.
What brings us here?
What brings us here today? The hope of finding solutions.
We will study
We will carefully study all the projects that were brought forward.

10.

INTRODUCE A SUMMARY

To put it briefly
To put it briefly, we have a problem with sales.
In a few words
In a few words, Chandler is leaving the company.
In a nutshell
In a nutshell, the contract will be finished next month.

To summarise
To summarise, we face an imminent strike in our Heathrow facilities.
It all comes down to
It all comes down to Sam‟s behaviour at the warehouse.

250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010


11.

EXPLAIN YOUR PURPOSE FORMALLY

The reason
The reason I travelled here is to discuss productivity.
My aim
My aim now is to increase sales in Britain.
What I’d like
What I‟d like to do is appoint a new CFO.
My objective
My objective is to reduce advertising costs by at least ten percent.
We intend
We intend to redefine our marketing campaign.

12.

EXPLAIN YOUR PURPOSE INFORMALLY

I want to
I want to let you know I‟ll stand by you.

I’d just like to
I‟d just like to tell you that we‟ll do what we can.
I’m here to
I‟m here to talk about plant organization.
We’re going to
We‟re going to spend all day reviewing our techniques.
I’ll put it simply.
I‟ll put it simply. We must decide on what to do about Alex.

250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010


13.

PRESENT THE FIRST ITEM

Let’s start by the beginning
Let‟s start by the very beginning. France is our top priority.
First things first
First things first. Now we‟ll discuss this week‟s problem.
Item one
Item one in our agenda will be corporate responsibility.
Point A
Point A is our relationship with the government.
The opening issue
The opening issue today is worker benefits.

14.


PRESENT THE NEXT ITEM

Let’s move onto
Let's move onto item two.
We can now
We can now discuss the next topic.
We need to go on
We need to go on. Chapter B deals with economics.
The next item
The next item on my list will only take a few minutes.
Shall we continue?
Shall we continue? The second subject concerns our own future.

250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010


15.

PRESENT EVIDENCE FORMALLY

I’d like you to see
I‟d like you to see this graph.
Let me show you
Let me show you our new product line.
Please observe
Please observe how the new design is more aerodynamic.
If you watch
If you watch this video closely you‟ll see it was filmed lat year.
Have a look

Have a good look at this chart.

16.

PRESENT EVIDENCE LESS FORMALLY

Look here
Just look over here. This is the new tractor.
Can you see?
Can you see Joe? He‟s the third from the left.
Watch this
Watch this scene. Can you spot our product in the background?
We want you to see
We want you to see the difference from the old to the new edition.
Here you have
Here you have the first picture of my wedding.

250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010


17.

PRESENT DATA IN ORDER

Firstly
To start with
Initially
In first place
Let us begin by


Secondly
Then
Next
Following on from
Afterwards

To end
To conclude
Finally
To finish
Last but not least

Firstly, secondly and to end
Firstly we‟ll tackle costs; secondly we‟ll view the balance sheet and, to
end, we‟ll discuss this year‟s sales.
To start with, then and to conclude
Henry will start with a presentation. Then he‟ll answer questions and, to
conclude, we will walk round the grounds so you can see the building.
Initially, next and finally.
We had initially planned to visit France. The next idea was to go to Spain
– though we finally travelled nowhere.
In first place, following on from and to finish
In first place, we never asked her to represent us – so following on from
that we decided to take her to court. Anyhow, we finished it all by reaching
an agreement.
Let us begin by, afterwards and last but not least
Let us begin by setting the goals. We can talk about the budget afterwards
and – last but not least – name a project coordinator.


18.

PRESENT APPARENTLY CONTRASTING DATA

Although A seems fine, B is better
Although your proposal seems fine, John‟s is better.
In spite of the evidence, I’d like to say
In spite of the evidence, I‟d like to say that you could be wrong.
250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010


We could opt for A. On the other hand
We could opt for option A. On the other hand, option B is also interesting.
I like your idea. However, I prefer
I like your new idea. However, I prefer to continue with the same plan.
Instead of praising
Instead of praising Jim we should be worrying about his future.

19.

ASK FOR INFORMATION

Could you please?
Could you please give me all the data you have?
Would you mind?
Would you mind informing me of the consequences?
I wonder if you could
I wonder if you could hand me the fact sheet on Dynacore.
What do you know about?

What do you know about Peter‟s background?
Do you have?
Do you have any information on the Lambeth Square project?

20.

ASK FOR EVIDENCE

Could you provide?
Could you provide us with the hard facts?
Why don’t you?
Why don‟t you give us an example?
Can you illustrate that?
Can you illustrate that with a real-life case?
250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010


What evidence?
What evidence do you have?
How will you back that up?
How will you back up your proposal?

21.

ASK FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

May we have?
May we have further details?
Could you elaborate on?

Could you elaborate on how you intend to make this work?
Is there any additional?
Is there any additional aspect to consider before we vote?
We need more
We need more data. One projection is just not enough.
Could you provide?
Could you provide some extra information on the touch-screen market?

22.

ASK FOR FURTHER DETAILS

Could you add?
Could you add more details to the second point, please?
Could we have more particulars?
Could we have more particulars on your experience is mecatronics?
Could you give us further details?
Could you give us further details on this scheme?
What else?
What else can you add to convince us better?
250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010


Any more information?
Do you have any more info or have you already shown us everything?

23.

ASK ABOUT MEALS


Is it included in the price?
Is breakfast included in the price?
What time?
What time is dinner served?
Do you have a special menu?
Do you have a vegetarian menu at the restaurant?
Jim is intolerant to gluten
Jim is intolerant to gluten. Is there anything for people with celiac disease?
I’m allergic to
I‟m allergic to nuts. Do you have any nut-free ice cream?

24.

ASK HOW TO CONTACT

Could I contact you?
Could I contact you at the agency later on?
How do I get in touch with you?
How do I get in touch with you if I have a problem with the system?
How can I reach you?
How can I reach you at the weekend? I don‟t have your home number.
What’s your?
What‟s your e-mail?
Could I have your?
Could I have your office address please?
250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010



25.

ASK FOR CLARIFICATION

What do you mean?
What do you exactly mean when you say taxes will be raised?
Could you clarify?
Could you clarify whether coffee is or isn‟t good for you?
I didn’t understand
I didn‟t quite understand that last step. Could we go over it again?
Could you explain?
Could you explain to me how that is going to work?
I don't follow you
I just don‟t follow you. Why do you insist on discontinuing the line?

26.

ASK FOR INSTRUCTIONS

How do you?
How do you operate this machine?
What is the best way?
What would you say is the best way to start this letter?
Can you show me?
Can you please show me how to fill this form?
Do you know?
Do you know anything about taxes? Could you help me fill out my return?
How should I go about it?
How should I go about asking for a raise? Shall I speak to Jack first?


250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010


27.

ASK FOR QUESTIONS

Would you like to ask?
Would you like to ask anything?
Do you have any query?
Do you have any query on my presentation?
Is it clear?
Is everything clear?
I’m ready to answer
I‟m ready to answer any question you might have.
Is there anything you’d like?
Is there anything else you‟d like me to explain?

28.

ASK SOMEONE TO SPEAK

Would you like to come to the stand?
Lenny, would you like to come over to the stand?
Allow me to give the floor to
Allow me to give the floor to our next speaker.
I would like to invite
I‟d like to invite Reverend Reynolds to give us his opinion.
I’d like to call on

I‟d like to call on Dr Richards. Are you here, Doctor?
I believe someone would like to make a point.
I believe James would like to make a point. What is it, James?

250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010


29.

ASK SOMEONE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS

Could you reply to that?
Edith, could you reply to that, please?
Would you care to question?
Would you care to question Mr Jones? He‟s better qualified.
I’d rather she answered to that
I‟d rather Lorna answered to that. Would you mind, Lorna?
Why don’t we ask?
Why don‟t we ask Peter? He is the expert in shipping.
Let’s address this query to
Let‟s address this query to Sam. Are you ready, Sam?

30.

ASK FOR OPINION

Can we get your input?
Can we get your input, Alex?
How do you feel about?

How do you feel about lengthening the contract?
What’s your opinion?
What‟s your opinion on wearing loafers to the meeting?
What do you think?
What do you think we should do with the Carnegie affair?
Do you have any suggestions?
Do you have any suggestions for this committee?

250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010


31.

ASK ABOUT A COMPANY

What does your company do?
What exactly does your company do?
What are your main products?
What are your main products in the detergent category?
Which do you specialize in?
Which sector do you specialise in?
Which services do you provide?
Which services could you provide for us?
Where are you located?
Where are your headquarters located in Europe?

32.

ASK ABOUT A PRODUCT OR SERVICE


Could you give me some information?
Could you give me some information on your services?
What can you tell me about?
What can you tell me about this dynamo?
What features does it have?
What features does this hydraulic press have?
What are the specifications?
What are the specifications of the switchboard?
Where can I buy it?
Where can I buy the MXC lava lamp?

250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010


33.

ASK ABOUT PRICE

What’s the price?
What‟s the price for one thousand units?
How much does it cost?
How much does the whole system cost?
What do you charge?
What do you charge for a hundred grams?
Could you give me your fees?
Could you give me your fees for the high season, please?
What are you asking for this?
What are you asking for this vase? It can‟t be very much…


34.

ASK ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY

Who is in charge?
Who is in charge of operations?
Who is running?
Who is running the Saudi Arabia division now?
Who is accountable for this?
Who is accountable for this mistake?
Who will be blamed?
Who will be blamed? I‟m sure it will be me!
Under whose responsibility?
Under whose responsibility was the test conducted?

250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010


35.

ASK SOMEONE TO WAIT

Would you mind waiting?
Would you mind waiting outside, please? There‟s a couch by the window.
Could you hold on?
Could you hold on? I‟ll finish this and shall be with you in a minute.
Just a second, please
Just a second, please. Yes, how can I help you?

Could you remain?
Could you remain here for minute, please? I‟ll get the manager.
Just hang around
Just hang around for a while. I‟ll try to sneak you in through the back door.

36.

ASK ABOUT WAITING TIMES

How long will?
How long will it be before you fix the leak?
Is he going to take a long time?
Is the Doctor going to take a long time?
How delayed?
How delayed is the flight?
Do you think we should wait?
Do you think we should wait? It‟s eleven and nothing has happened yet.
When will?
When will the speech end? I‟m tired of sitting here!

250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010


37.

ASK ABOUT DELIVERY TIMES

When could we receive?
When could we receive the goods?

What are your shortest delivery times?
What are your shortest delivery times for Madagascar?
How long will it take to arrive?
How long will it take to arrive at our factory?
When can we count on having it?
When can we count on having it ready for shipping?
Could we get it by?
Could we get it into port by next Tuesday?

38.

ASK ABOUT PAYMENT TERMS

What are your payment conditions?
What are your standard payment conditions?
Could we talk about payment terms?
Could we talk about payment terms later? I‟m in a hurry now.
How do you normally get paid?
How do you normally get paid? We generally send a cheque.
Would a letter of credit be all right?
Would a letter of credit be all right? It‟s the best method.
What about paying in instalments?
What about paying in instalments? We do need some financing.

250 Ways to Say It in Business English
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles and English for Business, 2010