Business English: 300 Words and Phrases, with Register

Knowing a phrase is not enough. Using a chat phrase in a client email is its own mistake.

300 cardsLast updated 2026-08-31

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Ping me when it is ready works in a message to a colleague and reads badly in a letter to a client. Please do not hesitate to contact me is the reverse: correct in formal writing and stilted in a team chat. Learners who study business vocabulary as a flat list end up fluent and tonally wrong, which is a harder problem to notice than a missing word. This deck is 300 cards, one word or fixed expression per card, with the back cut into three fixed lines. "Meaning" gives the sense in plain English. "Register" says how formal it is and where it is used, whether that is email, a meeting, a report or speech only. "Example" is one natural sentence from a workplace situation. The sections cover meetings and discussion, email and correspondence, projects and processes, finance and reporting, negotiation and clients, and people and organisation. General idioms with no workplace use are left out, and where a term is mainly British or mainly American the register line says so. Once the deck is on a spaced-repetition schedule, the expressions you use confidently stop coming back and the ones whose register you keep misjudging return until you stop misjudging them.

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What's inside

Showing 100 representative cards from the full 300-card deck.

Front	Back
the agenda	Meaning: The list of items to be discussed at a meeting. Register: Neutral. Used in writing and speech. Example: I have circulated the agenda ahead of Thursday's meeting.
attendees	Meaning: The people present at a meeting. Register: Formal. Standard in minutes and calendar invitations. Example: Please confirm the list of attendees by Friday.
to take the minutes	Meaning: To write the record of a meeting. Register: Neutral. Spoken and written. Example: Could someone take the minutes today?
any other business	Meaning: A final agenda item for matters not listed. Register: Formal. Often abbreviated in agendas. Example: We will take questions under any other business.
to go over	Meaning: To examine or review something. Register: Neutral. Mainly spoken. Example: Can we go over the timeline once more?
to flesh out	Meaning: To add detail to an outline or rough idea. Register: Informal to neutral. Common in project discussion. Example: We need to flesh out the proposal before Thursday.
to take something offline	Meaning: To discuss something separately after the meeting. Register: Informal. Spoken, common in corporate settings. Example: Let us take that offline and report back next week.
to circle back	Meaning: To return to a topic later. Register: Informal. Spoken and in internal email. Example: I will circle back on this once I have spoken to legal.
to interrupt	Meaning: To stop someone in the middle of speaking. Register: Neutral. The verb itself is neutral, though interrupting may not be. Example: Sorry to interrupt, but the figures on that slide are out of date.
to let someone finish	Meaning: To allow a speaker to complete a point. Register: Neutral. Spoken. Example: Let me finish this point and then I will take questions.
I take your point	Meaning: I accept what you are saying. Register: Neutral to formal. Spoken, often before a disagreement. Example: I take your point, though the cost is still a concern.
to be in favour of	Meaning: To support a proposal. Register: Formal. Spoken and written. Example: Three members were in favour of the change.
with respect	Meaning: A phrase signalling polite disagreement. Register: Formal. Spoken. It often precedes a firm objection. Example: With respect, the figures do not support that conclusion.
to push back	Meaning: To resist or challenge a proposal. Register: Informal. Spoken and in internal email. Example: The client pushed back on the delivery date.
to devil's advocate	Meaning: To argue an opposing view in order to test an idea. Register: Informal. Spoken, usually with the phrase play devil's advocate. Example: Let me play devil's advocate for a moment.
to sum up	Meaning: To state the main points briefly at the end. Register: Neutral. Spoken and written. Example: To sum up, we will proceed with option two.
the upshot	Meaning: The final result or conclusion. Register: Informal to neutral. Spoken and written. Example: The upshot is that we need another two weeks.
an action point	Meaning: A specific task assigned during a meeting. Register: Neutral. Standard in minutes. Example: There are four action points from today's meeting.
to follow up	Meaning: To check on progress or take a further step. Register: Neutral. Spoken and written. Example: I will follow up with the supplier this afternoon.
to report back	Meaning: To return with information after investigating. Register: Neutral. Spoken and written. Example: She will report back at the next meeting.
Dear Sir or Madam	Meaning: A formal opening used when the recipient is unknown. Register: Formal. Written only, and increasingly dated. Example: Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing regarding invoice 4021.
Further to our conversation	Meaning: An opening that refers back to an earlier discussion. Register: Formal. Written. Example: Further to our conversation on Tuesday, please find the revised figures attached.
Just a quick note to	Meaning: An informal opening for a short message. Register: Informal. Internal email only. Example: Just a quick note to say the files are uploaded.
Kind regards	Meaning: A standard polite sign-off. Register: Neutral. Email, safe in almost any context. Example: Kind regards, Elena
Yours faithfully	Meaning: A formal closing used when the recipient is not named. Register: Formal. Letters, British convention only. Example: Yours faithfully, the Accounts Department
I look forward to hearing from you	Meaning: A closing that invites a reply. Register: Formal. Email and letters. Example: I look forward to hearing from you at your convenience.
Could you please	Meaning: A polite way to introduce a request. Register: Neutral to formal. Email and speech. Example: Could you please send the signed copy by Friday?
Would you mind	Meaning: A polite request form followed by a verb ending in ing. Register: Neutral. Spoken and email. Example: Would you mind checking the totals before I send it?
Please find attached	Meaning: A phrase introducing an attached file. Register: Formal. Email only. Example: Please find attached the signed agreement.
to forward	Meaning: To send a received message on to someone else. Register: Neutral. Email. Example: I am forwarding this so you have the full history.
for your information	Meaning: Sent so you are aware, with no action required. Register: Neutral. Email, often abbreviated. Example: Forwarding for your information, no action needed.
a gentle reminder	Meaning: A polite prompt about something outstanding. Register: Neutral. Email. It is often not gentle in effect. Example: This is a gentle reminder that the survey closes tomorrow.
as a reminder	Meaning: A phrase restating something already communicated. Register: Neutral. Email. Example: As a reminder, expenses must be submitted by the tenth.
I apologise for the delay	Meaning: A formal apology for a late response. Register: Formal. Email. Example: I apologise for the delay in replying.
We regret to inform you	Meaning: A formal phrase introducing bad news. Register: Formal. Letters and formal email. Example: We regret to inform you that the position has been filled.
I am afraid	Meaning: A softener introducing a refusal or bad news. Register: Neutral. Spoken and email. Example: I am afraid we cannot approve that expense.
just to clarify	Meaning: A phrase introducing a correction or clarification. Register: Neutral. Email and speech. Example: Just to clarify, the deadline is the twelfth, not the second.
as far as I am aware	Meaning: A hedge indicating limited knowledge. Register: Neutral. Email and speech. Example: As far as I am aware, no decision has been made.
a heads up	Meaning: An advance warning. Register: Informal. Internal email and speech. Example: Just a heads up that the system will be down on Sunday.
to touch base	Meaning: To make brief contact to check progress. Register: Informal. Spoken and internal email. Example: Let us touch base on Friday before the client call.
to run something past someone	Meaning: To ask someone's opinion before proceeding. Register: Informal to neutral. Spoken and email. Example: Let me run the wording past legal first.
will do	Meaning: A short confirmation that you will act. Register: Informal. Internal email and speech. Example: Will do, I will send it this afternoon.
the scope	Meaning: The agreed boundaries of what a project will deliver. Register: Formal. Written, central to project documents. Example: Anything outside the scope requires a change request.
a change request	Meaning: A formal proposal to alter the agreed scope. Register: Formal. Written. Example: The client submitted a change request for two extra reports.
a deliverable	Meaning: A specific item a project must produce. Register: Formal. Written, standard in project management. Example: The first deliverable is due at the end of the month.
a milestone	Meaning: A significant point marking progress in a project. Register: Formal. Written and spoken. Example: We have hit every milestone so far.
a work stream	Meaning: A grouping of related tasks running alongside others. Register: Formal. Used in larger projects. Example: Each work stream has its own lead.
a dependency	Meaning: A task that cannot start until another finishes. Register: Formal. Written. Example: The build has a dependency on the design sign-off.
a bottleneck	Meaning: A point where flow is restricted and work backs up. Register: Neutral. Spoken and written. Example: Approvals have become a bottleneck in the process.
the deadline	Meaning: The date by which something must be finished. Register: Neutral. Universal. Example: The deadline for submissions is the thirtieth.
to slip	Meaning: To move later than planned. Register: Neutral. Spoken and in reports. Example: The launch date has slipped by two weeks.
to be on track	Meaning: To be progressing as planned. Register: Neutral. Status reports and speech. Example: The migration is on track for the end of the quarter.
to push back a date	Meaning: To move a date later. Register: Informal to neutral. Spoken and email. Example: We had to push the date back to allow for testing.
a risk	Meaning: Something that might go wrong and affect the project. Register: Formal. Written. Example: The main risk is supplier availability.
a contingency	Meaning: A reserve of time or money held for unexpected problems. Register: Formal. Planning and finance. Example: We built a two-week contingency into the schedule.
to escalate	Meaning: To raise a matter to a more senior level. Register: Formal. Written and spoken. Example: If it is not resolved by Friday, I will escalate it.
a stakeholder	Meaning: Anyone affected by or able to influence a project. Register: Formal. Written and spoken. Example: We need to map the stakeholders before the workshop.
to sign off	Meaning: To formally approve something. Register: Neutral to formal. Written and spoken. Example: The design was signed off last Tuesday.
a handover	Meaning: The transfer of work or responsibility to another person or team. Register: Neutral. Written and spoken. Example: The handover to the support team is scheduled for Monday.
a post-mortem	Meaning: A review after a project or incident to learn from it. Register: Informal to neutral. Also called a retrospective. Example: The post-mortem identified three process gaps.
resourcing	Meaning: The assignment of people and budget to work. Register: Formal. Written and spoken. Example: Resourcing is the constraint, not the technology.
revenue	Meaning: The total income from sales before any costs are deducted. Register: Formal. Financial reporting. Example: Revenue grew for the third consecutive quarter.
overheads	Meaning: Ongoing costs not tied to a specific product or sale. Register: Formal. Mainly British usage, with overhead in American usage. Example: Rent and utilities are our largest overheads.
a budget	Meaning: A plan for income and spending over a period. Register: Neutral to formal. Universal. Example: The marketing budget is set each October.
a variance	Meaning: The difference between a planned and an actual figure. Register: Formal. Financial reporting. Example: The report explains each variance over five percent.
a forecast	Meaning: A prediction of future financial performance. Register: Formal. Reporting and planning. Example: The forecast assumes no change in exchange rates.
margin	Meaning: The difference between revenue and cost, usually as a percentage. Register: Formal. Finance and sales. Example: Margin fell as discounting increased.
an invoice	Meaning: A document requesting payment for goods or services. Register: Formal. Universal in commerce. Example: The invoice was issued at the end of the month.
a purchase order	Meaning: A document authorising a purchase, issued before the invoice. Register: Formal. Procurement, often abbreviated. Example: We cannot process the invoice without a purchase order number.
a quote	Meaning: A stated price for specified work. Register: Neutral to formal. Sales and procurement. Example: We received three quotes for the fit-out.
the financial year	Meaning: The twelve-month period used for accounting. Register: Formal. Reporting. It rarely matches the calendar year. Example: Our financial year ends in September.
to rise sharply	Meaning: To increase quickly and by a large amount. Register: Neutral. Reports and presentations. Example: Enquiries rose sharply after the campaign launched.
to bottom out	Meaning: To reach the lowest point before recovering. Register: Informal to neutral. Reports and speech. Example: Demand appears to have bottomed out.
a proposal	Meaning: A formal offer setting out what will be done and at what price. Register: Formal. Written. Example: The proposal covers three months of consultancy.
a value proposition	Meaning: A statement of the benefit a customer receives. Register: Formal. Marketing and sales. Example: Our value proposition is speed rather than price.
terms and conditions	Meaning: The rules governing an agreement. Register: Formal. Contracts, often abbreviated. Example: Please review the terms and conditions before signing.
non-negotiable	Meaning: Not open to discussion or change. Register: Neutral to formal. Spoken and written. Example: The confidentiality clause is non-negotiable.
to concede	Meaning: To give up a point in a negotiation. Register: Formal. Spoken and written. Example: We conceded on delivery but held firm on price.
to trade off	Meaning: To accept less of one thing in return for more of another. Register: Neutral. Spoken and written. Example: We traded off speed against cost.
deadlock	Meaning: A situation in which neither side will move. Register: Formal. Written and spoken. Example: Talks reached deadlock over the exclusivity clause.
to sign a contract	Meaning: To formally agree to a set of terms. Register: Neutral to formal. Universal. Example: Both parties signed the contract on Friday.
a notice period	Meaning: The warning time required before ending an agreement. Register: Formal. Contracts and employment. Example: The notice period is ninety days.
an account	Meaning: A client relationship managed by a company. Register: Neutral. Sales and services. Example: She manages our three largest accounts.
to retain a client	Meaning: To keep a client rather than losing them. Register: Formal. Sales and management. Example: Retaining existing clients costs less than winning new ones.
a complaint	Meaning: A formal expression of dissatisfaction. Register: Neutral to formal. Universal. Example: The complaint was logged and passed to the service team.
a service level agreement	Meaning: A contract specifying the standard of service to be provided. Register: Formal. Contracts, often abbreviated. Example: The service level agreement guarantees a four-hour response.
a line manager	Meaning: The person you report to directly. Register: Neutral. Mainly British usage. Example: Discuss the request with your line manager first.
a dotted line	Meaning: A secondary reporting relationship alongside the main one. Register: Informal to neutral. Management contexts. Example: He has a dotted line to the regional director.
a vacancy	Meaning: An unfilled position. Register: Neutral to formal. Recruitment. Example: There are two vacancies in the finance team.
a candidate	Meaning: A person being considered for a role. Register: Formal. Recruitment. Example: The strongest candidate has industry experience.
onboarding	Meaning: The process of settling a new employee into a role. Register: Neutral to formal. Human resources. Example: Onboarding includes a week of systems training.
a performance review	Meaning: A formal discussion of how well someone is doing. Register: Formal. Human resources. Example: Performance reviews take place twice a year.
an appraisal	Meaning: A formal assessment of an employee's work. Register: Formal. Mainly British usage. Example: The appraisal covers the last twelve months.
constructive feedback	Meaning: Comments intended to help someone improve. Register: Neutral to formal. Management. Example: The session is designed for constructive feedback.
training and development	Meaning: Activities that build employees' skills. Register: Formal. Human resources. Example: Training and development has its own budget line.
to resign	Meaning: To voluntarily leave a job. Register: Formal. Employment. Example: She resigned with three months' notice.
a leaving date	Meaning: The last day of employment. Register: Neutral. Human resources. Example: Her leaving date is the end of the month.
a restructure	Meaning: A change to the way an organisation is arranged. Register: Formal. Management. Example: The restructure merges two departments.
a hiring freeze	Meaning: A temporary halt to recruitment. Register: Neutral to formal. Management. Example: A hiring freeze was announced in the second quarter.
succession planning	Meaning: Preparing people to fill key roles in future. Register: Formal. Senior management. Example: Succession planning is reviewed by the board annually.

Frequently asked

What is in each section of the deck?

Meetings and discussion has 50 cards, email and correspondence 55, projects and processes 50, finance and reporting 50, negotiation and clients 45, and people and organisation 50, for 300 in total. Every card carries section and subtopic tags, so you can drill only email phrases or only finance terms.

What level of English does it assume?

Roughly upper-intermediate. The definitions are in plain English and the examples are short, but the deck assumes you can already hold a conversation and are now working on the vocabulary a workplace uses. It is not a beginner course and does not teach general grammar.

Is it British or American English?

Both, with the difference marked. Where a term is used mainly on one side, such as the words for a bidding process or for redundancy, the register line names which variety it belongs to and gives the other one. Spelling follows British convention throughout.

Can I import the whole deck on the free plan?

Yes. Importing a saved deck runs no new AI generation and spends no AI credits, so the free plan imports all 300 cards. You can study, edit and delete them afterwards.

Will importing it twice create duplicates?

No. Cards you already have are skipped and only cards added in a revision come through. Including re-imports after deleting it, one official deck can be imported three times per account.

Can I use it on the web and in the mobile app?

Yes. The deck is added to your account rather than to a device, so the same cards and the same progress are there on the web, on iOS and on Android.

Can I edit the cards after importing?

Yes. Imported cards are yours: you can edit both sides, delete cards you do not need, change tags, and move cards to another deck.