Workplace English guides

Short, practical answers to the workplace-English questions non-native professionals ask most — what a phrase signals to a native ear, and the natural way to say it instead.

• Does 'out of station' mean out of town?

  'Out of station' is standard South-Asian English for away or traveling, but most US/UK/Canadian natives don't use or understand it.

• Everyday American English at Work

  Free guide to informal American expressions for B1-C2 English learners. Master casual workplace conversations.

• Is "do the needful" correct to use in professional English?

  "Do the needful" is correct in South Asian business English but sounds dated and vague to US, UK, and Canadian readers. Name the specific action.

• Is 'discuss about' correct in English?

  No. Discuss takes its object directly — say 'discuss the budget,' not 'discuss about the budget.' Same for explain and describe.

• Is 'kindly find attached' professional in English emails?

  'Kindly find attached' is correct but US/UK/Canadian natives never write it. Say 'I've attached the report' or 'Here's the invoice' instead.

• Is 'please revert back to me' correct in business English?

  To native speakers, 'revert' means return to a previous state, not reply. Say 'get back to me,' 'let me know,' or 'reply' instead.

• Is 'prepone' a real English word?

  Yes, 'prepone' is real and standard in Indian English, but US/UK natives don't use it. Say 'move up', 'bring forward', or 'pull in' instead.

• Is 'today itself' correct English?

  "Today itself" is standard in South-Asian English but reads as non-native to US/UK/Canadian colleagues. Just say "today".

• What does 'same to same' mean and is it correct English?

  'Same to same' is clear and common in South-Asian English, but US/UK/Canadian natives say 'identical' or 'exactly the same' instead.

• Why do some people say 'what is your good name'?

  'What is your good name?' is polite Indian English, but US/UK/Canadian natives ask 'What's your name?' or 'Could I get your name?' instead.