This is the Business English Podcast, episode 330.
Plazably or probably, clear up confusing English vocabulary.
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Hey Aubrey, question for you today?
Oh, let's hear it. Are you doing anything fun today?
I'll probably watch election results as they come in.
So fun, I don't know, maybe.
We don't know, we don't know.
Well, it was a good question, right?
So you said, probably.
I wonder what we're talking about in today's episode of Business English.
Yeah, you guys may have noticed from the title, Plazably or Probably, we got a great question about this.
These are interesting words.
We use them a lot, and they are different.
Yes, what is the difference?
I'm excited to dive into this.
This comes from our YouTube channel, All Ears English is on YouTube, guys.
So if you'd rather watch these episodes, especially the All Ears English episodes, go over to YouTube and type in All Ears English.
This question comes from Elena Protopova, and shall I read the question, Aubrey?
Yeah, let's do it. All right, so she says, Hi girls, thank you for your podcast.
It has become for me a pleasant routine to listen to you whenever I have free time.
That's great, Aubrey.
Good to hear that. Yes, I love it.
Yeah, one question for you.
The word plausibly, does it mean probably or obviously, which is more correct.
Hope for your answer, and we'll be happy to hear it all the best.
Such a great, high -level answer.
You're hearing both of these.
What's the difference?
What does plausibly actually mean?
So first of all, quick answer, closer in meaning to probably.
Obviously has a very different meaning, that something is obvious or sort of understood by everyone to be true.
And there are other words like undeniably that we use in business English, so hit follow, and we'll do a follow -up sometime soon with adverbs that are more similar to obviously.
Yeah, I love that. So we're veering more in the direction of probably not being linked really in meaning to obviously.
Exactly, but it is similar to plausibly, yes, but they do have different meanings.
Okay, so we're going to go first in this episode into plausibly, and then we'll come back to probably.
So tell me about plausibly.
This is the one that, yeah, I mean, even for a native speaker, it's high -level.
Yeah, you're like, hmm, what does that mean?
It sounds very impressive.
It is very similar in meaning to reasonably.
That's a pretty interchangeable synonym.
So if you see plausibly in a sentence, could you replace it with reasonably?
So that means likely to be true, but more like it's reasonable that it could happen.
Okay, and I like what you said, it would make sense for something to happen.
Yeah, I like that. Yeah, so the best way to understand adverbs like this is to look at the adjective form.
So that's what we're going to do.
So the adjective is plausible, which means reasonable.
It would make sense for it to happen.
For example, that outcome is plausible.
I think it could reasonably happen.
Mm, right. So and then where to go from there, operate plausibly.
Yeah, and if we look at the adverb plausibly, it's like it means in a way that seems reasonable or probable.
So here are some example sentences.
I could plausibly be offered both jobs.
So what you're saying is it would be reasonable to expect that it might happen.
Yeah. And I would say that plausible is probably much less common than probably, right?
Probably plausibly, right.
Yeah. We hear it much less often, but that's why it's a great one to have in your arsenal, right in your toolbox to add it in to be a more interesting speaker.
Exactly right. It does sound very impressive and formal.
If you can add it to a meeting or a presentation, this does up level your English to say plausibly instead of a reasonably, or probably because probably we're going to get into in a minute has a little bit of a different meaning.
Okay, so let's talk about the meaning difference.
And then we'll see when does it make sense to interchange them and how can this up level kind of make it more formal, what you're saying?
So probably. So again, with probably it helps to look at the adjective, which is probable.
And this means likely rather than reasonable.
So if you see the difference between likely means like this will probably happen.
This is likely to happen.
Okay. Has a different meaning than reasonable.
Like it makes sense for it to happen.
So definitely subtle, right?
This is a kind of a subtle nuance here, but it does mean something different.
Yeah, that's an important difference right there.
I agree. It is subtle, but it is important.
It's different when you say something is likely versus something is reasonable.
It would make sense for something to happen.
So if you say, if you use the adjective and say like that outcome is probable, it's a lot more sure.
You're saying this will probably happen.
That outcome is probable.
I think it is likely it is going to happen.
Whereas if you say that outcome is plausible, there is no sort of judgment about it being likely or you think it probably will happen.
You're just saying it makes sense.
It's reasonable. I could imagine that happening.
It's like there's in probably there's more hedging kind of right.
You're kind of investing in what you think is going to happen.
And plausible is just yeah, it would be logical if this happened.
That would be reasonable.
Exactly. I'm not giving my opinion about whether I think it's likely.
I'm just saying it would make sense.
Okay. What else Aubrey?
So another example here with probable as an adjective is to say it's probable that the meeting will be canceled.
So you can see this has the same meaning as saying the meeting will probably be canceled, but the structure is a little more formal, possibly because it's more rare to say something is probable.
It's probable that this will happen.
Sounds quite a bit more impressive and formal, wouldn't you say?
And I think if you're looking for something, if you want to use the word probably in business, let's say specifically in a, in a presentation or a meeting that you're leading, you want to up level, be more formal.
You can turn to this because obviously you get the same meaning, but you say it is probable that we'll finish the quarter with a profit, right?
Instead of probably we'll finish the quarter with a profit.
That's more street language, a little more informal, better for a party.
Yeah. We more often hear likely, right?
We might say it's likely that the meeting will be canceled.
And so again, this probable sounds quite a bit more formal.
I think just because we don't hear it as often, like you said, probably is quite a bit more informal and then there's sort of levels, right?
So probably, it's probably going to be canceled.
It's likely that it will be canceled.
And then most formal, it's probable that it will be canceled.
Yeah. And I also, it makes me think a little bit of IELTS, like pulling out this rare vocabulary I imagine that does increase your vocab score.
Maybe your pronunciation too on IELTS.
In fact, we recently did an episode 1356 on the IELTS energy podcast.
This is practically band nine vocabulary.
And we dove into a lot of these adverbs that can really boost your vocab scores, plausibly, potentially, even ostensibly.
So especially if you're studying for IELTS, don't miss that episode.
But even for business English, we gave a lot more options of these adverbs and the subtle differences between them over there.
So go get a larger variety over there.
Go and find the IELTS energy podcast.
Just open up your search bar, type in IELTS energy and then hit the follow button.
Okay. Good. All right, Aubrey, what's next?
Yeah. So just quickly to add about probably just like you said, Lindsay, it's quite a bit more informal.
We probably wouldn't say, I hear I am saying we probably wouldn't say like at work.
It's okay. In business.
We're having a conversation today.
It's more convers - Yeah, exactly.
This is just a conversation.
But if I were in a meeting, in a presentation, probably is quite a bit more informal.
And I might not even say, well, this is interesting too.
We've talked a lot lately about can and could over on All Year's English.
Hopefully you're following over there so you don't miss these episodes.
But we wouldn't say, I could probably be offered both jobs because could isn't used for something that is likely, right?
It's more something you're able to do, something you can do.
It does matter, some of these auxiliary verbs, when you're using probably, you can't necessarily use can or could.
Oh, that's an important grammar point, Aubrey, right?
We have to know certain auxiliary verbs will not go with these words here.
I love that. Exactly.
You'd say that is probably going to happen, right?
Probably will do this.
But you wouldn't say I can probably or I could probably because we're implying that something's likely and we wouldn't use can or could for that.
Yeah, that is good to keep in mind.
Yeah. Okay. Let's dive into a role play here.
So in this role play, Aubrey, you and I are planning an upcoming event, maybe a work event, something like that.
Yes, exactly. All right.
We're probably going to need to meet again later this week.
No problem. It is plausible that we'll be interrupted today.
I'm available Friday if that happens.
Oh, yeah. Everything with everything going on today, interruptions are not just plausible, but probably even.
I agree. Let's dive in then.
Okay. I think we can plausibly get more vendors, but I'll take it'll take some work.
All right. Nice. I'm imagining maybe like our office is under construction or there's, for some reason, there's a lot of people coming and going and we start this meeting and we're realizing like we're probably going to get interrupted.
It's plausible that we could get interrupted.
We're just saying like that would make sense.
That would be reasonable.
Yeah, and that's useful if you're working from home.
I mean, just last week, two weeks ago, I had a construction on my bathrooms and we got on the line a few times to record the podcast and I said, Aubrey, probably we're going to hear this on the microphone a few times.
So we need to reschedule and it's good to this.
Actually, this is a connection skill for work to set up expectations.
What will you do in case something happens, showing that you are flexible, there's a backup plan.
There's a lot of connection here.
Yes, exactly. And it might have sounded a little strange to have so many crammed into this conversation.
We're trying to use it in all of these different ways.
So let's go through and share the first thing you said, Lindsay was the more informal.
We're probably going to need to meet again.
Of course, grammatically, you could say it is probable that we will need to meet again, but this is a more informal conversation.
So you can just say we're probably going to need to meet again.
Exactly. We're still having a conversation.
We're not making a presentation or leading anything.
So it would be a little weird.
I feel like we got on the mic and you said it's probably that we'll have to cancel early today.
But so then what I said, there are a lot of ways I could say this.
I could say, it's likely we'll be interrupted or I won't be surprised if we're interrupted.
There are a lot of ways you could say this.
And you could also sometimes I'll say a word like plausible, almost to be funny.
Like to, I'd be like, it is plausible that we'll be interrupted today.
Yes. I love that idea.
It's kind of a form of sarcasm, isn't it?
It's like a vocabulary sort of intentionally being more formal to like maybe even emphasize how annoying it is that we're going through all this construction.
So even though we've just said it doesn't really fit with two coworkers chit chatting before doing work together here, you maybe the scenario is you're elevating your vocab to be a little silly and a little funny.
Okay. We do do that, but where you will hear this the most use this the most.
I hear plausible on the news for sure, Ted talks, right?
Or someone's making a presentation or trying to up level their vocab meetings presentations.
Absolutely. I like that.
I like that. So then I said, oh yeah, with everything going on today, interruptions are not just plausible, but probable even.
And here in terms of connection, we're really coming together around.
We've got some real challenges going on.
Yeah. We're sort of having this solidarity and like, oh, we're frustrated by this.
You're saying not even, not just plausible.
Probable even, right?
So we're sort of relating, and this is an interesting chunk that I'll hear sometimes to be like, oh, that's not just plausible, or we'll say not just likely, but probable.
So we're saying not even like that it might happen, but it probably will happen.
It's good. Because it kind of takes the pressure off whoever might be experiencing the disturbance.
Maybe it takes the pressure level down a little bit.
So it shows I'll understand if that happens, right?
Absolutely. Exactly.
And then you finish it up with I think we can plausibly get more vendors, but it'll take some work.
So here, you say it's possible it makes sense that this could happen, but only if we really dig in and work hard here.
Right. And this piece makes more sense for plausibly, because now we're getting into business, and I think we do naturally uplevel our vocab as we start to get into the content of why we're meeting, right?
We're planning an event.
We need to book some vendors.
And you're like, we couldn't plausibly get some more vendors, but we got to figure out a plan of how to do that.
Totally. So guys, don't forget to go over and check out the episode that we recommended, which is over on IELTS Energy Podcast, where you'll see Aubrey and Jessica, the allers English team, teaching you to prepare for IELTS.
But again, you do get a lot of vocab for work over there, too.
It's super useful, even if you're not taking the exam in the future.
Absolutely. So much great vocab that will boost your IELTS scores and make your business English more impressive as well.
So go follow IELTS Energy.
Yeah. Where should we leave our listeners today?
Yeah. I think adverbs like plausibly and probably are really tricky in English because the difference is pretty subtle, but they do have a different meaning.
So it could be confusing if you use the wrong one.
Yeah. This has been a good, a great question from our listener.
Yes. And we want follow up questions.
So if this episode has sparked any new questions, send them in to support at allersenglish .com.
And we will consider your question, but make it specific.
Right Aubrey? Yes. Absolutely right.
Imagine if this question were like, how can I use adverbs?
How can I use interesting adverbs?
No, no, no, no. You won't get an answer for that.
No, exactly. But this specific question about the difference between plausibly, probably what does it mean?
Yes, this is a great episode.
Excellent. Aubrey, I'll see you back on business English very soon.
You have a good day.
You too. Awesome. See you next time.
Bye. Thank you for listening to Business English, a podcast just for you, the high achieving global professional.
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