This is the Business English Podcast, episode 551.
A clean and clear way to say someone is right in English.
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Hey there, Michelle.
How's everything going?
Everything is good over here.
Lindsay, how are you?
Good.
We have a little role play to start off the episode today, don't we?
We have a little one.
So, Lindsay, I should put the recordings in the file, right?
When we're done?
Correct.
Okay.
Thanks.
So very satisfying to say that.
Correct.
Correct.
Correct.
It is a fun word to say.
Yeah.
Maybe something about the C sound is very satisfying, right?
Yeah, exactly.
So today we are going to talk about affirming someone's comment or question.
So This idea came to me because I'm in a business text chain.
Someone asked a question and the person answered correct.
And I was like, I love the way that sounds.
It just seems so professional and cool sounding.
And I really like it.
So I wanted to take some time to draw attention to it for our listeners.
Yeah, I agree.
It's succinct.
It is professional.
It is clear.
And it's also sort of trending right now a little bit.
Um, I do hear this a lot, so it's not just in the office.
I mean, we've got a contractor working on a renovation at our house right now and he might say that to us, right.
You can just say you're right in one word.
That's amazing.
We can save our energy.
Yes, exactly.
Exactly.
We're going to talk about this today.
I'm excited for this episode.
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Why not right, why not um?
So lindsey, i'm often tempted to just say right right, which is totally fine right oh, should i?
I should put the recordings in the file.
Right right right, um.
But I just think that this is a little more professional formal, official.
And this also made me think of, have you ever been in this situation?
Let's do this role play here.
Is this ever happened to you?
We're driving.
Okay.
Let's see.
Let's see.
Okay.
So we turn left here, right?
Wait, right?
Oh, wait, sorry.
Hold on.
Hold on.
I need to wait.
Hold on.
Oh, that's not a question.
Yes.
Yes.
Okay.
So I turn left here.
Right.
Wait, right.
Right.
Oh, no, sorry.
I meant correct.
Left.
Oh, yeah, of course.
Has that ever happened to you?
Yes, absolutely.
At least a few times, I can remember where that could be quite confusing because you could turn right.
Or you could say you're correct.
You're right.
Right.
That's a problem.
That's a problem.
Yes, exactly.
So guys, when you are giving directions, you should probably use the word correct instead of right, to say something is true or correct.
You probably should.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So that's just something that I wanted to point out as something that could be a source of confusion.
But let's do a couple other mini role plays to show how correct sounds.
Okay.
So these papers were sent off?
Correct.
So we should hear back soon.
So succinct, right?
Right.
So professional.
Yes.
How about this one?
Are we using those files over there?
Correct.
Right by that cabinet.
Yeah.
So, so correct is essentially taking the place of right.
That's right.
You're right.
Yes.
Many words that just take longer to say and just feel more common.
You know, this one feels, I agree, like more professional.
Cleaner.
Confident.
Confident.
Definitely sounds confident.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Really.
I mean, is there any time to avoid it?
I can't think of anything.
I mean, it is a little formal.
So maybe if you are like I don't know, having tea with your mother-in-law and, And that doesn't merit that level of formality, or something,
Maybe you don't want to be that or with your partner or something.
But I think nine times out of 10, this is good.
What do you think?
Yeah, I think so too.
I would say that I don't it.
It You don't want to say it every single time somebody asks you something.
Don't be the correct person.
Right.
Yeah.
You want to be the correct person, but don't be the correct person.
Right.
You know, like, oh, correct, correct, correct.
This is one of those things that would stand out.
Yeah, that's true for every phrase.
But yeah, absolutely.
Yeah, exactly.
So we want to, of course, change it up.
We don't want to just use correct because it's good because it sounds nice, which it certainly does.
But definitely make sure that you're changing it around with other expressions.
And we'll talk about some after we take a break.
But you can also say that's correct.
Yeah, sure.
That's fine too.
If you want to mix it up and you probably should, even within the phrase correct, even if you're not over utilizing it you should probably package it slightly differently, right?
Yeah.
Yes, k-pop demon hunters, haja boys breakfast meal and huntrix meal have just dropped at mcdonald's.
They're calling this a battle for the fans.
What do you say to that roomie?
It's not a battle.
So glad the saja boys could take breakfast and give our meal the rest of the day.
It is an honor to share.
No, it's our honor, it is our larger honor.
No, really stop.
You can really feel the respect in this battle.
Pick a meal to pick a side.
I participate in McDonald's while supplies last.
Okay, but if we are over utilizing it and we realize we're becoming the correct person, don't be that person.
So there are other options, guys.
Another way is to say that's accurate.
Right.
So this one is very formal sounding.
Right.
Could sound a little awkward if you were using it in a certain way.
I don't know.
Or more rare, a little more rare.
Right.
Like, for example, are these numbers right?
Accurate.
Yeah, so you do need for this one.
You kind of need a little tone of voice that sort of sounds robotic.
Yeah, almost like, did you ever had it?
I feel like there's a movie I used to watch When I was a kid, maybe it was The Navigator.
Do you remember that movie?
And his little robot.
He would ask him to do something and he would always say compliance, compliance.
Yeah, I can see how, yeah, accurate.
I could see how that.
Yeah, something like that.
It just feels like you need a robotic tone of voice there just to be silly.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, that's true.
Another one is precisely which, even after I planned this episode yesterday and I heard it just on TV.
Right.
Yeah.
That's a good one.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So this is also very, this one is also very formal.
Um, and I think it's a little bit like, there's like a little bit more emotion to it precisely.
Right.
Yeah.
There's something theatrical to it, I think.
Right.
Right.
It's true.
It's true.
So, um, Lindsay, is this the one I should use?
Precisely.
Yeah, you kind of need.
I think certain personalities would lend themselves to this more than others, right?
It doesn't feel right for me personally, so I don't use it.
But certain theatrical personalities that like to be dramatic and fun.
They might use this more often, right?
Yeah.
And then, you know, we we can't leave today without talking about right or that's right.
So, I mean, right.
If you say that's right rather than just right.
I think it sounds a little like just like it's like. upping the level just a tiny bit.
Oh, that's right.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Okay.
Michelle, that's right.
I agree.
Um, so let's do a role play.
Okay.
So you called her and offered her the position.
That's right.
Exciting.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So I could have said, right, but just package it a little differently to make it more unique.
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
Sometimes just a tiny change in the word, adding a that's can, can just change the sound in general.
So very interesting there.
Yeah.
So we're going to throw these.
We're not using all of them guys, but we're going to throw a few of them into a role play and see how they all come together.
So here in this scenario, you and I work together and we're going over some information.
Okay.
Meaning reviewing some information.
That's a phrasal verb right there, Michelle.
That's I want to make sure our listeners know going over to go over.
Yes.
Very good.
Okay.
So is this slide done?
Correct.
Great.
You said three more?
That's right.
Okay.
Are these ones the picture you wanted to use?
Precisely.
We are being very clear with each other.
So yes, there is no question.
No question.
Yeah, it's interesting because I think there's also a cultural element here.
I think in American culture It is a good thing.
In American business culture It's a good thing to to be clear, because use fewer words and be more clear.
I think in other cultures, and possibly other business cultures, you might tend to use more words and But, to be honest, for cross-cultural business that might get confusing.
You have people coming from different parts of the world together.
And I think there might be a tendency to want to use more words because cultures are more indirect.
But here at least, if you're doing business, probably with Americans, probably in the West, being more succinct, fewer words, so much better, so much cleaner.
Okay.
Yeah.
I agree for writing, for speaking, for everything.
So very good point.
So, um, yeah.
So I said, is this, I said, this slide is done or is this slide done?
And you said, correct.
Correct.
And that is sufficient.
It's not rude.
It's polite.
It's professional.
You can't go wrong.
Even though maybe it feels awkward because in your culture you're used to saying more words, but it's okay.
It's okay in English.
Okay.
Yes.
And then you said, great.
You said three more.
And you said, that's right.
Mm hmm.
Mm hmm.
I said, that's right.
And I said, are these ones the pictures you wanted to use?
And I said, precisely.
Yeah.
So that's in your personality.
Go for it.
You know, that's what we want to give our listeners is a chance to express themselves and their own personalities in English.
Yeah.
We're not all the same, right?
Yeah.
Yeah, exactly.
Um, so, but these are all really helpful.
Give these a try and guys also check out episode 547.
That was don't let homophones upend your vocabulary.
Yeah.
Go for that. and for a final takeaway i think always think about your culture how does this episode feel does it feel awkward to just say one word in response to someone's question if so it might be cultural and therefore it's it's linguistic right because culture creates language yeah yeah very good all right lindsay well i'm glad we talked about this today and um we're done for today, right?
Correct.
That felt so good.
So good.
Good.
I'm so glad you picked up on the little role play I was trying to end with.
Yes.
Yes.
Love that so much.
All right, Michelle, we'll see you next time.
You have a good day.
All right.
Bye.
Bye, Lindsay.
Bye.
Thank you for listening to Business English a podcast, just for you, the high achieving global professional.
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