This is the Business English Podcast, how to clarify numbers in workplace English.
Welcome to the Business English Podcast from All Ears English.
Get the English skills you need to achieve your dreams in global business.
For a presentation, a meeting, or your office party, this is Real Business English with your favorite American hosts, Lindsay and Michelle coming to you from New York City and Colorado, USA.
Hey listeners, do you need to see real, measurable improvement in your business English in the next 30 to 60 days?
Does your career depend on it?
If so, then you need a study plan and a curriculum that will ensure results.
You can get this special offer on our Business English course this week, but it expires October 20th at midnight.
Save up to $100. Go to allearsenglish .com slash business.
Hey there, Michelle.
How are you today? Good.
Lindsay, I have a question for you.
Do you deal with numbers a lot as a part of your job?
Yeah, I would say probably less than some jobs.
I don't work in finance, but we certainly have a P &L and I analyze numbers at least once a month.
Okay. Yeah. Well, yes, I think as a business owner, I would say for you, I'm sure, do look at numbers, even though it's not a part of the business running aspect of your job.
Right. And as they say, numbers don't lie.
So I love that term.
Very important. And that's what we're getting into today, but actually I have an interesting number to share before we get further into this episode, Michelle.
That number is 80%.
Where does that come from?
80%. Okay. Well, guys, there is a survey by Pearson that actually discovered that your English skills could, if you have better English skills, it could increase your salary by 80%.
Mm -hmm. Yeah. And that's according to respondents.
So, you know, people are seeing that when you speak better, when you speak more confidently at work, you could get, it could account for as much as an 80 % increase in salary over time.
And I like to ask our listeners, imagine what you would do with an 80 % salary increase, right?
I mean, let's take a minute, a minute to dream travel the world, have more time off.
So that's what we're talking about today, guys.
And that's how our business English course comes in to help you become more confident, connected and competitive in your industry.
So Michelle, this week only, we do have a special deal going really briefly.
What is that deal? What is that special offer?
Okay, guys, well, the business English course is available this week only at a special price.
So you can save up to $100 off of the normal price.
But that's only if you do it soon, right Lindsay?
When do they have to do it?
Yes, only until October 20.
That's Sunday, this coming Sunday at midnight.
So you guys can go to aulersenglish .com slash business to grab the deal because it will be a while before this special offer comes back around.
So get it now. But coming back to numbers, Michelle, you know, that is something we talk about quite a bit in the business English course.
And we're going to go into it a bit today too, a bit of an extension, a little piece of the course coming to our listeners on the podcast today, right?
Yes, well, we have our students, our listeners ask us a lot about numbers.
And we've talked about it briefly on the show before in different episodes, perhaps also in all his English.
So it's really important.
I mean, this can be tricky.
And it's not only if you're an accountant necessarily.
But sometimes, native English speakers use numbers or say numbers in a way that may not exactly seem like there's some sort of pattern.
Sometimes we might change things up a little bit.
And it can get confusing.
So we're going to talk about really one big thing that is important.
And the question is, do we say oh, or zero.
So we're talking about, you know, let's say we have the number 405.
Right? How do we say it?
That's what we're I guess it kind of depends.
And this is really it's like, this is how native speakers approach numbers.
This is the insider perspective on numbers, right Michelle.
So if you're just saying the basic number, you would say four hundred five or four hundred and five.
If you have time for the end, most of the time you don't have time for the end.
Right? Right. Right.
Yeah. So you could say I have four hundred five bags I need to make for this event.
Wow. That sounds tiring.
Oh my gosh. That's maybe like a wedding someone's preparing.
Wow. Yes. Yes. Exactly.
So you wouldn't really say, oh, I have four zero five bags.
No. It doesn't it doesn't really work unless.
Yeah. Lindsay. What?
Oh, interesting. So this is a twist that are you know, you'll learn more about this in the course.
But unless someone didn't hear you or you really want to emphasize, maybe you're a little annoyed.
Never. Yes. Yes. Exactly.
Yes. Let's say I tell Lindsay, Lindsay, we have two hundred two people coming to the opening and you said, sorry, I didn't hear you.
Did you say two twenty two?
No, two hundred two two zero two.
OK. And you're raising your voice a little bit.
You're clarifying. Maybe you're yelling across the yard or something.
Right. Like, yeah, it's like you're really you're spelling it out.
Two zero two. You're almost right.
You put those spaces.
Yeah. I hadn't thought about that before, but that is something we do for sure.
Interesting. Yeah. Right.
Exactly. So if you want to clarify, you could add that zero or you could say, oh, two oh two.
But I think zero sounds a little bit more zero brings out the attitude a little more brings out the attitude.
But you can only do this.
This is the nuance here that, you know, I really want to listen to understand.
You can only do it if you really want to bring kind of bring out the attitude.
It doesn't mean you're being mean.
It means you're trying to clarify.
But it can. Yeah. You're just spelling it out essentially.
But you can't you can't just say we have two oh we have two oh two visitors coming.
No, no. No, that would sound awkward.
Yeah. So I mean, but another time there are times, though, that zero does fit in in more of a neutral way.
So this would be if you are an accountant.
Let's say you're giving specific numbers where someone for someone to put into a calculator with a phone number or with a phone number.
So then you might say, oh, or zero.
So what's an example, Lindsay?
You could say, well, why don't you go out and say this example to make sure you say it right.
I got a lot of confused.
That's OK. OK, sorry.
Sorry. I'm going to say it like this because I think I didn't do a very good example, but I was saying, OK, we have four four oh seven twenty two unaccounted for.
OK, I see. So you're saying kind of the digits here in a way.
Right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Interesting. Yeah. Or with a phone number.
OK. So call me back.
Right. The area code is three zero two.
Yeah. Yes. So there are times to really spell it out digits wise.
Wow. This is quite nuanced.
It is. I mean, that's why we go into it in our business English course.
Right. So in order to really master a skill, podcasts are great, guys.
But courses go to a deeper level where you have quizzes, you have a final exam, you have accountability, you have a community, you have speaking practice.
There is so much in the business course that you're never going to get on business, the business English podcast.
But we love having you here.
But if you really want to see results, the way to do that is join the course.
Yeah. Yes, exactly.
And we really do a lot with numbers as a whole section about numbers.
So we go over numbers, including what to do about decimal points.
Right. How do you use those?
How can you communicate with those effectively?
So that's a really big one for business.
And, you know, we want to give you that confidence when talking about numbers at work, because it can be quite nuanced.
There's a lot to it.
It's not as easy as just looking at the paper and knowing exactly how to say it.
Right. It seems like it should be easy because it's not language.
It's numbers, but there's language there, too.
Right. Oh, yes, exactly.
And there's a more natural way to say something or there's, you know, just something is just typically done said in a certain way.
So definitely important to start thinking about numbers.
How are you saying your numbers and also listen to what your co -workers say?
Yes. How do how do they use zeros and O's?
Or do they write? How would it go?
Yeah, talk about dates in the course.
So how do you say the date?
What's the order? Right.
Because it's different in different parts of the world.
So yeah, these are all about these are all key pieces of building those relationships where people, you know, you're consistent in what you're saying.
You're saying it naturally.
People are building trust with you.
These are all pieces of business, English success.
So Michelle, let's go into a role play and just do a little demo for our listeners today.
Okay. Okay, here we go.
So we are in a meeting.
So I'd say, okay, so we received 312 emails over the weekend that we need to get through.
Wow. 3 ,012? No, no, no, no, no.
100, 312. Okay, got it.
Michelle, that is still anxiety provoking.
312 emails. Yeah, I know.
It's a lot, it's a lot, but I had to use numbers in the hundreds for these examples.
Yes, I know that would be, yeah, that is a lot.
Oh my gosh, Monday morning chaos.
Yes. Okay, good. I know I didn't do the zero thing here, but I wanted to show you that it can be used with other numbers as well.
So you can do that.
312. Right. So you're spelling it out.
No, it's not 3000. Don't worry, but we still need to worry about these 300.
So no, it's 312. So again, I, it's not condescending when you do this, but it is looking to clarify directly.
You're kind of slowing down for the person and you're giving them each number in the full number.
So you're kind of bringing it down in a way to their level, sort of, if they're not understanding fully, right?
If they may be just in here or whatever it is, you don't have to say it like you don't have to.
You don't, and you, and you, you could just say, no, no, no.
You could just say, no, 100, 312.
Right. And that would be a more neutral way to do that.
You can do that as well.
And that just shows, okay, I'm just trying to make sure you heard me, make sure it's clear.
The only way it sounds like you have an attitude is if you go 312.
Yeah, I know. And we can't waste time with this.
We have to get to the emails.
Right. So. Oh yeah.
We have so many emails, but at least it's not 3000.
Oh my God. Now I just, I think you just have to quit your job in that case.
Yeah. Yep. Oh yeah.
That's all right. This is funny.
So yeah, we, we like to have fun here on the podcast, but there is a time and place to buckle in, right?
And set yourself up with a good study plan.
And that's what you can do in our business course guys.
So again, this week only special offer.
We don't know when that offer is going to be available.
Again, you're saving up to a hundred dollars off the normal price.
Go over to allersenglish .com slash business.
And Michelle, when does the offer expire?
Okay. And expires, uh, October 20th at midnight.
Yes. Good. Thanks for bringing this important topic to the show today.
Numbers. All right.
Thanks, Lindsay. Have a good rest of your day.
All right. Take care.
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