As a freelance consultant, she also supports companies and executives in overcoming communication challenges. Have you ever found it challenging to interrupt someone to express your opinion, make suggestions, or ask for further information? It also makes it easier for the recipient to go through them line-by-line and answer them. Such individuals would then feel lost or misinformed simply because they missed when information was presented, making clarification necessary. I am sorry, but I couldnt get your question. Here are some examples of subject lines to consider: Final report submission Clarification regarding project deadline Extension request for submitting the presentation Thank you for your support and guidance 3. Here is an example of how to use can you elaborate professionally. Just say: "I'm impressed. Could you rephrase your question, please? Web1. After the person clarifies themselves, you can let them know that you now understand and are thankful. This shows you have a desire for more information and it sounds as though you are genuinely invested in the current topic at hand. DeFrank." Clarification Sample Letters How to Write a. Here is a great example of how to use just to be clear professionally in an email. For such individuals, paying attention to lengthy topics, particularly if it is not an area of interest, will be ineffective and there is a high chance that such individuals will be distracted at some point. Now well learn some very useful expressions that you can use to politely ask for clarification in English. Could/Would/Can you please walk me through that again? Please let me know if you need any other information. Be clear about your current understanding. Lets take a look at ", Another way to say "I don't understand" is to say "I don't follow" or "I'm not following. Im not sure, but did you suggest updating the software? When you ask someone to "elaborate on" something, you're asking them to explain it in greater detail, which is another good way to ask for clarification. Thank you for providing the information about [Topic X]. For example, if you seek clarification, then you can ask: Could you please explain how to politely ask for clarification? Use the expressions below to address these potentially problematic situations smoothly and professionally. Please reload the page and try again. WebYour clarification email includes everything I need to progress. We encounter numerous questionsin our everyday life. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Asking clarifying questions shows that youre actively listening and want to understand. ESL Advice receives compensation from companies or individuals for recommending their products. Below is a helpful structure, and some phrases, to help you politely get what you want with your clarification emails. Informally You can simply say Sorry? or Come again? with a curious tone to ask someone for clarification. Each intonation 2. But would you please tell me what would be the best time to take it? WebShe knocked on the door politely and announced, "Mr.Lyman, its Lind." Did you mean? Not doing so and beginning to speak while the presenter is still speaking is seen as very rude in just about any formal setting. In this article, we'll show you how to request clarification via email. Once again, clarification would be necessary. Will you please repeat the standard operating procedure of this machine? I'm keen to make a decision this week, so can you provide me with answers by (date)? How do you explain something in an email? Therefore, Simply say thank you and move on. WebWhen using clarification follow these guidelines to help aid communication and understanding. WebRule #1: Start by asking for permission to chime in. Below is a reference example showing how let me make this clear can be used professionally. For example, something like: Write an email to my boss asking for a day off of work. If you are in a situation where you are being given a lot of information that you may not fully understand, using this phrase is a great way to get the information you need without looking like youre completely lost. Contacting researchers for clarification is good practice. Do I need a thermal expansion tank if I already have a pressure tank? Recently, an American client told me that shes really impressed with my English. Either way, there is a high probability that youve been in a conversation where you need clarification. Conversations, email dialogues, and even text messages progress best when everyone has the same understanding. Depending on the audience and the topic, you can also ask for clarification by simply asking a question, such as: Why is the hypotenuse important for a triangle?. In our personal & professional life, while talking to someone, we all have situations when we dont clearly understand what the other person is saying. Introduction. Ask Question Asked 6 years, 9 months ago Modified 6 years, 9 months ago Viewed 3k times 1 This is a I am sorry, but I couldnt follow your words.? Niaj A A Khan is an ESL Instructor with over 7 years of experience in teaching & developing resources at different universities and institutes. I admire that you clarified your position. Is that/this ok if I ask/request you to clarify it? However, if the instruction is unclear, you may need to ask for clarification so you can take medicine properly. Closed Question: Was this experience what you expected? You have been successfully subscribed to the Grammarly blog. Depending on the circumstances, it may be necessary to respectfully inform the other party that their understanding of the situation is incorrect, or to seek clarification for Lets explore the three tenants of how to ask for clarification politely. WebClarifying What You Heard, Asking Someone to Repeat Themselves, and Confirming Your Understanding Communication Skills: Express Yourself Clearly Get Your Number Stress Right: How to Pronounce Numbers Clearly in English The Power of Pitch: Change Your Tone for Better Stress and Intonation in English (A) works with middle managers who want to communicate authentically so they can effectively lead their teams without losing themselves. ESL Advice is an online platform for ESL learners and teachers in which an expert team of ESL Teachers shares exclusive tips and advice about the English language. Did you ask me to close the main door or this door? However, if you dont understand them, you should ask them to clarify. However, on many occasions, you may also need to use closed questions as well. How to ask somebody for explanation politely, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup, Polite way to suggest talking about something. Be polite, and use languages that focus the situation on you and not the other person. Martin holds a Masters degree in Finance and International Business. *this is very polite) Can you explain what you mean? If you have to ask again (or if you keep relying on the same person), consider approaching someone else. Doctor: You should take this medicine once a day. "If I understand you correctly " is a slightly more formal way to check your understanding. Both the past and present tense are acceptable. I wish you good health. Good Communication Makes You More Valuable. Oops! Dont make it sound bad. However, if you dont understand someones question, you should ask for clarification and answer accordingly. I am available for a phone call or meeting if that would be helpful or more convenient for you. Here, Ill share some ways to ask for clarification on someones suggestions in English. Try to use them in real life and master them. Open-ended questions leave space to fully explore another persons perspective. "That sounds really good. Depending on the nature of your clarification request email, you may want to attach some information, including links, or add attachments. If thats the case, it's best to get straight into business. I couldnt follow what you said about it. Your help will go a long way in helping to resolve [issue]. Start with a polite greeting It's polite to start written correspondence with a greeting. Writing, grammar, and communication tips for your inbox. I am sorry, but did you say he is the companys CEO? Now, well learn useful expressions to ask someone to clarify instructions. Im sorry, but I couldnt follow your question. If you need extra information from a candidate, this clarification email after an interview provides the ideal structure. Congratulations on getting a job offer! Sorry, what was that? Here are seven phrases for using your opening lines to imply that your email is a reply or response: "Thank you for your email regarding. Make your email easy to read. However, Could is less polite, and Can is the least polite word among these three. There are a few simple steps to follow when youre looking for further explanation. Well! Once youve established your current understanding and whats unclear to you, you can ask questions that will help your reader clarify the information. link to Linguix vs. Grammarly: Which AI Writing Assistant Is Value for Money in 2023? Thank them for the interview I appreciate your help. Write emails and messages faster across Google Chrome. Moreover, it will imply that you think you already know what the answer is, even though you need clarification! No worries! Show respect. In this situation, you may need to ask them to repeat, explain or clarify their position. Here are a few examples of the types of sentences that you could use to ask for clarification politely at work: These types of clarification questions will help ensure that everyone has the same understanding of the situation. When someone asks for permissionfor something from you, you may not always listen to them appropriately. Of course, that's a distinction that can probably be blurred depending on exactly how you're using the words, but it might be useful to understand that they don't mean exactly the same thing. This article breaks down the process of writing request emails for information, documents, contact details, favors and more. It sometimes happens that interviewers may need extra information after your meeting. Depending on the circumstances, it may be necessary to respectfully inform the other party that their understanding of the situation is incorrect, or to seek clarification for oneself. Reframing your request into "for the greater good" makes it much more digestible to follow up with. Lindsays approach has been profoundly influenced by her work with First Nations organizations, her experience as a parent to two children with pervasive mental health challenges, and the premature loss of both of her parents. Avoid guilt. Could/Would/Can you be a bit clearer about it? In your salutation, use the name that the person emailing you signed off with in their message, or whatever name they used when they introduced themselves if you've already met in person. Thank you for providing the detailed information about [Topic X]. When someone says anything, they usually give you information about something or someone. When you ask a clarification question, you help to create a greater level of understanding not just for yourself but also for the speaker and those in attendance. Thank you! Lindsays approach has been profoundly influenced by her work with Indigenous organizations, her experience as a parent to two neurodivergent children, and the premature loss of both of her parents. Amid the four types of questions commonly asked, clarification questions are probably the most understandable and justifiable in any circumstance. Reframing your request into "for the greater good" makes it much more digestible to follow up with. For more on this topic, I invite you to subscribe to my YouTube channel where I post many helpful videos for leaders and teams who want to unlock the secrets to stress-free communication. Did you say that you want to go there alone? Youve explained the situation and asked for clarification so that you can solve a problem. If you can help me with these questions by the end of the day, I can get started on the project immediately. Not sure if this was meant for me. Are you aware of how your tone of voice conveys different messages? What To Include In An Email For Clarification Thank The Sender For The Information State Your Current Understanding Acknowledge that you need clarification. Write emails & messages faster than ever with our AI writing assistant, Get the best resources for professional communication & productivity. In most cases, you can save face by solving your own problem without asking a question to clarify. Webcrazyyy how u come into my mentions accusing me of shit continue to rant abt me on ur page and when i politely ask for clarification u block me didnt even need to interact w me if i piss u off that much. Before accepting, you may want clarification about the terms and conditions or the salary. When you are tasked with providing necessary information to someone, but would like to keep things brief and formal, you can use this phrase to cut to the chase. Will you please mention again the name of the items you requested from the store? Would/Could you please elaborate on it for me? Those suggestions sometimes are too important in our professional and personal life. If your doctor gives you any instructions, you must follow them. In such situations, the concern is simply that one needs to be polite when asking a clarification question so that a question can be asked rather than reformatting an impolite question. I am available for a phone call or meeting if that would be helpful. Provided is an example of how just making sure can be used professionally. . If you'd like to send in a quote for the article, please share your answer to the following question and explain your reasoning behind it. How legitimate is the phrase "from which one to choose"? If you are wanting to ask for clarification politely, blaming the other person is definitely not the way to go. Show that you appreciate them taking the additional time to review the email, and describe how the information will help achieve the goal. A reference has been provided on how to professionally use for your information. Thank you for your time and for helping me to clarify these questions. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. ?" How to follow the signal when reading the schematic? Would you prefer if we go with approach A or B in this situation? You might say: Nows not the time to use the command form of any verb; dont say things like Say it again, slower! or You need to give us more examples! Those are clear indications that you are not being polite. I have discussed several situations where you may need to ask for clarification in English. For instance, we can say Im not sure that I agree with that in an aggressive tone, or in an inquisitive tone, and this will impact how the message is received by our listener. how to politely and natively reply an email and ask question, Looking for a word attributing the state of revealing the past. Ultimately, who should be responsible for completing. Can you clarify some details for me, please? Both phrases can be used interchangeably, as they have the same meaning. Both phrases can be used to ask for more information or to give more information when someone requests it of you. Write emails for work the way you would a standard letter. While this can be a longer phrase, its a great way to both clarify and ask for clarification while not sounding as though you werent listening or being rude.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'grammarhow_com-box-3','ezslot_3',105,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-grammarhow_com-box-3-0'); If youre looking to clarify something youve said or to ask for more clarification in case you dont want to seem as though you werent paying attention. This phrase allows you to use simple words with no room for misinterpretation. My goal is to complete [Task A] by Thursday, so this information will help me to get started immediately. In order to process information, you need to be able to pay attention. Recent surveys suggest that over 6 million children under the age of 17 in the US alone exhibit some form of attention deficit disorder. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. Include your contact details and how they can get in touch with you. English Speaking Practice || How to Ask for Clarification in English || Beginner- Advanced levels. How do you ask for clarification? link to 50 Polite Ways to Interrupt Someone in English. If you Although these questions are more direct, as long as they relate to a topic that has been already mentioned, they are understandable points for clarification. By speaking solely in terms of your own perspective, your listener will be more open to further discussion. WebSo, if you need some clarification for what you just heard, you can use phrases like Sorry, what did you mean by that? Let me see if I understand this; you want to create a proposal which would limit our available staff positions for hire? Rule #3: Mind the timing and the relevancy. Lindsay Lapaquette, M.Sc. You mean you need some books from the library, isnt it? The difference between these two phrases is only in how they are grammatically structured, with clarify being a verb and clarification being a noun. I am sorry, but I couldnt follow your suggestions. Rule #3: Mind the timing and the relevancy. Thank you for explaining the question to me. For your information is a phrase you can use when you want it to be clear to all that you are going to provide information. Also known as clarification letters, clarification emails are used to get the information required to move forward. This article will introduce you to some pointers on how to request clarification via email. Read more about Martin here. A thesaurus is your friend here. Using phrases such as Im sorry or Excuse me when asking for clarification indicates a participatory tone that simply seeks better understanding. Sometimes, even though were confused, it is simply because we have not been informed of all of the information that is being presented. Heres an example of how to use for the record in a professional manner. Even if you dont quite understand what they are trying to communicate, express your thanks to them for their time and effort. You can contact me on (insert details). Now, well learn some useful expressions to ask someone to clarify instructions. Whenever confusing, lengthy, or multi-part topics are presented, there is a high probability that someone will have missed some of the information shared, prompting someone to seek clarification on the topic. Have you wanted me to send the emails first, then attend the meeting? Don't worry: Asking for clarification is easy. Effective communication, in particular, is a soft skill that plays a crucial role in career advancement. I beg pardon, but can you please repeat what you said about the new product launch? Practice the mechanics: Many of the mechanics youll encounter in a raid can also be found in other activities. For many people, particularly people who arent aural or visual learners, different processing preferences and capabilities make it harder for some people to keep up with conversations.
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