TELEPHONE CONVERSATION

Common Telephone Phrases for the Person Make The Phone Call (Caller) Hi/Hello
Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening

Requesting - Phases

May I please speaker to......
I would like to speak with....(give name)

Please connect me to extension (say the extension (usually a number)
Can I speak to someone in the ..... (give the name of the department)

I am trying to reach... (state the persons name, department or extension.


Unable To Connect The Person You Want

Can I leave a message?
Do you know when .... (state the persons name) will be back/return/available?

Can you please tell me .....(state persons name) cell phone/mobile phone number? Please

Do you know where/how I can reach ....(state the persons name)?

Do you have a fax machine?
What is the number to the fax?

May I please send a fax?
Did you receive my fax? I sent it on (give the time/date)?

TELEPHONE CONVERSATION PHRASES

Communicating via telephone can be a very difficult task for non-native English speakers, even sometimes for native English speakers. There are so many different dialects, local words/phrases, and accents. There are some common phrases and words that are used. There are some common basic words and phrases that are commonly used to conduct a telephone conversation.

Common Telephone Phrases for the Person Make The Phone Call (Caller)

Greeting -

• Hi - Hello - Hello, how are you?
• good morning - good afternoon -good evening
Introductions -

• This is .... (give your name)
• This is ....( give your name, from (state place, or company).
• Hello this ...(give your name)
Requesting Someone -

• May I please speak to .... (give the person's name)
• I would like to speak to...(give the person's name)
• Is ....(give the person's name) available.
• Is it possible to speak to ....(give the person's name).
• I need to speak to ....(give the person's name)
When Party (the person you are trying to call) is Unavailable

• May I leave a message, please?
• Do you know when he/she will be available?
• Do you know when he/she will return to the office/home?
• I will call back latter/in an hour/tomorrow.
• Please tell him .....(give your name) called, and I will call latter/call again.
• Please have him/she call me back.
• May I leave my telephone number? My phone number is.....(give your number)?
• Please have him/her contact at ......(state a place or a phone number).
• Where/How can I reach him/her?
• What is her/his mobile phone number/Cell/Cellular phone number?
Faxes

• May I send you a fax?
• What is your fax number?
• Did you receive my fax?
• I send a fax to..... (give person's name), did he.she receive it?
Asking for Information

Other Useful Telephone Phrases/Words

• The number is busy.
• My I hold on the line.
• I sorry can't hear you.
• I sorry I can't understand you.
• Please speak slowly, I am having a difficult time understanding you.
• Who am I speaking to?
• Who is calling?
• The line was disconnected.
• Please connect me to ....(give the name or the person, or the extensions)

ENGLISH WRITING TIPS
Keep your sentences simple and clear. Don't use to many complicated sentences.

Don't make all the sentences the same length. It is a good idea to vary the length of the sentences. Make some sentences longer, while keeping some sentences shorter.

It is better to use the active voice, than the passive voice.

Don't use abbreviations unless you are sure that the reader will understand.

It is better to use nouns and verbs, instead of adjectives and adverbs.

Keep your descriptions short and simple. Keep your writing short and to the point.

Use words that the reader is familiar with. Don't use words that the reader might find difficult to understand.

ENGLISH WRITING TIPS

1.Keep your descriptions short and simple. Keep your writing short and to the point.

2.Use words that the reader is familiar with. Don't use words that the reader might find difficult to understand.

3.Keep your sentences simple and clear. Don't use many compacted sentences.

4.Don't make all the sentences the same length. It is a good idea to vary the length of the sentences. Make some sentences longer, while keeping some sentences shorter.

5.It is better to us the active tense, then the passive tense.

6.Don't use abbreviations unless you are sure that the reader will understand.

7.It is better to use nouns and verbs, instead of adjectives and adverbs.

PREPOSITIONS

What are prepositions?

Prepositions are words that specify place, direction, and time. There are three types of prepositions.

Time Prepositions - Time prepositions define time. Time prepositions - In - At - On For - During - While

Place Propositions - Place prepositions clarify the place someone or somebody. Place Prepositions - In - On -At

Direction Prepositions - Direction prepositions are used to clarify the direction of someone or something. Examples: under, over, right, left etc.

ENGLISH EDITING & PROOFREADING - Spelling Guidelines

These are guidelines for checking spelling mistakes when proofreading and editing.

Spelling -

• Print out a hard copy of the document.
• Check the spelling of each word separately.
• Don't rely on the computer's spell checker!
• Use a pencil that is not the same color as the text.
• Physically touch each word with a pencil.
• Use a dictionary for words that look close to other words.
• Use a dictionary for words that you are not sure of how they are spelt.
• Ask someone else to double check your paper!

Run on Sentences

Spelling -

1.Print out a hard copy of the document.

2.Check each sentence individually to see how many independent clauses it contains.

3.In sentences that contain 2 or more subjects or a subject and a pronouns in the same sentence.

4.Break the sentence into 2 separate sentences if necessary.

Sentence Fragments

Guidelines for checking for sentence fragments when proofreading and editing.

Sentence Fragments -

Print out a hard copy of the document.

Find the subject of each sentence, and make sure that the verb matches the subject.

A singular subject needs a verb in a singular form.

A plural verb needs a verb in the plural form

It is always a good idea to have someone else check over your paper.