Business English Phrasal Verbs: 10 Formal Expressions for Emails & Meetings

Why business phrasal verbs matter

A couple of days ago I was asked to help write a formal email. We looked at what they wanted to say and then together changed the language from informal to more formal business English. When the masterpiece was finished, they noticed a lot of phrasal verbs they had never seen before.

We often use phrasal verbs in informal English, but there is also a set of formal phrasal verbs you can use in the business arena – both in emails and in meetings. Below you’ll find 10 useful business English phrasal verbs that you can start using today.

Remember: phrasal verbs are just like normal verbs – they change their form with the tense (bring forward → brought forward, etc.).

Some are separable (you can put the object in the middle), some are non-separable. And when you use a pronoun (him / her / it) with a separable phrasal verb, it should go in the middle:

We’ll bring the meeting forward. → We’ll bring it forward.

Also, phrasal verbs always end with a preposition, so the word that follows is usually a noun or -ing form. Don’t be that person who writes: I’m looking forward to see you – it should be I’m looking forward to seeing you.

10 formal Business English phrasal verbs

1. Bring forward – move a meeting or date to an earlier time.

Due to a change in our schedule we are going to bring forward the recruitment process.

2. Put back – move a meeting or date to a later time.

Due to a change in management we are going to put back our recruitment process by two months.

3. Call off – cancel / postpone a meeting or event until an unknown future date.

We need to call off our meeting tomorrow because our Dutch colleagues are coming to visit.

4. Take down – write notes, usually numbers or details.

Can you take down this number and then pass it on to him?

5. Look into – investigate possibilities and options.

We are currently looking into venues that can host our conference.

6. Break down – explain something step by step / make it clear and simple.

I have broken down the schedule of tomorrow’s meeting, which you can find at the bottom of the email.

7. Stop by – visit a place briefly (planned).

Drop in – visit unexpectedly, without an appointment.

John dropped in and left this contract for you.

8. Point out – highlight or make something clear.

Before I start, I need to point out there is no possible way to rearrange our next meeting.

9. Run by – ask someone (usually a manager) to check or approve something.

The designs are great, but I have to run them by James, who is in charge of the project.

10. Sign off – officially approve something.

The idea is great, but I need to run it by John. He is the one who can sign it off.

And finally: Bring up – raise a concern or topic.
We are having this meeting because we need to bring up the problems we have with the lack of sales in Japan.

Business email exercise

Choose one of the phrasal verbs from above to complete the email. Try to keep it formal and natural.

EMAIL

Dear Mr X,

I am writing with regard to our upcoming work event.

Firstly, I apologise for not calling, but my new secretary __________ the wrong number, so I am forced to contact you this way.

As I understand, we are set for a day in May. I would prefer if we could __________ this event to April, as we are __________ arranging something similar in May for our own workforce.

Another thing is that I have some questions about how the day will be __________. A lot of our team will not be able to stay beyond 6pm, so I need to __________ we have the presentation process by 5pm.

Aside from the event I have some questions I need to __________ you in person, so I will __________ the office next week. It is nothing too serious, but I have a couple of things to __________ about our Japanese market, and I need you to __________ the order process for August.

I look forward to __________ you next week.

Kind regards,
Z

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KEY

• took down – my new secretary took down the wrong number
• bring forward – we could bring forward this event to April
• looking into – we are looking into arranging something similar
• broken down – how the day will be broken down
• point out – I need to point out we have the presentation process by 5pm
• run by – I have some questions I need to run by you
• stop by – I will stop by the office next week
• bring up – a couple of things to bring up about our Japanese market
• sign off – I need you to sign off the order process
• seeing – I look forward to seeing you next week