So, how do you politely ask for clarification on someones request in English? As a former Speech-Language Pathologist, Lindsay applies her expertise in the neuroscience of communication and connection to help managers foster an environment of trust and respect in their teams, so that everyone can bring their best selves to work. Looking for an email writer generator, email helper, or email correction app? "Mr.Lyman, could you come out here please? ?". Additionally, when asking for clarification, it is not considered polite if you frame your clarification question in a critical tone. If it's not the subject that's not being understood, but the explanation of it (that is, the misunderstanding is in the delivery), "could you rephrase that?" Closed Question: Was this experience what you expected? Im not sure when youd like me to start adding the copy to the development website. Formal Sorry, would you mind repeating that? Show that you appreciate them taking the additional time to review the email, and describe how the information will help achieve the goal. Even if you dont quite understand what they are trying to communicate, express your thanks to them for their time and effort. You'll learn how to structure email clarifications, what to include, and see how it works with 9 examples and a template. Some time in your elementary school life, you may have had a teacher who said, The only stupid question is the one you dont ask. That stock teacher phrase couldnt make things any clearerits okay to ask for an explanation if you dont understand. Be polite while asking. Using this formal speech helps to indicate that you are sincere in your desire to understand what the speaker is saying, which is the basis for asking for clarification. Could you please vs Would you please? Here are some useful expressions to ask someone to clarify their position or opinion. How to Ask for Clarification Politely - Collaborative Solutions Lets move on. So, do you really think this will be a profitable deal? Write a clear subject line, or respond directly to the email you wish to clarify. Before you write an email to clarify something, take another look to review the information and see if there is something that you were missing. May I ask you to say the things again that you requested earlier? May I request further clarification of instruction number 5? How to Ask for Clarification As a freelance consultant, she also supports companies and executives in overcoming communication challenges. Would/Could you please clarify it for me/us? 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. Here are some expressions to ask for clarification on their requests. Will you please repeat the standard operating procedure of this machine? Click here for 1:1 customized coaching programs that will help you achieve your career goals faster. Use this template to diplomatically seek clarification whenever you get one of these rambly, not-exactly-sure-of-what-this-means email. Thank them for the interview Something went wrong while submitting the form. Would you be able to help me with these questions before then? Have you ever experienced a meeting where somebody is explaining something, but for the life of you, you cannot even begin to understand their point of view? Doctor: Oh, sure. DeFrank." Would you mind telling me the whole formula in detail? politely Informally You can simply say Sorry? or Come again? with a curious tone to ask someone for clarification. Don't worry: Asking for clarification is easy. Have a conversation before sending an email. May I ask you to share your suggestions again? In English, the respondent would immediately understand that you need more than a simple "yes" or "no" answer. Give your reader a deadline. And yet, we all have times in our personal and professional lives when we dont thoroughly understand what someone else is trying to tell us. For ESL learners, interrupting someone while someone is talking can Linguix vs. Grammarly: Which AI Writing Assistant Is Value for Money in 2023? ". WebA listener can ask for clarification when they cannot make sense of the speaker's responses. Should You Be Home When Contractors Are Working. WebHow to Ask for Clarification Politely Collaborative Solutions 338 subscribers 329 views 3 years ago Have you ever experienced a meeting where somebody is explaining something, Here are some expressions to ask for clarification when someone asks for your permission. ask for clarification Did you mean? If you liked this post, you might also like: 7 Signs That Your Team Has a Communication Problem, The 4 Foundational Skills for Effective Communication. You need more information to fully understand what they mean, but the other person is getting irritated with all of your questions? Let me make myself clear, everyone must follow all of the new health and safety guidelines in accordance with the CDC. Heres what it might look like. Need help nailing down some details about a person, product, project, or appointment? I dont quite catch what you said. Have you ever found it challenging to interrupt someone to express your opinion, make suggestions, or ask for further information? Which form is more polite and more acceptable for correspondence? 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. WebScore: 4.2/5 (13 votes) . 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. Congratulations on getting a job offer! Did you mean to send me? Refresh if you want to submit another email. Amid the four types of questions commonly asked, clarification questions are probably the most understandable and justifiable in any circumstance. politely ask As a former Speech Language Pathologist, Lindsay applies her expertise in the neuroscience of communication and connection to help managers foster an environment of trust and respect in their teams, so that everyone can bring their best selves to work. 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. Can you please be a bit more specific about the price? Your help will go a long way in helping to resolve [issue]. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. Thus we need to ask them for further clarification without feeling awkward. It lets everyone know you mean business and that they better listen to what youre about to tell them because you probably wont repeat yourself. How can I ask, "Why did you send me this link?" To ask for clarification politely, it's essential to use open-ended clarification questions stated in a neutral and inquisitive tone of voice. Asking somebody to explain something implies that you don't know anything about the topic and want the person to teach you. 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. Please let me know if you need any other information. Today, we'll introduce 10 polite English expressions for requesting clarification. Many people presenting or relaying information are not aware of how others are processing what they are saying, leading them to talk above others and preventing them from digesting what is being presented. If you need any other information, please let me know. Now pretend I don't know anything about how that works. It can be used very formally, or it can be used with a subtle undertone of disdaine and attitude while still providing information. This article breaks down the process of writing request emails for information, documents, contact details, favors and more. By utilizing the appropriate language and tone, these delicate situations can be navigated smoothly and professionally. 1 vote 1 answer 18 views. how to politely and natively reply an email and ask question, Looking for a word attributing the state of revealing the past. Many of us have a gap in communication at work or with a business or provider, but writing a request for clarification can sometimes be a scary prospect. It can help ensure that whatever youre saying does not come across in a way that is not intended. Can/Could/Would you please repeat your take on that? Lindsay Lapaquette, M.Sc. Interrupting Politely, Interjecting Opinions, and Sharing Ideas 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. Scenario #1: When one person is dominating the conversation. Say what the problem is first. Conversations, email dialogues, and even text messages progress best when everyone has the same understanding. [Survey] Is It Rude to Say Please and Thank You at the Same Time? to Ask the Perfect Question Useful English Phrases for Discussion and Debate. Is it possible to elaborate on what you said right now? Thanks for the effort you made to explain it again. Using phrases such as Im sorry or How to politely ask for clarification on a person's designation? How To Request Clarification Via Email - Email Effective Thank you for your time and for helping me to clarify these questions. Write emails and messages faster across Google Chrome. How to make a GPT-3 model remember past conversations? Practice the mechanics: Many of the mechanics youll encounter in a raid can also be found in other activities. Sometimes we need clarification when we want to get a better handle on where others are coming from. What happens if three defenders sack together? Whether you want to clarify something for someone or you want clarification yourself, just to be clear is a great phrase to use when giving or receiving information. In a situation where you feel as though you dont have all of the information, whether thats because you missed part of it or it just seems as though theres a gap, using just so I understand gives you the time to go over what you do know and lets others fill in any missing pieces. Still, you may feel like youre being rude if you ask for clarification on the schedule, format, and personal perceptions of those in attendance. It allows you to ask if youve got the right information, but it also allows you to check-in with other people to make sure they understand the information youve given them. Review the information to see if you missed something. There are many situations where you might find yourself needing to ask for clarification. May I request you share your queries again? If you have received a cost-of-living salary increase, keep your email short and polite. Always try to ask open-ended questions while asking for clarification. Asking somebody to explain something implies that you don't know anything about the topic and want the person to teach you. The clarification email structure is still the same, but we can assume your boss is already on top of the details. Learn how to write request emails that get results with our in-depth guide. WebRule #1: Start by asking for permission to chime in. Its time to stop letting conflict rule your life and learn to use your resentment to fuel change. 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 Could/Would/Can you be a bit clearer about it? These formats will use formal speech to indicate that you are simply trying to clarify what was said rather than to distract or disrupt. Could/Would/Can you please walk me through that again? However, on many occasions, you may also need to use closed questions as well. Well! in a polite way? No one likes to say those words for fear of sounding slow on the uptake. You could go with something like: "Hello Bob, from your answer I couldn't understand what you want me to do; I have 2 options, X and Y, could you please be more clear about which one you want me to use?" Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. Moreover, it will imply that you think you already know what the answer is, even though you need clarification! Clarification Once someone clarifies something for you, you must appreciate their effort. Request to clarify a Freedom of Information request to. When someone says anything, they usually give you information about something or someone. How to interrupt Bullet points are a great way to share information, Insert your questions/clarification request. Make sure that you dont point fingers or blame the other person for not conveying information well enough. (meaning to say it in another way) is appropriate. An example where it would be appropriate to use this phrase would be when you want to discuss a topic with someone and you check in on them and their progress to make sure they are working off of the correct information. One example is when you are presented with new content that you havent had a chance to review prior to a presentation or conversation. There are other words you might use in this case as well. Useful English Phrases for Discussion Do I need a thermal expansion tank if I already have a pressure tank? Heres How to Ask for Clarification From Someone Else Could you rephrase what you just said to me about the problem? Join a clan or community group specifically for raid novices, or ask your team members for clarification. So, to understand the request, on many occasions, you may need to ask for clarification.