The business English vocabulary you use affects how professional and confident you sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today you’ll learn how to adjust business English vocabulary to send a powerful message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We’ll show you how to tweak the way you communicate to empower yourself in the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Michelle asks Lindsay about making tweaks to podcast episodes either before or after they\u2019ve recorded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lindsay answers that they do make little tweaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, they don’t make a lot of edits and changes when publishing podcast recordings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We often make little changes in our lives and we call these “tweaks.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lindsay asks Michelle if she fears change<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Michelle responds that she\u2019s open to change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At times, a sudden shift can be uncomfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, change is necessary for growth and improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today we have a great listener question that is perfect for business English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don’t miss episode AEE 2125: How to Share Your Faults in English for Deeper Connection.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I hope you all are doing great. I’m originally from Japan, born and raised in the town next to Musashi-kosugi where Lindsey used to live I believe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Somehow I live in Sydney Australia now and work remotely for a US company so listening to All Ears English and Aussie English is a kind of perfect combination to learn English for me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I have a question related to my work. I work as a Japanese copywriter for the company and often collaborate with designers who are based in the US, so I need to communicate with them when I change texts on ads and explain it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One day, I realized that my colleagues used three words in English meaning to change something. Those are \u201cchange\u201d, \u201ctweak\u201d, and \u201cmodify\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Please clarify the nuances of each word and give me the context when I should choose one of them appropriately.<\/p>\nThank you in advance, Lindsay and Michelle answer the listener\u2019s question regarding three words: <\/p>\n\n\n\n All of these are about something starting as one thing and morphing into another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Often this is for feedback given on a project or task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, they can be used as synonyms, but Lindsay and Michelle will dive into each one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They will share what each word means and how you can differentiate them from each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This can be a noun or verb. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is the most general of the three. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We often hear this in poetry and songs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lindsay asks Michelle about her biggest professional change<\/a> in the past five years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Michelle shares the transition of figuring out life as a mother and career woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Figuring out her identity in between pursuing work and being a mom to small children has been challenging and rewarding at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This word can also be a noun or a verb. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We don’t use tweak when referring to a big alteration or change<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is used more for small adjustments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At work, this is great when referring to small edits on reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Michelle shared an experience when she asked her brother and sister to tweak her college essay before submitting it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They made so many small changes that it sounded entirely different when she read it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She cried and her mom just told her to use her original writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Michelle asks if Lindsay is okay with other people making tweaks to her work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lindsay says tweaks are good but an overhaul would be too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Small changes to help improve are nice, but if making big changes, communicating this well is definitely recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This word is defined as, \u201cmake partial or minor changes to (something), typically so as to improve it or to make it less extreme.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n It can only be used as a verb. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, we also use the noun “modification.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n We often use it to make something sound less extreme when making minor changes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It also sounds quite formal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is a quick roleplay from Lindsay and Michelle using the vocabulary shared in today\u2019s episode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is to better help you understand how to use these words in a conversation at your workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this scenario, Lindsay and Michelle are coworkers going over a paper they wrote before turning it in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lindsay: <\/strong>Ok, so do you think we need to make any changes? When communicating in the workplace, you want to sound confident and clear<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the correct vocabulary will ensure you get your message across well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today’s words have slightly different meanings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Practice using them when talking about making changes at work!<\/p>\n\n\n\nToday’s question<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Ario<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nChange, tweak, and modify<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#1: Change<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Biggest professional change<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#2: Tweak<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Too many tweaks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#3: Modify<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Roleplay<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Michelle:<\/strong> I have a few tweaks. I went through it last night.
Lindsay: <\/strong>Oh great, let\u2019s go through them.
Michelle:<\/strong> Also, did the team ever modify those guidelines?
Lindsay:<\/strong> Oh yes I have the new copy!
Michelle:<\/strong> Great! I think we all need to change the way things are done.
Lindsay:<\/strong> Yes.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nTakeaway<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n