how to ask for clarification politely
Conversations, email dialogues, and even text messages progress best when everyone has the same understanding. How do you ask for clarification? If you're facing a deadline, you should always include details about when you need to receive answers. Use a call to action to clarify the next steps. In doing so, you will be perceived as non-accusatory and therefore, not threatening. Still, you may feel like youre being rude if you ask for clarification on the schedule, format, and personal perceptions of those in attendance. Suppose you just received a prescription from the doctor after the diagnosis. Would you mind saying what type of permission, written or verbal, you need? This is a standard clarification email that you can use to request some answers from anyone, including a colleague, customer, client, or professional. Dont make it sound bad. Asked by Anonymous Mar 3, 2023. 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. You can also get another perspective by asking someone else to review the information. I'm keen to make a decision this week, so can you provide me with answers by (date)? Here is some language that you can use. Web1. You can do this by saying "I don't understand" or "I'm not sure I These experiences have taught Lindsay great lessons about the power of excellent people skills that extend well beyond her professional expertise. Try to use them in real life and master them. You need more information to fully understand what they mean, but the other person is getting irritated with all of your questions? Therefore, Use one of our 9 samples to ask for clarification in an email. Could you give me some more details about? Its also a great way to allow someone else to add more information they may have forgotten. If your clarification request isn't covered in the list above, or if you'd prefer to create your own, then use this clarification email template. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. If you need to seek clarification during a presentation, the polite way to do so would be to raise your hand or use some non-offensive gesture to attract the speakers attention (no middle fingers!) If you preorder a special airline meal (e.g. Oops! If students have never learned how to politely ask for clarification, youll need to teach them courteous English expressions and when to use them. WebKnowing how to ask for clarification politely is simple with a question like could you please clarify? It shows that youd like someone to add further information to something by clarifying what they mean. Other opinions. Practice the mechanics: Many of the mechanics youll encounter in a raid can also be found in other activities. Both of them are fine in any conversation of an official nature, but are not exclusively limited to just the two. Im glad that you specifically explained the issue. Therefore, when you request someone to clarify something, you may use modal verbs to sound polite. Ask for specific examples. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. How to politely ask for clarification on a person's designation? In this example, you're a job seeker; this is how you reply to a recruiter asking for clarification. 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 Asking clarifying questions shows that you're actively listening and want to understand. In most cases, you can save face by solving your own problem without asking a question to clarify. Grammarly For MS Office - HereS How to Ask For Clarification from So For example, if you seek clarification, then you can ask: Could you please explain how to politely ask for clarification? First up, here's a sample email seeking clarification. Recently, an American client told me that shes really impressed with my English. To determine how to write a meeting request email, follow these steps: 1. However, Could is less polite, and Can is the least polite word among these three. Now well learn some very useful expressions that you can use to politely ask for clarification in English. Be specific about what you expect to be clarified. ?" The preferred synonym to just to clarify is just to make sure were on the same page. If I understood you correctly, you would like me to Could you please clarify what you meant by? Using phrases such as Im sorry or You may also like: 10 Better Ways To Say Thank You For Clarifying In Emails. The clarification email structure is still the same, but we can assume your boss is already on top of the details. Let the person know if you dont quite grasp the issue or if you only understand part of it. Once again, clarification would be necessary. You see! 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. If you are wanting to ask for clarification politely, blaming the other person is definitely not the way to go. Sorry to interrupt, but would you be more specific about what you seek permission for? Patient: Thanks, doctor. Be non-accusatory. This sample clarification email to a client will help you get the details and data you need positively and professionally. If someone orders you or gives instructionsto do something, its essential to fully understand what they say. If I understand you correctly, you want Carolyn to add her SEO changes to the documents marked PENDING in the Google Drive. Heres an example to show you how it works: Dear Ms. Browne, Could you please clarify whether this is correct? Katie is a passionate digital nomad working on her first book on the art of communication. Looking for clarification? Why do many companies reject expired SSL certificates as bugs in bug bounties? "Mr.Lyman, could you come out here please? Would you mind telling me the whole formula in detail? If you have received a cost-of-living salary increase, keep your email short and polite. However, if the instruction is unclear, you may need to ask for clarification so you can take medicine properly. Ask for repetition. There are a few simple steps to follow when youre looking for further explanation. Should I begin with each page Mark adds to the FINAL folder, or do you want me to wait until the SEO changes are complete and youd had a chance to go over everything? Are you aware of how your tone of voice conveys different messages? What do you think about somebody/something. For example, something like: Write an email to my boss asking for a day off of work. Writing invoice emails can be tricky and they are often an area where you may need more information and clarification. To avoid that loop, start by explaining what you do understand and ask whether you have it right. Most of the time, your clients are not responding because: They got busy and haven't found the time to write their response to you. Further, using the conditional mood also indicates that you are not directing the conversation. I dont quite catch what you said. There are other words you might use in this case as well. Say that you didnt understand rather than saying that the other person could not clarify it. [1]: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bring-science-home-speaking-memory/, [2]: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html, [3]: https://hbr.org/2015/03/relearning-the-art-of-asking-questions. Could you explain a bit about your concerns regarding the other solution?, I dont think I fully understand what you were saying about Could you tell me a bit more?, I think it might help me if I could understand a few more details about that part of the project., Could you give me a concrete example to help me understand how that might affect our current situation?, understand the other persons point of view. Would you please tell me your thoughts about the issue again? In such a business situation I would offer my business card and politely ask: "Do you have a card I could have?" ESL Advice receives compensation from companies or individuals for recommending their products. WebYour clarification email includes everything I need to progress. "If I understand you correctly " is a slightly more formal way to check your understanding. ", 50 Polite Ways to Interrupt Someone in English. Could you please vs Would you please? Closed Question: Will you be an asset to the company if we hire you? In such situations, it is highly probable that someone will wish to ask for clarification. Your submission has been received! Lindsay Lapaquette, M.Sc. During these periods, it is best to ask a question as this will allow you to digest whatever information has been presented. For the record, I would like it known I brought this issue to light weeks before it was a problem. * Could you please be more specific? Clarity is the key to effective communication. Thanks for clearly letting me know your opinion; I value whatever you suggest. Reframing your request into "for the greater good" makes it much more digestible to follow up with. When It Is Considered Rude to Ask for Clarification, Theres Never a Time to Not Politely Seek Clarification. If the instructions someone sends you are about as clear as furniture assembly instructions written in something other than your native language, youll need to ask for help. If you're reading this post, you probably want to improve your English conversation skills, and the best way to do that is by having actual conversations. Monitoring your tone of voice is a key element of learning to ask for clarification politely. Read more about Martin here. Messaging your boss or manager is slightly different from the formal format we use above. Did you ask about the total turnover for this year? Show that you appreciate them taking the additional time to review the email, and describe how the information will help achieve the goal. What is the correct way to screw wall and ceiling drywalls? You should not blame someone else if you dont understand the other persons words. It makes the phrase sound a little bit softer and a little more polite. This phrase allows you to use simple words with no room for misinterpretation. "Thank you for getting back to me so quickly". Could you rephrase what you just said to me about the problem? Speak from your own perspective, using sentences that start with, I rather than you. For instance, instead of saying, youre not explaining this very well, you could say something like, Im struggling to fully understand the idea that youre sharing. When people feel blamed, they become defensive. I beg pardon, but can you please repeat what you said about the new product launch? Ask for help: If youre struggling to understand a mechanic, dont hesitate to ask for help.
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