Thank you for providing the information about [Topic X]. Use a call to action to clarify the next steps. How to Ask for Clarification Politely - YouTube Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Other opinions. Could you rephrase what you just said to me about the problem? 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. Perhaps you find yourself asking for clarification a few times and it feels awkward when you still dont agree with the person. Lindsay Lapaquette, M.Sc. Would you be able to confirm some details? Sorry I couldnt follow you earlier. WebScore: 4.2/5 (13 votes) . If someone orders you or gives instructionsto do something, its essential to fully understand what they say. Lets explore the three tenants of how to ask for clarification politely. Its my bad that I dont quite understand you. The modal verb Would is the most formal word with which you can form the politest expressions. You see! I snickered, thinking that Janet had come around so soon. DeFrank." If I don't hear from you by (date/time), I'll give you a call. We can say the exact same thing in two entirely different tones of voice. In other words, who, what, where, when, why, and how. Please let me know how we can avoid this in the future. Sorry, but I didnt quite catch your statement. However, it would be best to ask for clarification when you dont get someones statement or information. So, you must ask for clarification if you dont understand them. Once someone clarifies something for you, you must appreciate their effort. Can you go over this area again just so I understand the new changes you want implemented? There are different ways you can ask for clarification in English. It only takes a minute to sign up. Looking for clarification? 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. However, if you dont understand them, you should ask them to clarify. We hope that our clarification email guide provides some simple guidelines to follow. ?" For instance you may use: Both are polite colloquial usage. Kind regards, (Your name) 3. Today, we'll introduce 10 polite English expressions for requesting clarification. Depending on the audience and the topic, you can also ask for clarification by simply asking a question, such as: Why is the hypotenuse important for a triangle?. Try to use them in real life and master them. You'll also hear native speakers say "If I understood you correctly." Write a clear subject line, or respond directly to the email you wish to clarify. . Weve all been there: a long meeting, an intense lecture, a complicated sales presentation. Leadership communication skills to elevate team performance. 2. ". To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Using phrases such as Im sorry or Excuse me when asking for clarification indicates a participatory tone that simply seeks better understanding. The best questions are open-ended. For many people, asking for clarification is incredibly embarrassing, while others may find themselves disrupting the flow of the conversation in an attempt to clarify a statement only to receive scorn from those around them. There are more ways to give and receive clarification while still maintaining your professionalism. *this is very polite) Can you explain what you mean? There are other words you might use in this case as well. Have you just suggested calling him when he is home? Can you repeat the ways I have to do it? This allows the presenter to complete his or her thought so that you are completely informed. The meaning of both phrases is the same and used interchangeably. Sometimes there can be misunderstandings about dates and times for meetings and appointments. If you are in a situation where you are being given a lot of information that you may not fully understand, using this phrase is a great way to get the information you need without looking like youre completely lost. You can do this by saying "I don't understand" or "I'm not sure I Depending on the nature of your clarification request email, you may want to attach some information, including links, or add attachments. When It Is Considered Rude to Ask for Clarification, Theres Never a Time to Not Politely Seek Clarification. For more on this topic, I invite you to subscribe to my YouTube channel where I post many helpful videos for leaders and teams who want to unlock the secrets to stress-free communication. Supercharge your communication with Flowrite. If someone is kind enough to provide the answers you need when you need them, it's polite to say thank you. in a polite way? Mr. Khan is also a passionate writer working on his first book, "Learn English at Ease. Web1. Similarly, we live in a fairly distracting world where a variety of daily concerns coupled with the endless distractions present in any environment impede our already strained processing capabilities. When it comes to the proper format for asking a clarification question or seeking clarification, the key is to use basic rules of etiquette. Is it possible to elaborate on what you said right now? Could you give me some more details about? Very often, a presenter will use this period to summarize whatever information has been presented, particularly if a question seeks clarification of a specific topic, so asking a clarification question will help to guide the lecturers attempt to explain what was presented. Whether you are in a formal or informal situation, politeness is the key to a good conversation. Im not sure, but did you suggest updating the software? I admire that you clarified your position. I am sorry, but I couldnt follow your suggestions. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. Is it possible to rotate a window 90 degrees if it has the same length and width? A salutation followed by the hiring manager's name is common. May I ask you to say the things again that you requested earlier? You should only ask for clarification if you really feel it requires clarification. Contacting researchers for clarification is good practice. Well learn some expressions to ask for clarification on someones questions. Now it is time to write your clarification email. Join a clan or community group specifically for raid novices, or ask your team members for clarification. ", 50 Polite Ways to Interrupt Someone in English. We've outlined the process to create clarification emails. Now, well learn some useful expressions to ask someone to clarify instructions. Suppose you just received a prescription from the doctor after the diagnosis. Im sorry, but I couldnt follow your question. Please repeat it for me to understand it clearly. Would you please repeat it? follow up emails How do you explain something in an email? myra on Twitter: "crazyyy how u come into my mentions accusing 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. [3]. Need help nailing down some details about a person, product, project, or appointment? First up, here's a sample email seeking clarification. Would you mind sharing the suggestion again? Remember that no matter in which context you are, politeness is the key to a good conversation. For example, you could write, "Hello, Ms. Clarifying What You Mean, Restating Your Ideas, and Explaining By utilizing the appropriate language and tone, these delicate situations can be navigated smoothly and professionally. English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. Ask for specific examples. There are different ways you can ask for clarification in English. For many people, particularly people who arent aural or visual learners, different processing preferences and capabilities make it harder for some people to keep up with conversations. Otherwise, you'll have established a better understanding for what you need to know, and you can put that to the researchers. Closed Question: So, you felt Bobs approach was too disruptive? Asking for clarification shows that youre attentive and that you care enough to make sure you thoroughly understand what youve been told. Use one of our 9 samples to ask for clarification in an email. Ask Question Asked 6 years, 9 months ago Modified 6 years, 9 months ago Viewed 3k times 1 This is a Would/Could you please elaborate on it for me? Have you ever found it challenging to interrupt someone to express your opinion, make suggestions, or ask for further information? If you can help me with these questions by the end of the day, I can get started on the project immediately. 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. Can you repeat it? ESL Advice receives compensation from companies or individuals for recommending their products. Sometimes we zone out, but sometimes we just dont understand. to Ask the Perfect Question Then Mark will make the copy changes and move the documents to a drive folder marked FINAL. How to Politely Ask for a Clarification - Everyday Courtesy Type a command in the box below. Sample Letters for Request Bank To Clarify Service Charge. that you think you already know what the answer is, so that a question can be asked rather than reformatting an impolite question, if you use Please and Thank You when speaking, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bring-science-home-speaking-memory/, https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html, https://hbr.org/2015/03/relearning-the-art-of-asking-questions, How to Professionally Say You Didnt Answer My Question. How do you get out of a corner when plotting yourself into a corner. If you do, always explain what they are and why they matter. Here are a few examples of the types of sentences that you could use to ask for clarification politely at work: These types of clarification questions will help ensure that everyone has the same understanding of the situation. Could we connect on this issue before the meeting at 2PM tomorrow? Once again, clarification would be necessary. How can we prove that the supernatural or paranormal doesn't exist? ", Telling your conversation partner what you think they meant is an effective way to ask for clarification. Finally, there are some individuals who have trouble paying attention, to begin with, whether because of ADD or ADHD. The clarification email format should be no surprise if you're already used to writing professional messages. Im glad that you specifically explained the issue. Generally, asking for clarification is not undesirable in most social circles, particularly during long, technical presentations in academic, educational, or professional settings. Depending on the circumstances, it may be necessary to respectfully inform the other party that their understanding of the situation is incorrect, or to seek clarification for It felt awesome. * Could you please be more specific? ?" 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. The clarification email structure is still the same, but we can assume your boss is already on top of the details. Could you please repeat the date of the event? So, to understand the request, on many occasions, you may need to ask for clarification. "Thanks so much for your feedback on. Can you please tell me again what document you requested? Respond To A Confusing Email: An Email Template For example, something like: Write an email to my boss asking for a day off of work. ?" As AI is developing and being used in different sectors, writers are also using them to avoid unexpected grammatical errors or typos. This phrase indicates that you are clearly trying to be polite, as please and thank you are reserved for polite, formal speech. Thank you for explaining the question to me. When someone expresses their opinion, you may not clearly understand what they mean or what their position about the matter is. If you do feel compelled to ask before a presenter has reached a point where there is a lull in the presentation or conversation, its very important to raise your hand. You may also like: 10 Better Ways To Say Thank You For Clarifying In Emails. Clarification Emails: Structure and Phrases - Target Training GmbH Janet opened the door and smiled slightly. In formulating an answer, you may find they did provide enough details. A great way to ask for clarification is by using do I understand, allowing you to go over the information by showing youre paying attention and asking for clarity. The first thing to remember when asking for clarification is that you can be honest and straightforward. What is the correct way to screw wall and ceiling drywalls? Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. boss/manager asking for clarification on When it comes to the proper time to ask a question, many presenters or lecturers will ask questions periodically during their presentations or at the end of the presentation. Here are some examples of subject lines to consider: Final report submission Clarification regarding project deadline Extension request for submitting the presentation Thank you for your support and guidance 3. ", Another way to say "I don't understand" is to say "I don't follow" or "I'm not following. May I ask you to explain your observation about the new design further? When asking for clarification, it is essential to choose an appropriate time, such as a Q&A session after a presentation. Why dont people respond? Or rather, try to bridge your current understanding so that you can move forward.
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