English has become the most widely used language for communication globally - it’s been estimated that approximately two-thirds of the world have English as their primary language. English can be further broken down into General English, Academic English and Business English. General English would be considered a prerequisite skill for the more specialised forms of Academic and Business English - it teaches you the basics you need to know, such as the mechanics of grammar, sentence composition and vocabulary. However, you might ask what is Business English specifically and how does it differ from General English? Shouldn’t it just be in the same category as General English? The answer is, yes and no.
Whilst both General (or regular) English and Business English are both forms of communication, there are certain parts which distinguish them from each other. As already mentioned, General English refers to the basic, conversational, day-to-day use of words, whereas Business English is a specific type of English that is used in business contexts. It uses specific vocabulary and is characterised by a clear and concise communication style.
This article takes a brief look into the key differences between General and Business English, so please read on!
Different vocabulary and terminologies
General English tends to use more casual language with the purpose of helping you to converse and function better in your everyday life – such as talking to friends, asking for directions, and ordering food. Business English on the other hand is a specialised form of communication, which consists of business and industry-specific terminology. It is used in a number of business specific formats or styles, including business letters, emails, CVs, business reports, presentations, projects proposals and marketing brochures.
Below are some Business English words which are commonly used in business settings together with their meaning.
| Proactive | To take the initiative on something |
| Micromanage | To closely watch over and/or control an employee’s work, instead of giving them the opportunity to complete the set tasks independently. |
| Upskill | To train/teach an employee new skills |
| Streamline | Simplifying a process by making it more efficient and effective, thereby eliminating unnecessary work and saving time and/or resources |
| Expedite | To make a process or task occur sooner or be completed more quickly |
Formal vs Informal
It should be noted that whilst General English is used in a more casual way, Business English is more formal. The words and approach are more formal which suits its purpose – to communicate in a business-like and professional manner.
Whilst Business English does use formal English, it rarely employs hyper-formal English which is generally reserved for special occasions such as weddings or official communications. For more details about the levels of formality, you can look at our article on formal ‘vs’ informal English here.
In business situations it's always better to err on the side of caution and be more formal rather than informal. Further, slang words and contractions tend not to be used in the office or boardroom, so best to stay away from them where possible.
Below are a number of examples that provide phrases using formal and informal English.
General English (informal) - Hey! How ‘ya doin’?
Business English (formal) – Hello. How are you?
General English (informal) - Is Anna in?
Business English (formal) – May I speak with Anna?
General English (informal) - I’m so sorry!
Business English (formal) – Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience caused.
It should be noted that abbreviations are commonly used in business settings, so don’t be afraid to use them. In a future blog, we will provide with a comprehensive list of acronyms/abbreviations that are commonly used in business settings, so stay tuned for that!
Knowing how to write a business email, give a presentation, write a business proposal or make a phone call can be the difference between success or failure in the workplace. Having these skills may not be as critical when speaking Regular/General English, but they are certainly a must in the business world!
The best way to learn business English
You won’t master business English in a day. However, committing time and effort to learning business English can have innumerable benefits, including advancing your career, business opportunities and personal development.
At ESL Tutoring Services we aim to help our students to succeed in all areas of their life, including helping them to master the corporate language that is widely used in the business world. If you or your team members need to brush up on your business English skills, book in a session with one of our highly trained tutors at ESL Tutoring Services. We can assist in the following skills areas: email conventions, business report writing, business vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, reading comprehension, telephone communication, business presentation, business negotiation skills and more!.
At ESL Tutoring we tailor our lesson for your particular needs. Every person is unique, so the lessons we prepare are also different for each individual learner. We don’t just go from one chapter to another in a text book. We teach you what you want to know and our tutors put in the extra effort to help you achieve your goals. We don’t just teach English. We live English!
Contact us today to learn more about what we can offer. We offer our teaching services in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney, as well as online. Send us an email at info@esltutoringservices.com or call on 1300 137 186.
