how to ask for clarification politely how to ask for clarification politely

Use open, non-directive questions - if appropriate. Your help will go a long way in helping to resolve [issue]. rev2023.3.3.43278. Therefore, when you request someone to clarify something, you may use modal verbs to sound polite. Here's an example showing how Flowrite can write a formal request for you from a few instructions: Clarification emails are simple to write as long as you stick to the structure and focus on the outcomes. Follow the format, keep things clear, and always include your contact details! I didnt quite catch it. You can use the following template to make sure that you have effective communication for professional emails or personal emails. Please let me know if you need any other 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. Request to clarify a Freedom of Information request to. I was just making sure you had received all of the current information regarding the upcoming project. How can we prove that the supernatural or paranormal doesn't exist? Always keep in mind that the other person is not bound to clarify things again for you. Doctor: Oh, sure. ". Here we give you 5 tips and provide 4 example emails to help you write better help request emails. ncdu: What's going on with this second size column? 2. 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. You need to create a clarification email. In this example, you're a job seeker; this is how you reply to a recruiter asking for clarification. Would you be able to help me with these questions before then? 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. I am sorry, but did you say he is the companys CEO? Show enthusiasm for the position. Ultimately, who should be responsible for completing. vegan) just to try it, does this inconvenience the caterers and staff? It starts with a simple subject line. Rule #2: Apologize for interrupting. When you need to be a little more authoritative in your professional emails, whether thats to set boundaries or correct instructions that were wrong, just to be clear is perfect for those situations where you want to be straightforward and concise. Still, you may feel like youre being rude if you ask for clarification on the schedule, format, and personal perceptions of those in attendance. Could we connect on this issue before the meeting at 2PM tomorrow? Now, lets learn some expressions that native speakers of English commonly use to ask for clarification. If your doctor gives you any instructions, you must follow them. If you have received a cost-of-living salary increase, keep your email short and polite. Scenario #2: When the conversation gets sidetracked. If I don't hear from you by (date/time), I'll give you a call. Will you please share the total amount again? 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. Learn more about us here. Avoid guilt. Would you please repeat it? Styling contours by colour and by line thickness in QGIS. You'll also hear native speakers say "If I understood you correctly." Is it correct to use "the" before "materials used in making buildings are"? A salutation followed by the hiring manager's name is common. Can you repeat the ways I have to do it? Asking clarifying questions shows that you're actively listening and want to understand. You can set things straight with this email clarifying the dates if that happens. Regardless of the situation: informal, semi-formal, or formal, you are expected to be polite in your choice of words, voice tone, and body language whenever you ask for permission. Informal Sorry, I didnt catch that. Read on below the template to learn why each section is important, and for additional tips and useful information so you can make sure that your email comes across well. 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. Managing conflicts or misunderstandings through email communication can be challenging. Make sure to add a sign-off (thanks, kind regards, etc. Asking somebody to explain something implies that you don't know anything about the topic and want the person to teach you. 1 Answer. If you are wanting to ask for clarification politely, blaming the other person is definitely not the way to go. May I? Can I? and Could I? are three of the most common expressions in English used to ask for permission. Start with an explanatory subject line Try to make the subject line of your email clear and self-explanatory. When you want to ask for more clarification on something, but dont want to seem rude, do I understand allows you to ask for more information and gives others the ability to correct you if necessary without sounding as though they are berating or belittling you. Admit if you are unsure about what the speaker means. Heres what it might look like. Would you mind repeating the name of the place? Thank you for your time and for helping me to clarify these questions. Those suggestions sometimes are too important in our professional and personal life. Not doing so and beginning to speak while the presenter is still speaking is seen as very rude in just about any formal setting. In other words, who, what, where, when, why, and how. No one likes to say those words for fear of sounding slow on the uptake. Make sure that you actually need clarification. The best way to ensure that you come across as polite is if you use Please and Thank You when speaking. About an argument in Famine, Affluence and Morality, A limit involving the quotient of two sums. Good Communication Makes You More Valuable. If you Kind regards, (Your name) 3. WebYour clarification email includes everything I need to progress. We hope that our clarification email guide provides some simple guidelines to follow. 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. Lindsay Lapaquette, M.Sc. "That sounds really good. WebIn American English, the word actually is often used to clarify a misunderstanding. Give your reader a deadline. Am I right in thinking that what youre meaning by that is, If Im understanding correctly, you think that the most important factor in this situation is Is that correct?, I think I need more information because Im not fully understanding the part that you were saying about, So I think I understand that you believe X would be the best solution? Please send your invoice for all work from our most recent contract to youremail@email.com and CC me. To obtain clarification, you have to truly want to understand the other persons point of view. Could I ask for clarification on? Amid the four types of questions commonly asked, clarification questions are probably the most understandable and justifiable in any circumstance. Formal Sorry, would you mind repeating that? ?" People will understand that you are simply seeking to gain the clarification that you need to better understand the situation at hand and will be more willing to engage with you. 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. 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. Is it possible to elaborate on what you said right now? Sometimes we need clarification when we want to get a better handle on where others are coming from. So, how do you do it? Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. A good way is to summarize what you have understood and didnt. This phrase allows you to use simple words with no room for misinterpretation. In fact, guessing and getting it wrong is more likely to cause problems than politely asking for more info. Flowrite turns your instructions into ready-to-send emails and messages across your browser. If you can't find it on our listing of the best email writing tools, you won't need it. Both of them are fine in any conversation of an official nature, but are not exclusively limited to just the two. So what can you say instead? Thank you! Click here for 1:1 customized coaching programs that will help you achieve your career goals faster. There are all kinds of situations where you might need to ask clarifying questions. 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. Both the past and present tense are acceptable. Monitoring your tone of voice is a key element of learning to ask for clarification politely. Whoops! Refresh if you want to submit another email. If you want the person you are talking with to give you a longer explanation or additional detail, its perfectly okay to interrupt them to ask for If you'd like to send in a quote for the article, please share your answer to the following question and explain your reasoning behind it. May I ask you to say the things again that you requested earlier? The most common cause for a phone not starting is that the battery is dead. It also makes it easier for the recipient to go through them line-by-line and answer them. Can you rephrase the instructions, please? However, if you dont understand them, you should ask them to clarify. This phrase indicates that you are clearly trying to be polite, as please and thank you are reserved for polite, formal speech. Messaging your boss or manager is slightly different from the formal format we use above. Did you say that you want to go there alone? Do roots of these polynomials approach the negative of the Euler-Mascheroni constant? Rule #4: Raise your (virtual) hand. Always try to ask open-ended questions while asking for clarification. So that we can action your request promptly, could you please provide some more context and clarification around this? Reframing your request into "for the greater good" makes it much more digestible to follow up with. For the record, I would like it known I brought this issue to light weeks before it was a problem. The preferred synonym to just to clarify is just to make sure were on the same page. I dont quite catch what you said. Im not sure, but did you suggest updating the software? WebWhen using clarification follow these guidelines to help aid communication and understanding. 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. For such individuals, paying attention to lengthy topics, particularly if it is not an area of interest, will be ineffective and there is a high chance that such individuals will be distracted at some point. Of course, that's a distinction that can probably be blurred depending on exactly how you're using the words, but it might be useful to understand that they don't mean exactly the same thing. Here, Ill share some ways to ask for clarification on someones suggestions in English. Start with a greeting Most professional emails begin with a greeting or a salutation. What To Include In An Email For Clarification Thank The Sender For The Information State Your Current Understanding Acknowledge that you need clarification. (A) works with middle managers who want to communicate authentically so they can effectively lead their teams without losing themselves. Rule #3: Mind the timing and the relevancy. Mr. Khan is also a passionate writer working on his first book, "Learn English at Ease. Is that/this ok if I ask/request you to clarify it? Our goal is to create English lessons that are easy to understand for everyone. If you preorder a special airline meal (e.g. However, on many occasions, you may also need to use closed questions as well. 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? You should only ask for clarification if you really feel it requires clarification. Could/Would/Can you be a bit clearer about it? 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. We've outlined the process to create clarification emails. To clarify, the key is to keep things simple, provide all details you need, and remember you're dealing with a real person. Once youve established your current understanding and whats unclear to you, you can ask questions that will help your reader clarify the information. What happens if three defenders sack together? Dont cross the line. Ask Question Asked 6 years, 9 months ago Modified 6 years, 9 months ago Viewed 3k times 1 This is a 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 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. But can you repeat it so I can be sure about what you suggested? Learn how to write request emails that get results with our in-depth guide. My goal is to complete [Task A] by Thursday, so this information will help me to get started immediately. Looking for clarification? Then refer to a specific aspect: Could you please explain once again why A is so important for B?. Youre a busy person, so here is a template you can use right away. WebHow to Ask for Clarification Politely 1. Can you please be a bit more specific about the price? Be polite, and use languages that focus the situation on you and not the other person. These formats will use formal speech to indicate that you are simply trying to clarify what was said rather than to distract or disrupt. Closed Question: Did you always feel that it was a challenge working with him? Would approach A or B be more helpful here? Keep subject lines short, sweet, and simple like these: We'll assume you've already got a relationship with the email recipient, so you don't need to introduce yourself (unless you want to). Here's a helpful thank you template for email clarification. Here are some expressions to ask for clarification when someone asks for your permission. The difference between just to clarify and just for clarification is fairly small. These experiences have taught Lindsay great lessons about the power of excellent people skills that extend well beyond her professional expertise. There are many situations where you might find yourself needing to ask for clarification. When someone asks you to re-explain a complicated task, your first inclination is probably to say, Wait, what? 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. Doctor: You should take this medicine once a day. Thanks for clearly letting me know your opinion; I value whatever you suggest. Start with a polite greeting It's polite to start written correspondence with a greeting. WebHow do you politely ask for something? Writing invoice emails can be tricky and they are often an area where you may need more information and clarification. 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. I am sorry, but I couldnt get your question. What do you think about somebody/something. You then clear up what you need to clarify in the email body. May I know what you just wanted permission for.? I appreciate your detailed explanation, however, I am unclear about which approach we should follow. I am available for a phone call or meeting if that would be helpful or more convenient for you. Write emails for work the way you would a standard letter. If something is mentioned at the beginning of a meeting or lecture and individuals dont have sufficient time to process that information relative to additional content, or they werent paying attention, there is a high probability that such individuals will have no idea what was said previously. Before you do, ask yourself why you think the authors did not provide enough details. Could/Would you please put it differently so that it becomes easy for me to understand? And that's how to end an email asking for clarification. Then what happens if three players make a sack together? Im sorry, but I couldnt follow your question. It will keep everything flowing smoothly with the new website launch. To ask for clarification politely, it's essential to use open-ended clarification questions stated in a neutral and inquisitive tone of voice. Using phrases such as Im sorry or Excuse me when asking for clarification indicates a participatory tone that simply seeks better understanding. WebRule #1: Start by asking for permission to chime in. [1]. Not sure if this was meant for me. You see! Always consider the setting: formal and informal. You must not behave and speak in a formal setting as you do in an informal one. 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?" Could you please vs Would you please? Welcome to Grammarhow!We are on a mission to help you become better at English. A Guide to Using Plain Language in Writing. When it comes to the proper format for asking a clarification question or seeking clarification, the key is to use basic rules of etiquette. Have a conversation before sending an email. Whether you are in a formal or informal situation, politeness is the key to a good conversation. We can say the exact same thing in two entirely different tones of voice. Interrupting to ask for clarification. If its complex, technical, or there are things the manager needs to know in order to provide the clarification, then by all means write an e-mail. Leadership communication skills to elevate team performance. As AI is developing and being used in different sectors, writers are also using them to avoid unexpected grammatical errors or typos. Could you please repeat the date of the event? When asking for clarification, it is essential to choose an appropriate time, such as a Q&A session after a presentation. Now, lets see a short conversation between a doctor and a patient that involves asking for clarification. WebDepends on the clarification. This allows the presenter to complete his or her thought so that you are completely informed. I admire that you clarified your position. I appreciate your time and your help in clarifying this question. Are there tables of wastage rates for different fruit and veg? Your new game-changing quick reference tool is just a click away. You can use this reference on how let me see if I understand this is used professionally. 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. in a polite way? *Its better to use Past, not Present. Suppose you just received a prescription from the doctor after the diagnosis. Practice the mechanics: Many of the mechanics youll encounter in a raid can also be found in other activities. Sometimes, even though were confused, it is simply because we have not been informed of all of the information that is being presented. If students have never learned how to politely ask for clarification, youll need to teach them courteous English expressions and when to use them. ? Can/Could/Would you give me an example, please? Could you give me some more details about? 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. It can be a sensitive area, particularly if your figures don't match, so concentrate on being polite and professional as we have done in the invoice clarification email sample. car, washing machine, telephone) to a sales department or someone involved in procurement. Would you mind sharing the suggestion again? Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Many in attendance are often grateful that someone asks any clarification questions as they are too embarrassed to ask themselves! Therefore, Grammarly For MS Office - HereS How to Ask For Clarification from So Thanks.. My deadline for this project is [date]. 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. Just be sure to fill in all the gaps, and proofread before sending. Can you clarify some details for me, please? Further, using the conditional mood also indicates that you are not directing the conversation. Check your tone of voice. Remember that no matter in which context you are, politeness is the key to a good conversation. ?" Let me make myself clear, everyone must follow all of the new health and safety guidelines in accordance with the CDC. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. When someone says anything, they usually give you information about something or someone. Im glad that you specifically explained the issue. In doing so, you will be perceived as non-accusatory and therefore, not threatening. Both phrases can be used to ask for more information or to give more information when someone requests it of you. Be non-accusatory. Simply say thank you and move on. Include your contact details and how they can get in touch with you. WebSo, if you need some clarification for what you just heard, you can use phrases like Sorry, what did you mean by that?