Have you ever been in a meeting where you didn’t quite understand what someone meant, but you didn’t want to interrupt?
Knowing how to ask for more information is a vital part of professional communication, especially when English isn’t your first language.
You will learn how to ask naturally, clearly, and politely, just as a native speaker would.
1. Asking for Project Updates
When you need to know how something is progressing, these expressions work well in almost any professional setting:
- “How are things going with the project?”
- “Could you give me a quick update?”
- “What’s the latest on that?”
👉 More formal: “Could you update me on the current status of the project?”
Use these when you want to sound friendly but still professional.
2. Asking for More Details
Sometimes you understand the general idea but want to know more. Here are some natural ways to ask for clarification:
- “Could you explain that a bit more?”
- “What do you mean exactly by that?”
- “Could you clarify what’s changing?”
- “I’m not sure I follow — could you go over that again?”
👉 More formal: “Would you mind elaborating on that point?”
These phrases keep the conversation flowing and show interest — not confusion.
3. Softening Your Questions (British Style)
In British English, we often soften requests using short, friendly phrases:
- “Just a quick one…”
- “When you get a moment…”
- “If you don’t mind me asking…”
These make your tone sound polite and approachable — perfect for meetings, emails, or informal chats with colleagues.
📚 Further reading:
👉 Agreeing and Disagreeing in English
👉 Meant, Planned, and Intended: Clear Communication for Tech Leaders
💬 Try this:
In your next meeting, choose one phrase from each section and use it.
Small changes in phrasing can make a big difference to how confident and professional you sound.