
Stop Sounding Too Direct — Master This Professional Skill
From Business English Essentials with Higher English by Craig Branch
May 3, 2026 · 5 min · Season 3 · Episode 17
About this episode
This episode teaches listeners how to use hedging expressions to soften their language and communicate more effectively in professional settings.
In professional communication, tone can shape how your message is received. In this episode, you’ll learn how to use hedging expressions to soften your language, sound more diplomatic, and communicate more effectively in meetings, negotiations, and presentations. We’ll look at practical phrases you can use immediately to sound more professional and more collaborative in English.
People in this episode
Host: Craig Branch
Topics covered
- professional communication
- tone
- hedging expressions
- diplomatic language
- effective communication
- meetings
- negotiations
Keywords
- hedging expressions
- professional communication
- tone
- diplomatic language
- meetings
- negotiations
- presentations
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