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Your Performance Has Been Terrible/awful
Your Performance Has Been Terrible/awful
Sometimes you may want to express criticism in a strong way and direct way:
But, most of the time, you probably want to express criticism in a less direct and more diplomatic
way. For example, you should avoid using negative words such as terrible and awful:
You can also use words such as somewhat and a bit to soften criticism.
Expressions such as unsatisfactory, below standard, and inadequate can be softened in this way:
One way to stop arguments is to make positive suggestions that might solve the problem. There are
a number of phrases we can use to do this:
I suggest that we / they ask for another meeting with the supplier.
This ensures that the suggestion does no sound like a command or an order and may make it easier
for other people to agree to it. To agree, say: That’s a good idea.
Useful phrases
Do you agree?
What do you think about that?
Agreeing:
That’s right.
Agreeing strongly:
I agree completely.
Agreeing tentatively
Disagreeing
Yes, but…
I completely disagree.
Couldn’t we just…?