'Put Me Through': Handy Phrases for Business Calls
Talking on the telephone can be difficult in any language. Some of us feel nervous on the phone, and we might also have to deal with bad connections, fast talking and quiet voices.
And if you're at work, and you have to call someone at another company, it can make you even more nervous!
If you're making the call in English, it may be useful to plan what you'd like to say before you pick up the phone.
When calling another company, begin by saying hello and giving your name as usual — and also give the name of the company you're calling from.
You'd also better check if you're calling the right person. You could say: "Is this James?" Or, "Am I speaking to Rose?"
To be polite, you could then ask, "Is this a good time to talk?"
If the person is busy, they may say, "Could you call back later?" Or they might ask you to call back at a certain time.
Sometimes you'll have to speak to a secretary first. On these occasions, the secretary may explain that they're going to "put you through" to the person you'd like to talk to. This means they'll connect you to them.
If the line is bad and you can't hear very well, you could say: "I'm sorry, you're breaking up." Or: "I didn't catch that," if you didn't hear something very well.
For important calls, it's also a good idea to send a follow-up email. You can use this to review what was discussed — and make sure everyone has the right information!
