Phrases That Sound Off at Work: Account For, In the Loop, and More: correct answers
Jump to answers ↓When we speak English at work, small phrasing mistakes can easily slip into our emails and meetings. These errors usually happen when we translate directly from our native language or combine two similar English phrases by accident. While your colleagues will still understand you, fixing these subtle mistakes will make your professional communication sound much more natural.
Asking for descriptions: what vs. how
A very common mistake happens when asking someone to describe something, like a new design or a project status. In English, you have two correct options. You can use "what" with the preposition "like", or you can use "how" without a preposition.
The error occurs when people mix the two patterns together to say "how it looks like."
✅ Can you show me what the new dashboard looks like? ✅ Can you show me how the new dashboard looks? ❌ Can you show me how the new dashboard looks like?
Explaining things to people
With many verbs in English, you can put the person immediately after the verb (for example, "tell me the story" or "give me the report"). However, the verb "explain" does not work this way. You cannot "explain someone." Instead, you must explain the topic, and then use the preposition "to" before the person receiving the explanation.
✅ Before we wrap up, could you explain the new vacation policy to me? ❌ Before we wrap up, could you explain me the new vacation policy?
Avoiding redundant words
In a fast-paced work environment, concise language is best. A common trap is using redundant words, which means adding extra words that repeat a meaning already included in the main verb.
"Repeat" already means "say again," so in a short work message "repeat that" is enough. "Revert" works the same way: it means "go back," so "revert back" doubles it. In Indian English "revert" also means "reply," which colleagues in other countries may not know, so "reply" is the clearest choice.
✅ The audio cut out. Could you repeat that? ✅ Please review the contract and reply by Friday. ❌ Please review the contract and revert back by Friday.
Getting fixed expressions right
Some English phrases are fixed, meaning their exact combination of words, articles, and prepositions cannot be changed. Even native speakers sometimes say these too quickly and blur the words, which makes them confusing to learn.
If you need to explain a missing amount in a budget or a change in numbers, the correct phrasal verb is "account for", not "count for".
✅ We need to account for the sudden drop in Acme's Q3 orders. ❌ We need to count for the sudden drop in Acme's Q3 orders.
Similarly, when something happens unexpectedly, the standard idiom is "all of a sudden." "Out of a sudden" mixes it up with "out of nowhere." You will also hear "all of the sudden" in casual American English, but "all of a sudden" is the safe choice in writing.
✅ The server was running normally, but then, all of a sudden, it crashed. ❌ The server was running normally, but then, out of a sudden, it crashed.
Work English has its own fixed verb + noun pairs. You raise a ticket, make a decision, and take ownership of a task. You keep people in the loop and make sure everyone is on the same page.
✅ I'll take ownership of the renewal and keep you in the loop. ❌ I'll make ownership of the renewal and keep you on the loop.
Suggest that, not suggest me to
"Suggest" does not take a person followed by "to" + verb. Use "suggest that" + a clause, or "suggest" + an -ing form.
✅ Ana suggested that we update the onboarding budget. ❌ Ana suggested me to update the onboarding budget.
Regional phrases and global teams
Some phrases are standard in one variety of English but unclear elsewhere. In Indian English, "do the needful" means "please take care of this," and "prepone" means "move earlier." They are correct there, but colleagues in other countries may not understand them, so choose the more widely known wording in a global team.
✅ Could someone please take care of this before Friday? ✅ Can we bring the meeting forward?
Correct answers
Question 1
The correct answer is account for.
"Account for" is a fixed business collocation that means to explain or provide a reason for something. "Count for" means to have value or importance, while "make account for" is not a standard expression.
Example: "Can you account for the missing inventory?"
Question 2
The correct answer is all of a sudden.
"All of a sudden" is a fixed phrase that means "suddenly." "Out of a sudden" and "all at a sudden" blend it with "out of nowhere" and "all at once," so they sound wrong to colleagues. You will also hear "all of the sudden" in casual American English, but "all of a sudden" is the safe choice in writing.
Example: "All of a sudden, the client changed their mind about the design."
Question 3
The correct answer is what it looks like.
Use "what... looks like" or "how... looks" to describe an appearance. In standard English, we don't say "how it looks like," which is an incorrect blend of the two valid phrases. "What it looks" is missing the required preposition "like."
Example: "Can you show me how the new dashboard looks?"
Question 4
Complete the HR manager's email by choosing the correct phrasing.
(HR email) Mei, could you jump on a quick call and explain the new vacation policy to me?
The correct answer is explain the new vacation policy to me.
The verb "explain" requires the preposition "to" before the person receiving the information; it cannot take a direct personal object like "me".
Example: "Please explain the updated timeline to the client."
Question 5
Choose the correct phrase to complete the meeting update.
(Meeting) During yesterday's sync, Ana ___ update the onboarding budget.
The correct answer is suggested that we.
The verb "suggest" cannot take a direct personal object (like "me" or "us") followed by an infinitive ("to update"). You suggest that someone does something, or you suggest an idea to someone. Verbs like "advise" and "ask" do take that pattern ("Ana advised us to update the budget"), which is why "suggested us to" sounds right to many learners. You can also say "Ana suggested updating the budget."
For example: "Tom suggested that I leave early."
Question 6
(Email to a client) Hi Ana, I'll take ownership of the Northwind renewal from now on, and I'll keep you in the loop as it moves forward.
"Take ownership of" is the fixed work collocation for accepting responsibility for a task. The verb is always "take", and the noun is "ownership", not "owner".
Example: "Raj will take ownership of the onboarding checklist."
(Email to a client) Hi Ana, I'll take ownership of the Northwind renewal from now on, and I'll keep you in the loop as it moves forward.
"Keep someone in the loop" means "keep them informed". The preposition is always "in": "on the loop" and "at the loop" are not used.
Example: "Please keep Mei in the loop on the budget changes."
Question 7
Help Raj choose the clearest phrasing for his IT request to the global support team.
(Ticket) I need to raise a ticket for the login error; could someone please take care of this before Friday?
(Ticket) I need to raise a ticket for the login error; could someone please take care of this before Friday?
"Raise a ticket" is the standard business English collocation for reporting an issue to IT. We do not "lift" or "draw" a ticket.
Example: "I'll raise a ticket with the help desk."
"Take care of this" is universally understood by global teams. While "do the needful" is standard, correct phrasing in Indian English, colleagues in other regions often find it confusing. "Make the needful" is grammatically incorrect everywhere.
Example: "Please take care of the server update."
Question 8
Choose the most concise, correct wording for this meeting update.
(Standup update) The audio cut out for a second. Could you repeat that for the team?
The correct answer is repeat that.
The verb "repeat" already means to say or do something again, so adding "again" creates an unnecessary redundancy.
Example: "Could you repeat the instructions for the Northwind project?"
Question 9
Select the clearest, most globally understood phrase to finish this email.
(Email to a client) Please review the Northwind contract and ___ by Friday.
The correct answer is reply to me.
"Return back" and "revert back" are redundancies because "return" and "revert" already mean to go back to a previous state.
Additionally, using "revert" to mean "reply" is standard in Indian English but may confuse colleagues in other global regions. "Reply" is universally clear.
For example: "Please reply by end of day."
Question 10
bring the meeting forward. "Prepone" is standard Indian English for moving an event earlier, but it is often misunderstood globally. "Bring the meeting forward" or "move the meeting earlier" are the clearest choices for international teams. Example: "Let's bring the meeting forward to 2 PM."
what it looks like. Use "what... looks like" or "how... looks". Blending them into "how it looks like" is incorrect, and "what it looks" is missing the required word "like". Example: "Can you show me how the new dashboard looks?"
on the same page. This is a fixed phrase that means having a shared understanding. Changing the preposition to "in" or "at" breaks the expression. Example: "Let's touch base to ensure we are on the same page."