British English · C1 · Unit 3
Reports and proposals
Reports and proposals
By the end you can
- Write a clear report with recommendations
- Defend a proposal against criticism
- Understand a long report
Words and phrases
| British English | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| the findings | the results of a study or an investigation | The findings suggest that costs are rising. |
| we recommend that | our advice is that | We recommend that the council invests in better training. |
| the rationale behind | the reasons for | Let me explain the rationale behind the budget. |
| in light of | because of (new information) | In light of the results, we've changed our plan. |
| with all due respect | a polite way to disagree strongly | With all due respect, those figures are out of date. |
| address concerns | deal with worries | I'd like to address concerns about staffing. |
| an executive summary | a short summary at the start of a report | Even if you read nothing else, read an executive summary. |
| a cost-benefit analysis | a comparison of costs and benefits | Has anyone done a cost-benefit analysis? |
| return on investment | the profit compared with the money spent | The return on investment should be clear within two years. |
| feasible | possible and practical | Is it financially feasible? |
| it stands to reason | it's logical | It stands to reason that prices will rise. |
| a contingency plan | a plan for when something goes wrong | We've built in a contingency plan. |
Then talk it through
Defending a budget proposal in front of doubtful managers. In the app you have this conversation out loud or typed, with the unit's goals to tick off and corrections at the end.