British English · C1 · Unit 19
Shades of meaning
Shades of meaning
By the end you can
- Choose the precise word for a subtle difference
- Soften and qualify what you say
- Understand what is implied but not said
Words and phrases
| British English | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| to some extent | partly | I agree to some extent. |
| it seems to me that | my impression is that | It seems to me that the problem is timing. |
| I'd be inclined to | I'd probably (a softer way to say what you'd do) | I'd be inclined to wait a week. |
| come across as | seem to people to be | The email might come across as rude. |
| not entirely | not completely | I'm not entirely sure that's what she meant. |
| somewhat | a bit (formal) | Her reply was somewhat cold. |
| imply | suggest without saying it directly | I didn't mean to imply that you were wrong. |
| infer | understand from what was said | What should I infer from that? |
| a subtle difference | a small but important difference | There's a subtle difference between 'firm' and 'stubborn'. |
| arguably | you could argue that | It's arguably her best book. |
| a loaded word | a word with a strong hidden meaning | 'Cheap' is a loaded word. |
| if anything | if there is any difference, it's this | If anything, it's made things worse. |
Then talk it through
Rewording a sensitive message together with a colleague. In the app you have this conversation out loud or typed, with the unit's goals to tick off and corrections at the end.