Common Scenarios for Professional, Social, and Casual Situations
Category #1: Professional Settings
When speaking to a new manager, a professional acquaintance, a client, or someone you just met at a conference, consider how well you truly know them.
If you don’t know them beyond conversations about work, your field, or your project, it’s best to use professional or formal language.
Here’s how you might do that.
Scenario #1: Perhaps you want to invite an acquaintance to join you for a seminar. You could say:
There’s an interesting seminar on the advantages of VR for work. I was wondering if you’d like to join me.
- “I was wondering if” is a phrase English speakers often use to make an indirect request or invitation. It is more polite than usual and, in this case, formally extends an invitation for an activity of interest.
Note: For a more direct/assertive invitation, you could use “Would you like to join me?”
Scenario #2: Imagine you want to invite your new client to talk about a project over a cup of coffee at a nearby cafe. In this instance, you could say:
Would you like to meet at The Marble Cafe next to the office and talk about the interior design options?
Scenario #3: Maybe you’d like to go over the details of an upcoming event with your coworker. If you haven’t worked with each other before and don’t know each other well, you could say:
I wou;d like to invite you to join Wednesday’s planning meeting to discuss possible last-minute changes to the project.
As you may have noticed, this invitation is quite formal. The language appropriately reflects the nature of the relationship and maintains professionalism. Unlike the first example, the goal in workplace communications is to be crystal clear.
Category #2: Social/Semi-Casual Settings
When you’ve just met a new neighbor, a parent at your child’s soccer practice, or a friend of a friend’s, you may feel unsure as to how informally to address them.
When in doubt, opt for neutral language.
Scenario #4: Imagine a new neighbor moved in and you’re throwing a BBQ party. After some conversation, you might say:
By the way, we’re having a BBQ on Sunday. We’d love it if you could join us.
- This invitation has two important phrases:
By the way and We’d love it if
English speakers use ‘by the way’ to extend last-minute invitations. Using this phrase makes an invitation a side note, or afterthought, which takes away the pressure to accept the invitation. Should your neighbor not feel comfortable yet or simply have other plans, he/she can decline without guilt.
Scenario #5: Perhaps you’ve met a friend’s friend at a party and discovered that you both enjoy playing tennis after work. If you want to play tennis with them, you could ask:
Do you want to play tennis together in the next week or so? I usually play after work.
- This invitation specifically uses the vague words ‘in the next week or so’ to relieve the pressure of needing to set a date and time in that moment. Also, since the invitation is extended to someone you’ve just met in a casual place, the language is neither too casual nor too formal.
Scenario #6: Maybe you see an old colleague who you haven’t spoken to in a few years. You remember they love reading and decide to invite them to your book club. You could say:
I’m part of a fantastic book club and we have a meeting coming up. I’d love to have you join us if you’re interested and available!
- Like the previous example, ‘if you’re interested and available’ is used to decrease or relieve any possible pressure to accept. Though you may know the colleague, you may not be sure whether they would truly be interested. So, creating a connection with their interests and extending a guilt-free invitation semi-formal invitation works best in this scenario.
Category #3: Casual Settings
Finally, when you’re inviting someone you know well, like a close friend, a close coworker, or a family member —or you’re inviting someone with whom you’ve had several friendly conversations —casual language is appropriate to use.
Note: Casual invitations are often direct and obvious. Rather than a suggestion, someone usually tells you to set aside time for the activity if you can.
Scenario #7: Maybe you and your best friend haven’t seen each other in a long time. To schedule a date with her, you might say:
Hey, I’m going to be in the area this Friday. Let’s grab lunch together.
Scenario #8: Imagine you and your work friend have had a long week. To blow off some steam together, you might say:
Are you doing anything after work today? Maybe we can do karaoke?
