Indirect refusal & hedging

Article excerpt · target grammar marked

Phrases such as that falls outside our current scope, we would be happy to explore that in a follow-on phase, or I want to make sure we protect the quality of what we have already agreed reframe the refusal as client-focused, not self-protective.

Grammar Reference · Indirect refusal & hedging

Indirect refusal

Use would find it difficult to or may not be feasible to decline professionally. Avoids blunt rejection and keeps the relationship intact.

Conditional offer

Link a 'yes' to a condition: If you were to approve additional budget, we could include the new section.

Reframing for the

Phrases like I want to make sure we protect the quality of what we have agreed make the refusal sound client-focused, not defensive.

Common error

We cannot do that. ✗ — too blunt. Use We would find it difficult to accommodate that within the current scope. ✓

01Exercise 1 — Form · Write the Correct Form

Indirect refusal & hedging

1.Adding a new section to the website our current scope, so we would need to discuss a revised fee.

2.We it difficult to meet a revised deadline without adjusting the project budget accordingly.

3.That request feasible within the timeline we both signed off on last month.

4.If you to approve additional revision rounds, we could deliver the extended package by the end of the quarter.

5.We happy to explore the animation work in a follow-on phase once the core site is approved.

6.I want to make sure we the quality of what we have already agreed before introducing new requirements.

02Exercise 2 — Transform

rewrite with the new structure

1.We can't do that.

2.That's not what we agreed.

3.We won't add the blog for free.

4.You keep changing the brief.

03Exercise 3 — About You

in your notebook

Personalise: complete five sentences about yourself using the target grammar.

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