* 5 Directing a Conversation (p.4 of 8)

5.14ï¿½ï¿½ When you want to repeat your point

Let me repeat myself.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Let me repeat what I have said.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <The Senator made a pause, looked at the audience, and said, ï¿½Let me repeat myself. We have to cut spending. We must. There is no other way.ï¿½>

Allow me to repeat myself.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Allow me to repeat myself. Since this theory is based on incorrect assumptions, its conclusions are incorrect.ï¿½>

To repeat,ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Youï¿½ve heard my arguments. To repeat, the best course of action for us now is to wait and see.ï¿½>

To reiterate,ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½To reiterate, I am in resolute opposition to your proposal since it is ill-considered and unwise.ï¿½>

As Iï¿½ve saidï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½As Iï¿½ve said, itï¿½s going to rain today. I donï¿½t think we can go hiking.ï¿½>

Like I saidï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Like I said, Iï¿½m not interested in your excuses. I need a resultï¿½.>

As I was saying,ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½As I was saying, our policies remain unchanged no matter whatï¿½.>

I donï¿½t want to sound like a broken record, butï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½I donï¿½t want to sound like a broken record, but our marketing methods arenï¿½t adequate anymore.ï¿½>

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5.15ï¿½ï¿½ When you want to provide additional explanation

Let me explain.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Paradoxically, the inflated dollar will be in high demand internationally. Let me explain.ï¿½>

Let me elaborate.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½This is the main idea of my proposal. Now, let me elaborate.ï¿½>

Let me give you some details.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <The Governor said at the briefing, ï¿½You already know about the accident. Let me give you some details.ï¿½>

Let me tell you a little more about it.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <First, the General made an announcement about yesterdayï¿½s military operation. Then, the public relations officer told the journalists, ï¿½Let me tell you a little more about it.ï¿½>

Let me clarify that.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½In certain cases, special rules apply. Let me clarify that.ï¿½>

Allow me to clarify.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½The situation is complicated. Allow me to clarify.ï¿½>

Let me rephrase that.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½No smoking is allowed on the ship. Let me rephrase that in case somebody doesnï¿½t understand. Any smoking is categorically prohibited everywhere on this ship.ï¿½>

Let me make myself clear.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Let me make myself clear. I donï¿½t want to harass you, but I need the job done.ï¿½>

Let me make myself perfectly clear.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Let me make myself perfectly clear. If you kids donï¿½t stop splashing water everywhere, I will not allow you to play in the swimming pool anymore today.ï¿½>

Letï¿½s talk about it.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Letï¿½s discuss the issue.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½There may be different methods to tackle this problem. But one of them is better than the others. Letï¿½s talk about it.ï¿½>

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5.16ï¿½ï¿½ When you rephrase your point

What I mean isï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½My brother and his wife are still married. What I mean is they are not divorced, but they live apart.ï¿½>

What Iï¿½m saying isï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½You couldnï¿½t do anything else in that situation. What Iï¿½m saying is you did well.ï¿½>

What Iï¿½m trying to say isï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Do you fully understand the potential consequences of your actions? Do you realize danger? What I am trying to say is you are crazy.ï¿½>

In other words,ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Are there adequate financial resources available for our project? In other words, do we have funds for this job?ï¿½>

To put it another way,ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½How are you going to support your extravagant lifestyle? To put it another way, do you have enough money?ï¿½>

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5.17ï¿½ï¿½ When you provide an example

For example,ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Several States have adopted this law, for example California and Arizona.ï¿½>

For instance,ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Various construction materials are used in this building. For instance, the walls are made of brick, and the columns are made of stone.ï¿½>

To give you an example,ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Form is very important in English poetry. To give you an example, letï¿½s look at the short poem Darkness by Lord Byron.ï¿½>

Let me give you an example.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½This rule applies only in certain cases. Let me give you an example.ï¿½>

Let me illustrate.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½The concept of beauty is artistically universal. Let me illustrate.ï¿½>

As a case in point,ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½As an example,...ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½I gave you the basics of the evolution theory. As a case in point, letï¿½s consider the origin of the bird.ï¿½>

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5.18ï¿½ï¿½ When you announce a conclusion

To conclude, we have achieved our objectives.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½To summarize the consideration...ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½To conclude, our negotiations were successful.ï¿½>

All in all, this was a useful discussion.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½When everything is summarized...ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½All in all, the meeting went quite well.ï¿½>

All things considered, this year was a success.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½When everything is taken into account...ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½All thing considered, this was a successful trip.ï¿½>

On balance, we made profit this year.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½After considering all things...ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½On balance, we spent our time well.ï¿½>

In any case, youï¿½ll get what you want.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½No matter what...ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½In any case, you are responsible for the consequences.ï¿½>

One way or the other, the project has been completed.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ (used with the other or another)ï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Regardless of the method...ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½One way or the other, we have made it home.ï¿½>

Either way, his innocence was proven.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Regardless of other circumstances...ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Either way, we won the case.ï¿½>

That brings us to the main point.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½The previous discussion allows us to make a conclusion.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½We discussed high manufacturing costs in the United States. That brings us to the main point. American economy is predominantly service type.ï¿½>

Which brings me to the main point.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½So, dear students, youï¿½re young adults starting your own life. Which brings me to the main point. Is your financial future secure?ï¿½>

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5.19ï¿½ï¿½ When you rephrase the speakerï¿½s point

What you mean isï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½For better health, youï¿½ve got to exercise daily.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½What you mean is medication alone wonï¿½t save my cardiovascular system.ï¿½>

What youï¿½re saying isï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½My brother has been drinking for years. Now he is a respected citizen.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½What you are saying is nobody is perfect.ï¿½>

If I understand you,ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½If I understand you, we donï¿½t really know what to do in this situation.ï¿½>

If I am hearing you correctly,ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½If Iï¿½m hearing you correctly, the accident was caused by a human error. Then, who is that person?ï¿½>

So, you think thatï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½So, you think that the Earth is round?ï¿½>

Strictly speaking,ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½This is the essence of the statement,...ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Strictly speaking, you are neglecting some secondary circumstances in order to make a general conclusion.ï¿½>

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