BE 500: Think or Thinking? Which to Use in Business Communication

In this 500th episode of the Business English podcast, Aubrey and Lindsay discuss the subtle differences between using "think" versus "thinking" and "wonder" versus "wondering" in professional communication, prompted by a listener's question about ChatGPT's suggestions to soften language by changing present continuous to past tense. They explore how these choices impact directness and politeness in requests and statements, emphasizing the importance of context, company culture, and personal relationships in choosing the appropriate phrasing. The hosts use examples and a role play to illustrate when and why one might opt for more indirect language to show respect or soften potential criticism, while also cautioning against unnecessary indirectness when clarity and directness are needed.