In this blog I look at useful English expressions for working in an office, especially for anyone working in administration. These are all terms that could be used daily. Check them out and see how you can use them in your office.

 

Paperwork

This is a term meaning any admin work. It is really commonly used in English speaking offices and could be used by anyone working in any sector, not just in administration.

Example: I have to catch up on my paperwork as I was out of the office last week

Up to my eyeballs in paperwork

This is an expression often used with paperwork. Meaning you have a lot of admin work, probably too much and it is stressful. If you imagine having paperwork that was piling up on your desk you would be up to your eyeballs in it, so it is a very logical visual expression.

Example: Hey I can’t make lunch today as I am up to my eyeballs in paperwork

Schedule / arrange a meeting

Both are possible but 'schedule' is more common in the USA and 'arrange' in the UK. It means to ‘organise’.

Example: My boss has asked me to schedule a meeting with the management department next week.

Take the minutes of a meeting

Meeting minutes are the detailed notes that serve as an official written record of a meeting or conference. One person is normally responsible for writing down the minutes in important business meetings.

Example: Tom can you write up the minutes from today’s meeting and send them to everyone by email?

Keep a record

To save certain information so you can refer to it in the future.

Example: In our company we keep a record of all dates of meetings and who attends them.

Note / Jot down

You normally note down a small bit of information, like a phone number, an address or a time. Write on paper a small bit of important information on a piece of paper, so you don’t forget it.

Example: Wait a moment while I just note down the address of our London office.

24 / 7

Meaning all the time

Examples: we offer customer services 24 / 7. We work 24/7 to offer a first class service.