Learn English Phrasal Verbs:Office Talk
This set covers the small task verbs people use at a desk: reviewing a report, setting up a call, and looking into an error.
go over
review
Let’s go over the report one more time before submitting it.
Let’s review the report one more time before submitting it.
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work out
calculate
We need to work out how much this project will cost.
We need to calculate how much this project will cost.
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figure out
understand
Can you help me figure out how to use this software?
Can you help me understand how to use this software?
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set up
arrange
They will set up a meeting to discuss the proposal.
They will arrange a meeting to discuss the proposal.
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run through
check quickly
Let’s quickly run through the main points before the presentation.
Let’s quickly check the main points before the presentation.
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tie up
finalize
We need to tie up the last details of the contract by Friday.
We need to finalize the last details of the contract by Friday.
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fit in
make time for
I’ll try to fit in a quick call with you this afternoon.
I’ll try to make time for a quick call with you this afternoon.
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deal with
handle
The manager will deal with the customer complaints this afternoon.
The manager will handle the customer complaints this afternoon.
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see to
take care of
Could you see to the printer? It’s jammed again.
Could you take care of the printer? It’s jammed again.
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look into
investigate
The team is looking into the error on the invoice.
The team is investigating the error on the invoice.
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About this set
It is for everyday office English after the Work pack — less about hiring and layoffs, more about finishing the next item on a list.
Several verbs are close in meaning (deal with, see to, look into), so the examples show when each one fits.
Usage notes
- go over. Usually inseparable in this meaning: go over the report. It means review, not physically go across something.
- set up. Separable. Set up a meeting or set it up.
- look into. Inseparable. Look into the error means investigate it. Do not say look the error into.
- see to. British English for take care of a small task. See to the printer is more specific than deal with problems in general.
Common questions
What is the difference between go over and run through?
Go over is a careful review. Run through is a quick check — the main points before a presentation. If you have ten minutes, you run through. If you are checking every figure, you go over the report.
Are deal with and see to interchangeable?
Not always. Deal with often covers a problem or a person (complaints, a difficult client). See to is usually a concrete task: see to the printer, see to the booking.