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Vocabulary: appointments: how to make, postpone, cancel them
Making an appointment, organising it, isn't an easy task. Yet, what is much worse is cancelling it or trying to postpone it. It is always quite a difficult issue. First, because doing so implies you have to disturb someone and their schedules, showing that you might not have been careful enough when you made the appointment. Then, most of the time, this request is made on the phone, and speaking on the phone is very tricky, often difficult, even when you do so in your mother tongue. (This fact is so true that 17% of all missed appointments were so because of unresolved communication issues... ). Here is the "survival" vocabulary which should enable you not to be in these 17%!
PRELIMINARY VOCABULARY:
| - a meeting= (at work) | - an appointment= (dentist/ doctor) | - a date/ a "rendez-vous" ! (with a boyfriend/ girlfriend) |
| - to make an appointment | - to postpone/ push back/ an appointment | - to cancel an appointment |
I) MAKING AN APPOINTMENT:
* Requesting an appointment...)
- If possible, I'd like to arrange a meeting with Mr Pierce, please.
- Can you give me an appointment for next Thursday at 11, please?
- I'd like to make an appointment with Mr Roberts in about a week, please.
* Suggestions to help through the process...
- Is next Monday convenient for you?
- How about Tuesday? Could you be free?
- Are you free/ available in an hour?
II) What to ask to make an appointment=> to reschedule an appointment/ to cancel an appointment.
- Jane Doe speaking. I'm calling about an appointment with Dr House on next Tuesday at 10.
- Good morning. Is it possible to cancel (or postpone/ push back) my appointment?
- I'm afraid I must postpone/ cancel my appointment/ I'm afraid I have another meeting.
- Sorry, could I reschedule my appointment?
III) CANCELLING an appointment: Explaining your motives briefly:
- I'm sorry, I have an emergency...
- Well, I'm sorry I can't make it to the appointment I have.
- I can't attend/ I can't come/ I can't be on time/ I can't make it.
- I hope it doesn't inconvenience you too much...
- Something came up. Could you please reschedule my appointment?
- (informal) Something has just cropped up. I'm awfully sorry...
- Pat Pierce speaking! I'm calling to cancel my 5 o'clock appointment with Mr Deen tomorrow, please.
- Sorry, I can't go out with you tomorrow, Jane...
- I'd prefer to meet on Friday if that is possible...
- "How about Friday at 11? Is it convenient for you/ Would that suit you?" "That sounds great/ good/ That would be perfect!"
Everyone of us may have to cancel an appointment... Thus, all of us must be prepared to do so. Yet, we have to show flexibility when rescheduling, and extreme politeness towards the person you're disturbing. Here's your training...
Good luck for the test, which, I'm sure, will be brilliant... and thanks for working with us...
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