Three Common Doctor Phrases and Clearer Ways to Say Them
Three Common Doctor Phrases and Clearer Ways to Say Them
For Multilingual Doctors Speaking English Clearly with Patients
Clear communication is one of the most critical skills for healthcare professionals speaking English clearly in clinical settings. Your patients depend on you to explain complex medical information in a way that feels calm, understandable, and supportive.
But even when your English is strong, the phrases you learned from textbooks, exams, and training programs can sound overly formal or robotic in real patient conversations. This is especially true for multilingual doctors who learned English later in life. Your grammar is correct and your vocabulary is strong — but the phrasing can feel stiff, making your message harder for patients to process.
Small changes in wording make a significant difference. Here are three of the most common examples.
1. Replace Formal Academic Language with Patient-Centered Language
Common phrase multilingual doctors use: "This result indicates…"
While accurate, this phrasing sounds academic and distant — and can increase patient anxiety, especially when discussing test results.
Clearer, more natural option: "Here is what that means for you."
This keeps the focus on the patient and helps them understand how the information applies directly to their situation. It softens the tone without sacrificing accuracy, which is exactly what healthcare professionals speaking English clearly with patients need.
2. Shift from Announcement Language to Guiding Language
Common phrase multilingual doctors use: "I will now explain…"
This phrasing belongs in a lecture hall, not a clinical conversation. It creates distance between you and your patient.
Clearer, more natural option: "Let me walk you through what is going on."
This feels conversational and collaborative. It signals that you are guiding the patient step by step rather than presenting at them. Patients feel more comfortable and more engaged when clinical language feels like a conversation.
3. Replace Procedural Language with Supportive Framing
Common phrase multilingual doctors use: "We will proceed with the procedure."
Technically correct — but formal and potentially intimidating for an already anxious patient.
Clearer, more natural option: "Here is what is going to happen next."
This reduces tension, increases clarity, and helps patients feel prepared. It provides structure without the stiffness of formal medical language — a small but meaningful shift for doctors working on speaking English clearly under pressure.
Why These Changes Matter for Multilingual Healthcare Professionals
Professional communication is about more than accuracy. It is about connection.
For multilingual doctors speaking English clearly in clinical settings, natural phrasing helps you:
Build trust with patients quickly
Reduce confusion and anxiety
Support patients with low health literacy
Create smoother, more efficient conversations
Avoid misunderstandings that affect care
When your language feels warm and approachable, patients focus on what you are saying — not on trying to decode formal or unfamiliar phrasing.
Your English does not need to be perfect to be effective. It needs to sound clear, natural, and patient-centered.
Want personalized feedback on your specific communication patterns? Learn how accent and communication coaching helps multilingual doctors speak English clearly and confidently in clinical settings.
Doctors Accent & Communication Coaching → Accent Clarity for Doctors
Claire Costello, MS, CCC-SLP, is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with 35 years of clinical experience specializing in communication clarity coaching for healthcare and aviation professionals.
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