How to Correct a Colleague Politely (Without Sounding Rude or Unconfident)

If you’ve ever needed to correct a colleague’s information or clarify something in a meeting, you’ve probably worried about sounding:

• too direct

• too careful

• too unsure of yourself

Many advanced English speakers end up over-explaining, apologizing too much, or using overly formal English. The message becomes unclear and confidence gets lost.

As an English clarity coach who helps multilingual professionals communicate clearly and confidently at work, I see this situation every week. It is a common struggle my clients bring to coaching, and it’s also one of the easiest to fix when you know what to say.

Why your current approach doesn’t work:

Phrases like “Sorry, but…” or “Actually, that’s wrong…” sound either uncertain or confrontational. They can create tension, even when your intention is positive.

What to do instead:

Use collaborative, professional openers that protect the relationship and deliver the message clearly.

Try using:

✔️ “Just to clarify, the correct number is…”

✔️ “Let me add one detail that might help…”

✔️ “From what I understand, it works this way…”

✔️ “One thing we should double-check is…”

These phrases soften the correction while keeping your communication confident and clear.

When you switch to these phrases, you sound professional, respectful, and self-assured. People understand you the first time — and trust you more.