Three Common Doctor Phrases and Clearer Ways to Say Them
Clear communication is one of the most important skills in healthcare. Your patients depend on you to explain information in a way that feels calm, understandable, and supportive. But even when your English is strong, the phrases you learned from textbooks, exams, or training programs can sound overly formal or robotic in real conversations.
This is especially true for medical professionals who learned English later in life. Your grammar is correct, your vocabulary is strong, yet sometimes the phrasing can feel stiff — which can make your message harder for patients to process.
Small changes in wording can create a more natural, patient-centered experience. Here are three examples.
1. Replace highly formal explanations with patient-centered language
Common phrase:
“This result indicates…”
While accurate, this sounds academic and distant.
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 to their situation. It also softens the tone, which can help reduce anxiety, especially when discussing test results.
2. Shift from announcement-style language to guiding language
Common phrase:
“I will now explain…”
This phrasing sounds like it belongs in a lecture or presentation.
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 speaking at them. Patients often feel more comfortable and more engaged when the language feels like a conversation.
3. Replace rigid procedural language with supportive framing
Common phrase:
“We will proceed with the procedure.”
While correct, this is formal and can even sound intimidating.
Clearer, more natural option:
“Here is what is going to happen next.”
This option reduces tension, increases clarity, and helps patients feel prepared. It provides a sense of structure without the stiffness of medical language.
Why these changes matter
Professional communication is about more than accuracy. It is about connection.
Using clearer, more natural phrasing helps you:
build trust
reduce confusion
calm anxious patients
create smoother conversations
avoid misunderstandings
support patients who may have low health literacy
When your language feels warm and approachable, patients focus more on what you are saying and less on trying to decode the phrasing.
Your English does not need to be perfect to be effective.
It simply needs to sound clear, natural, and patient centered.