Mastering the Art of Agreeing and Disagreeing: Essential Phrases for Effective Discussions

In business discussions, we often have to share opinions, agree with others, or politely disagree. The way you express agreement or disagreement can make a big difference — it shows your communication skills, your confidence, and your respect for others’ ideas.

Here are some useful phrases you can use to sound natural and professional in meetings, brainstorming sessions, or everyday work discussions.

1. Phrases for Agreeing

When you agree with someone, it’s good to show enthusiasm and support. Here are some ways to do it:

• I totally agree with you.→ “I totally agree with you, this strategy will definitely help us reach more clients.”

• That’s a good point.→ “That’s a good point. We should consider customer feedback more seriously.”

• I couldn’t agree more.→ A strong way to show full agreement.

• Exactly! / Absolutely! / Definitely!→ Short, natural words to show quick agreement in conversation.

• You’re right about that.→ “You’re right about that, we need to adjust our timeline.”

• I see what you mean.→ A polite way to show you understand and agree with someone’s perspective.

  
  

2. Phrases for Partial Agreement

Sometimes you agree only partly — maybe you like the idea, but you also see some problems. Here’s how to express that politely:

• I agree to some extent, but…→ “I agree to some extent, but we also need to think about the budget.”

• That’s true, but…→ “That’s true, but I’m not sure if it will work in all markets.”

• I see your point, however…→ A polite way to introduce a different perspective.

• You’re right in a way, though…→ “You’re right in a way, though we should double-check the data first.”

  
  

3. Phrases for Disagreeing Politely

Disagreeing doesn’t mean being rude. In business English, we soften disagreement with polite expressions.

• I’m not so sure about that.→ “I’m not so sure about that. The numbers tell a different story.”

• I see your point, but I think…→ “I see your point, but I think we should explore other options.”

• I’m afraid I don’t agree.→ Polite, professional, and clear.

• That’s not how I see it.→ A respectful way to express a different opinion.

• I understand your concern, however…→ “I understand your concern, however, we may not have enough time for that approach.”

💡 4. Quick Tips for Discussions

• Stay polite. Avoid saying “You’re wrong.” Instead, focus on your perspective.

• Use a soft tone. Phrases like “I think,” “In my opinion,” or “It seems to me” make your speech sound respectful.

• Acknowledge others. Start with “I see what you mean” before giving your view.

Practice Example

Imagine you’re in a team meeting:

Colleague: “I think we should cut down the budget for advertising.”You:

• Agree: “That’s a good point. We can save money by focusing on social media instead.”

• Partially agree: “I agree to some extent, but reducing the budget too much might affect our reach.”

• Disagree: “I see your point, but I think we should increase our budget if we want faster results.”

In short:

• Agreeing shows teamwork.

• Disagreeing politely shows confidence and respect.

• Using the right phrases helps you sound more professional and build better relationships at work.