Step-3
Use of Appropriate Language

In this step, you will learn the appropriate language for use on social media.

Why is using appropriate language important?
What are some examples of appropriate language that can be replaced by abusive language?
Why is using appropriate language on social media important for your career?

Using Appropriate language at the Workplace

The single most important thing that you can do as a working professional is to use appropriate language, whether in formal or informal communication with colleagues and friends. In a professional setting, it is crucial to always be putting your best self forward. This means taking care to make a great impression and portraying yourself as someone who is mature, competent, professional, and driven to success.

The use of inappropriate language, whether that be in written or in oral form, will only project a negative image and can do a great deal to damage your credibility. It might even offend or insult the people around you.

Abusive language on social media can affect your career.

Social media posts and profiles have become a key part of hiring and firing processes, producing a “hidden curriculum of surveillance.” When hiring, employers routinely engage in “cyber vetting” job candidates, making judgments based on their social media presence (or absence), and so too can social media disclosures impact (positively and negatively) employment progression and even result in termination. Having a social media presence is non-negotiable in today’s job market. Your presence on the social media should be mature, professional and appreciative rather than being red flagged.

The potential reasons for employers to fire you could be any of the reasons as below on your social media account. So, keep a check on what you post:

Postings of provocative or inappropriate photographs or videos
racist rants
Information about drinking and/or drug use
complaints about previous employers
posts exhibiting poor communication skills

Check the full report

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

If you’re facing or witnessing online abuse and need help, check out our resources. And if online abuse has made you hesitate to use your voice or driven you off a platform—and you feel empowered to share your story with us.

Talk to please who can help you and build a community around you for support.

We won’t publish anything without your consent, nor will we share any of your information or anything that could help identify you.

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Tips for using Appropriate Language

Expand your vocabulary

Be Mindful

Use Positive Language

Be Polite

To seem professional, you must also sound intelligent. To communicate professionally, always utilize proper grammar and concentrate on expanding your vocabulary. Make an effort to learn new terms and practice using them to have a deeper comprehension of their meaning. Learn and comprehend industrial jargon. When appropriate, use these terms in talks with coworkers, supervisors, and customers. Towards the end of this page we have provided with an infographic with some expressions you can use for agreeing and disagreeing about opinions in a conversation.

By communicating mindfully, you increase understanding between both parties. In the absence of mindfulness, this transaction becomes two people yakking at each other but not genuinely understanding each other. a mindful conversation has a speaker who consciously considers what to say and how the words might impact the listener. The listener then gives thought to the words from the speaker and attempts to understand them without prejudging the speaker or being distracted by other personal thoughts.

Debates is one of the most used form of communication to express your feeling and ideas. Disagreements and conflict of opinions can lead to aggressive and flamed conversations. Try to avoid any debate that you feel might escalate to being abusive and aggressive. Since you can’t actually see the other person’s emotions, it is not always easy to have a positive debate. In case you feel your presence is required to monitor the situation instead of being a bystander, use positive and courteous language to lay down your opinion.

We have already learnt the 3 magical words that can get you around the world, get any of your work done and get anything you want. Humility and politeness along with the magic words of Please, thank you and sorry are words that you can replace with when you want to convey any message.

Use phrases and expressions that are polite and non aggressive:

1. "Could you…?"

2. "I was wondering if…"

3. "By any chance…"

4. "Do you mind if…?"

5. "Pardon me?"

Resources to Learn Appropriate Language

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You don’t have to follow each and every step listed above, let alone in order.
In fact, you may end up doing a bunch of these things at the same time, or skipping some and coming back to others when they are most helpful.

After learning these tips,
please join our FORUM and share your opinions.