Useful Phrases for Discussions that Work

1. Stating an argument
a. In my opinion…
b. Personally, I think…
c. The point is…
d. If you ask me…
e. I believe that…
f. I’d like to say this…
g. I’d like to point out that…
h. In my experience,…

2. Challenging an argument
a. That can’t be true.
b. But what about… “What’s your answer to that?
c. Do you mean to tell me that…
d. Are you seriously suggesting that…?
e. If you don’t mean…, then you should say what you mean.

3. To clarify what is being said
a. What I said was… (What I meant to say was…)
b. I did not say… What I did say was…
c. I think you misunderstood what I said
d. Let me repeat (rephrase) what I said.
e. I’m not saying that. What I am saying is…
f. Yes, but I don’t forget, I was only referring to…

4. Agreeing with an argument
a. Of course
b. Right.
c. Exactly.
d. That’s true.
e. So do I. (Neither do I.)
f. I agree completely.
g. You’re absolutely right.
h. That’s a good point.
i. That’s just what I think.
j. I feel the same way.

5. Disagreeing with an argument
a. However…
b. I’m afraid I disagree…
c. On the other hand…
d. On the contrary…
e. That’s not (entirely) true
f. I hate to disagree with you, but…
g. All right, but don’t you think…
h. But that’s different
i. That’s not the same thing at all…

6. Interrupting an argument
a. Excuse me, did you say that…?
Excuse me, did you mean that…?
b. Before you make your next point…
c. So what you are saying is that…
d. Get to the point! What you really think is that…

7. Asking for an opinion
a. Well? What do you think?
b. Do you agree? (Don’t you agree?)
c. What’s your view in the matter?
d. How do you see it?
e. Let’s have your opinion.