Why Business Vocabulary in Use Is a Must-Have for Business English Learners
Business Vocabulary in Use is one of the most popular and practical tools for anyone looking to improve their Business English skills—especially if you’re studying on your own. Whether you work in finance, marketing, HR, or customer service, this book series helps you speak and write more clearly and professionally.
Published by Cambridge University Press, it is part of the Cambridge Business English series and is widely used by learners around the world. From Vocabulary in Use Intermediate to Advanced levels, each edition focuses on real workplace situations like making presentations, negotiating, writing emails, and handling meetings.
What makes it even better? The practice sections! Each unit contains helpful business words practice exercises that guide you step-by-step. For example, one unit might focus on “Meetings” with phrases like:
• “Let’s move on to the next item.” • “Can we circle back to that later?” • “I’d like to hear your thoughts.”
These expressions are commonly used in the workplace, but many learners don’t get to practice them in context. That’s what this book does best.
Want to know how you could teach Business English too? Check out How to find business English teacher jobs worldwide for some global insights.
Table of Contents
Understanding the Structure of Business Vocabulary in Use Books
If you’re new to Business Vocabulary in Use, it helps to understand how each book is organized. Whether you’re using the Intermediate or Advanced edition, the layout is user-friendly and built for self study business English learners.
Each unit usually contains:
• A clear topic title (e.g., “Email etiquette,” “Branding,” or “Customer support”) • A left page with new vocabulary explained in context • A right page filled with practice exercises
What makes this series an excellent business language textbook is how it explains not just the vocabulary, but when and how to use it appropriately. So, you’re not just memorizing words—you’re learning how to sound natural in meetings, reports, and casual office chats.
Many of the units also offer pronunciation tips, collocations (words that often go together), and mini-dialogues. This makes it easier for non-native speakers to use the expressions confidently.
It’s no wonder this format has become a cornerstone of the Cambridge Business English approach.
Want more helpful book suggestions? Don’t miss Best business communication books to boost your career in 2025.
And if you’re ready to level up your speaking skills in real time, explore Corporate English Training in 2025 | Boost Workplace Communication.
7 Self-Study Strategies for Learning Business Vocabulary in Use
Studying Business Vocabulary in Use on your own? Great choice! Here are 7 effective strategies to make the most of it:
✨ 1. Start with the Table of Contents: Skim it to find topics that match your job or interests.
✍️ 2. Use a notebook or app: Write down new words in your own sentences. This boosts retention.
🎧 3. Record yourself: Reading aloud helps with fluency and pronunciation.
📊 4. Set a weekly goal: One or two units a week is manageable for most professionals.
✉️ 5. Practice with emails: Apply new phrases when writing business emails.
📕 6. Review regularly: Repetition is key. Revisit difficult units every few weeks.
🎓 7. Quiz yourself: Use flashcards or quiz apps to test your memory.
Whether you’re at the Vocabulary in Use Intermediate level or higher, these tips will keep you motivated.
If you’re searching for more great resources, check out 7 best books for learning English for all levels.
This method turns the book into more than just a reading activity—it becomes business words practice you can actually use at work.
Essential Business Phrases and How to Use Them in Real Work Situations
You can study all day, but if you don’t know how to apply your vocabulary, it’s hard to improve. That’s why Business Vocabulary in Use includes hundreds of practical phrases. Here are some examples that you can start using right away:
📅 For meetings:
“Let’s get started.”
“Could you clarify that point?”
📈 For presentations:
“Our focus today is on…”
“Let me walk you through the data.”
📧 For emails:
“As per our conversation…”
“Please find attached…”
These phrases are gold for anyone doing self study business English. They help you sound more confident and natural—especially in formal settings.
Many of these phrases are aligned with real workplace situations featured in Cambridge Business English exams. So you’re not only learning to speak well, you’re preparing for tests too.
Curious about how English is used in different countries? Here’s an interesting read: Do people speak English in Vietnam for business and daily life.
And to understand how Business English works in general, explore the Business English Wikipedia page.
How to Practice Business Vocabulary in Use with Listening and Speaking
Studying silently is fine, but if you want to become fluent, you need to say the words out loud and hear them in real use. Here’s how you can turn Business Vocabulary in Use into an active listening and speaking tool.
🎤 Record and repeat: Use your phone to record vocabulary and definitions. Then listen and repeat.
🙋 Use shadowing: Read and speak along with audio (many learners pair the book with business podcasts).
🔊 Listen to TED Talks or news reports on business topics and identify words from the book.
📖 Practice dialogues: Rewrite example sentences into short role-plays. Then perform them aloud.
This kind of practice turns business words practice into something memorable.
Combine your study with a business language textbook that offers audio or video material for even better results.
And here’s something fun: Top 20 business words that start with T and what they mean – try listening for those words in real conversations!
Don’t forget—spoken practice is where you grow real confidence.
Using Business Vocabulary in Use for Cambridge Business English Exams
If you’re preparing for a Cambridge Business English exam, such as BEC (Business English Certificate), then Business Vocabulary in Use is a perfect study partner. It aligns closely with the vocabulary and scenarios found in the exam.
Here’s how to make the most of it:
📈 Focus on exam-relevant units: Topics like finance, marketing, logistics, and HR are commonly tested.
💳 Master collocations: Words like “meet a deadline” or “launch a product” often appear in BEC tests.
🌐 Use mock questions: Create sample questions using vocabulary from the book.
🔍 Highlight synonyms: Learn alternative expressions to sound more natural and professional.
Many learners at the Vocabulary in Use Intermediate level find that this book helps them prepare not only for the test, but for real workplace communication.
Even outside of exams, the vocabulary is useful for client emails, meetings, and interviews.
How Phone-Based Lessons Reinforce Business Vocabulary in Use Effectively
So, you’ve studied the book. You know the phrases. But can you use them in a real conversation? That’s where phone-based English lessons make a difference.
At Business-English.info, we support CorporateEnglish.biz, where learners around the world call in to speak directly with native English teachers. This flexible approach helps you turn your self study business English into real communication.
Here’s how phone lessons strengthen what you learn in Business Vocabulary in Use:
📞 Spontaneous speech: You practice vocabulary naturally, without a script.
🤔 Real feedback: Teachers correct grammar, tone, and pronunciation on the spot.
📅 Flexible scheduling: You can study when it fits your workday.
💡 Custom focus: Lessons can match your industry—from banking to tech.
🌐 Global relevance: Our clients include professionals from Europe, Asia, and beyond.
This way, your business language textbook isn’t just on the shelf—it’s alive in conversation.
Ready to take your vocabulary from the page to the phone? Contact Us | Business-English.info and let’s build your fluency together.
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