English for Presentations: Key Phrases and Structure Guide

Q: How do I refer to graphs and charts in English?

Use specific referencing phrases such as 'As you can see from this graph,' 'I'd like to draw your attention to the red bar,' or 'The most significant figure here is…' Always tell the audience what to look at, what it shows, and what conclusion to draw from it.

Q: What should I do if I don't know the answer to a question?

Say so clearly: 'That's a great question. I'm not 100% sure — I'll confirm it and include it in my follow-up email.' You can also defer: 'That falls slightly outside today's scope, but I'd be happy to discuss it afterwards.' Audiences respect honesty.

Q: How do I deal with nerves when presenting in English?

Preparation is the most effective antidote. Know your material thoroughly, memorise your opening and closing, and practise out loud at least three times. On the day, breathe slowly, make eye contact with friendly faces, and speak slightly more slowly than feels natural.

Q: Should I read from my slides during a presentation?

Avoid reading slides word for word. Your slides should contain key words and visuals, not full sentences. Use them as prompts, but speak naturally and maintain eye contact. Aim for a maximum of five bullet points per slide.

Q: How do I invite audience participation during my presentation?

Use rhetorical questions or direct questions to involve the audience. State clearly at the start whether you want questions during or after the talk. Polls, a show of hands, or brief pair discussions can also engage the audience if the format allows.

Q: What is the best way to conclude a presentation in English?

Signal the end clearly, summarise your two or three main points, state your recommendation if applicable, and close with a formal thank-you. A clear, confident closing reinforces your key message and leaves a strong final impression.

Q: Can I use informal language in a business presentation?

Yes — a conversational tone is more engaging than a stiffly formal one. Use contractions, speak directly to the audience, and use vivid examples. Match the register of your audience and context, and always prioritise clarity over complexity.

Business English Phrases LexFizz Team 12 min read 13 June 2026

Part of the Business English Series

Pair this guide with Business English Phrases and English for Business Meetings. Practise vocabulary with Business Vocabulary exercises.

Key Takeaways

A strong opening grabs attention in the first 30 seconds — use a question, statistic, or brief story.
Signposting phrases guide your audience through the structure so they never lose track of where you are.
Referring to visuals with clear, specific language keeps the audience focused on the right information.
Handling questions gracefully — including ones you cannot answer — is a key mark of professional competence.
A powerful closing is as important as the opening: summarise, thank the audience, and invite questions clearly.

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Giving a presentation in English is a high-stakes communication task. Even experienced speakers feel anxious when presenting in a second language because every pause or hesitation is visible. The good news is that presentations follow a predictable structure, and each stage has a core set of phrases that signal what you are doing. Master these phrases and your delivery will sound polished, professional, and organised — even when you are speaking under pressure.

Opening Phrases

The first 30 seconds of any presentation are the most important. Your opening must do three things: introduce yourself, establish rapport, and grab the audience’s attention. A flat opening like “Hello, my name is X and today I will talk about Y” does none of these effectively.

Greeting and Introducing Yourself

Good morning / afternoon / evening, everyone.
Thank you for coming today — I appreciate your time.
My name is [name] and I work in [department / role].
I’m delighted to be here today to talk about…

Attention-Grabbing Openers

Let me start with a question: [rhetorical question relevant to your topic]
Did you know that [surprising statistic]?
I’d like to begin with a brief story.
Imagine a world where…
By the end of this presentation, you will know…

“Good morning, everyone. Thank you for being here. Let me start with a question: how many of you have sat through a presentation and thought ‘I could have read this in an email’? Today, I want to show you how to make sure that never happens with your own presentations.”

Pro tip: Write your opening word for word and memorise it. The first 60 seconds are when your nerves are highest — having your opening completely prepared eliminates the biggest source of anxiety.

Introducing the Structure

After your opener, give your audience a roadmap. This “overview” sentence reduces cognitive load because listeners know what to expect. It also makes it easier for them to take notes and follow your logic.

Outlining Your Talk

I’ve divided my presentation into three main parts.
My talk is structured as follows: first…, then…, and finally…
I’ll be covering three key areas today.
The presentation will take approximately [time].
I’d be happy to take questions at the end.
Feel free to ask questions as we go along.

Signposting & Transitions

Signposting is the art of telling your audience where you are in the presentation and where you are going next. Without signposts, even a well-structured talk feels disorganised. With them, your audience always knows exactly where they are.

Moving to the Next Point

Right, let’s move on to…
Now I’d like to turn to…
This brings me to my next point, which is…
Having covered [topic], let’s now look at…
I’d like to shift our focus now to…

Referring Back

As I mentioned earlier…
Going back to what I said about…
This links back to the point I made at the beginning…

Summarising a Section

So, to summarise this section…
The key takeaway here is…
Let me recap the main points so far…

“Right, so to summarise this section: we have seen that customer satisfaction dropped by 12% in Q3. This brings me to my next point, which is what we are doing to address it.”

Referring to Visuals

Charts, graphs, and diagrams are powerful, but only if you guide your audience through them. Many presenters simply display a visual and say nothing, leaving the audience to interpret it alone. Use specific referencing language to direct attention and highlight the key information.

Introducing a Visual

If you look at this slide / chart / graph…
This diagram shows / illustrates…
As you can see from this table…
I’d like to draw your attention to…

Highlighting Data

The most significant figure here is…
What is particularly interesting is…
Notice that [figure / trend] on the right.
This bar / line represents…
The key point to take from this is…

Emphasising Key Points

Not everything in a presentation is equally important. Use emphasis language to signal to your audience which information they absolutely must remember. This also helps when you return to the key point in your conclusion.

Emphasis Phrases

The critical point here is…
I really want to stress that…
This is perhaps the most important thing I will say today…
It’s essential to understand that…
Bear in mind that…
Above all, remember that…

Handling Questions

How you handle audience questions says as much about your competence as the presentation itself. Having a toolkit of phrases for different question types prevents you from being caught off-guard and ensures you respond professionally even to difficult or unexpected questions.

Inviting Questions

Does anyone have any questions?
I’m happy to take any questions you may have.
Please feel free to ask if anything is unclear.

Clarifying a Question

Could you clarify what you mean by…?
If I understand correctly, you are asking about…
That’s an interesting question. Do you mean…?

Deferring or Admitting Uncertainty

That’s a great question. I’ll need to check on that and get back to you.
I’m not 100% sure about that figure — I’ll confirm it in my follow-up email.
That falls slightly outside the scope of today’s presentation, but I’d be happy to discuss it afterwards.

Pro tip: “I don’t know, but I’ll find out” is a perfectly professional answer. Guessing under pressure and being wrong is far more damaging to your credibility than admitting uncertainty.

Concluding Your Presentation

Your conclusion is your last chance to make an impression. It should briefly recap your main points, state your recommendation or call to action if relevant, and formally close with a thank-you.

Signalling the End

Right, that brings me to the end of my presentation.
To conclude, I’d like to…
Before I finish, let me briefly summarise the main points.

Summarising

In summary, we have seen that…
The key points I’d like you to take away are…
To recap: first…, second…, and finally…

Closing and Thanking

Thank you very much for your attention.
I appreciate you taking the time to listen.
I welcome any questions or comments.
My contact details are on the last slide if you’d like to follow up.

“Right, that brings me to the end of my presentation. To recap: we have identified the problem, proposed three solutions, and recommended Option B as the most cost-effective path forward. Thank you very much for your attention — I’m happy to take any questions.”

Full Phrase Reference Table

Stage	Example Phrase
Opening	Good morning, everyone. Thank you for coming.
Opening	Let me start with a question: …
Structure	I’ve divided my presentation into three main parts.
Signpost	Now I’d like to turn to…
Signpost	As I mentioned earlier…
Signpost	So, to summarise this section…
Visuals	If you look at this chart…
Visuals	I’d like to draw your attention to…
Emphasis	I really want to stress that…
Emphasis	Above all, remember that…
Questions	That’s a great question. I’ll need to check on that.
Questions	If I understand correctly, you are asking about…
Conclusion	That brings me to the end of my presentation.
Conclusion	Thank you very much for your attention.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I open a presentation confidently in English?

Prepare and memorise your opening completely. Start with a greeting, introduce yourself briefly, then use an attention grabber: a rhetorical question, a surprising statistic, or a short story. Avoid opening with “Um, so, today I’m going to talk about…” — this signals nerves. A prepared, energetic opening in the first 30 seconds immediately builds audience confidence in you.

What is signposting in a presentation?

Signposting means telling the audience where you are in the presentation and where you are going next. Phrases like “Now I’d like to turn to…” or “This brings me to my next point” act as verbal signposts. They reduce cognitive load, help the audience take notes, and make your talk feel structured and professional rather than rambling.

How do I refer to graphs and charts in English?

Use specific referencing phrases such as “As you can see from this graph,” “I’d like to draw your attention to the red bar,” or “The most significant figure here is…” Always tell the audience what to look at, what it shows, and what conclusion to draw from it. Never simply display a visual and say nothing — your job is to interpret the data for your audience, not just show it.

What should I do if I don’t know the answer to a question?

Say so clearly and professionally: “That’s a great question. I’m not 100% sure of that figure — I’ll confirm it and include it in my follow-up email.” This is far better than guessing and being wrong. You can also defer complex questions: “That falls slightly outside today’s scope, but I’d be happy to discuss it with you afterwards.” Audiences respect honesty and hate being misled.

How long should a business presentation in English be?

The ideal length depends on context, but research consistently shows that audience attention drops sharply after 20 minutes. For most professional contexts, 15–20 minutes of content followed by a Q&A is optimal. If you must present for longer, build in natural breaks, recaps, and audience interaction moments every 10–15 minutes to reset attention. Always state the expected duration at the start so the audience can pace themselves.

How do I deal with nerves when presenting in English?

Preparation is the single most effective antidote to nerves. Know your material thoroughly, memorise your opening and closing, and practise out loud at least three times. On the day, breathe slowly before you start, make eye contact with friendly faces in the audience, and speak slightly more slowly than feels natural. Remember: the audience wants you to succeed and is rooting for you, not looking for mistakes.

Should I read from my slides during a presentation?

Avoid reading slides word for word — it signals lack of preparation and disconnects you from the audience. Your slides should contain key words and visuals, not full sentences. Use the slides as prompts, but speak naturally and maintain eye contact. A useful rule: if you can read everything you need from the slide, your slides have too much text. Aim for a maximum of five bullet points per slide.

How do I invite audience participation during my presentation?

Use rhetorical questions (“How many of you have experienced this?”) or direct questions (“What do you think is causing this trend?”) to involve the audience. You can also use polls, a show of hands, or brief pair discussions if the format allows. State clearly at the start whether you want questions during or after the talk, so the audience knows when to contribute.

What is the best way to conclude a presentation in English?

Signal the end clearly (“That brings me to the end of my presentation”), summarise your two or three main points, state your recommendation or call to action if applicable, and close with a formal thank-you. Avoid ending abruptly or trailing off. A clear, confident closing reinforces your key message and leaves a strong final impression. If you have a slide with your contact details, direct the audience to it.

Can I use informal language in a business presentation?

Yes — a conversational tone is actually more engaging than a stiffly formal one. Use contractions (“we’ve”, “you’ll”), speak directly to the audience (“you”, “we”), and use vivid examples and analogies. The key is to match the register of your audience and context: a board presentation requires more formality than a team update. In either case, avoid jargon your audience may not know, and always prioritise clarity over complexity.