Going back to school isn’t the only way to hone your intelligence. Practice saying a new phrase every day to expand your vocabulary. Phrases like these will instantly make you sound smarter. Everyone will wonder about your secret strategy for becoming so articulate, they might even ask for some pointers.
1. “You’re being way too glib right now.”
Imagine someone apologizing for hurting your feelings. They go over the top by describing numerous ways they were wrong, but their tone is slightly sarcastic. They don’t actually mean what they’re saying. At that moment, they’re being glib to avoid a serious, deep conversation.
2. “Let’s look into alternative options as well.”
People admire leaders who effectively tackle challenges. Those leaders become even more wise when they create a backup option for solving a problem. You’ll become a smarter leader by asking for alternative ideas or options when strategizing something with a group.
3. “That was an unexpected non-sequitur.”
“Non-sequitur” is one of those words that sounds like it belongs in a fancy courtroom. In reality, you could find a reason to use it anywhere. It means a sudden change in conversation that usually doesn’t make much sense. If you use a fancy word like “non-sequitur,” the person may not know you think their comment was nonsensical before you shift the conversation again.
4. “You make an excellent point. However, I will say…”
This phrase works in arguments and pleasant conversations. First, it calms the other person by recognizing their perspective and validating it. Then, you get to add to or challenge their perspective. The other person will automatically be in a more positive frame of mind to hear whatever you have to say.
5. “Please, correct me if I’m wrong.”
Humility goes a long way with people. It shows that you’re emotionally connected with yourself and willing to admit when you’re wrong. They’ll respect your emotional intelligence if you follow an opinion with this phrase, but only if you don’t get upset if they actually prove you wrong.
6. “This problem is ubiquitous in our company.”
Ubiquitous is another fancy word that makes people feel like they’re in the presence of a genius. It’s a four-syllable way to say something is widespread. Use it in a positive or negative way to dazzle everyone with your expansive vocabulary.
7. “I appreciate where you’re coming from.”
Intelligent people know how to connect with others without making people feel dumb or belittled. Empathy is a great way to make people feel comfortable while using smart phrases. Vocalizing how you appreciate someone’s perspective even if you disagree with them shows how you value them as a person regardless of your differing opinions.
8.”Let’s circle back on that.”
People typically learn this phrase after working in a corporate environment for a while. It’s not necessarily fancy or hard to understand. However, people will think you’re smart because you sound like you have the business education or experience necessary to work in the same environment as CEOs.
9. “I’m not sure, but I can find out.”
This phrase is another way to demonstrate your humility. It also shows that you’re eager to learn. People will know you’re smart because you’re confident in your research abilities. They’ll also like you more because a willingness to learn creates self-growth opportunities that make life more fun together.
10. “I don’t have the bandwidth for that right now.”
Who hasn’t felt impressed by a technological word now and then? Bandwidth is the amount of frequencies in a signal. When you use it to describe yourself, it means you either do or don’t have the energy to do something. If you get really good at monitoring your mental and physical energy levels, people will look up to you as a leader who never has to deal with burnout.
11. “We have a bespoke solution to your problem.”
Calling something “bespoke” makes you sound as articulate as someone who uses fancy 19th-century language. It’s even fun to say if you love the clashing sounds of the word’s hard consonants. Use it to describe something custom-made and everyone will make a mental note to grab their dictionary later.
12. “Their cumulative response has been positive.”
You could say that a group’s long-term response was positive. It communicates that you’ve tracked a single metric over time. “Cumulative” does the same thing but with slightly elevated language. You’ll feel like a professor using it in an everyday conversation at work or in your personal life.
13. “Per my last email…”
Wield this phrase with caution, as many people read it in an irritated tone. It means that you’re reminding someone of something they forgot. It’s more refined than saying, “I already told you this.” It can also communicate your growing frustration less directly, minimizing the chance of an argument with a co-worker.
14. “You were so eloquent in that call.”
Eloquent is another way to say someone is well-spoken and communicates their thoughts effectively. It’s an excellent way to flatter someone and strengthen your relationship by complimenting their intelligence. Since the word doesn’t appear in everyday conversations, you’ll also appear intelligent just by using it.
15. “I’ve provided documentation to substantiate my idea.”
You might say you’re substantiating something when you’re proving it with facts. It’s a phrase used to support a statement or opinion with real-world evidence. You’ll sound scholarly and well-researched just by using a sentence like this in a conversation.
