Introductions

Introductions are usually made by your boss or the boss’ assistant or secretary in the formal business patterns.

When introducing people to each other, don’t worry about the technicalities of introductions, just remember that:

- a man is always presented to a woman, not a woman to a man;

- the honored one’s name is said first, the name of the person being presented follows;

- “May I present?” or “May I introduce?” or “I have the honor to present”. They are all correct, but there’re a bit stiff for modern usage. A plain and simple, “Mrs. Hamment, this is Mr. Crown”. and you needn’t go on to give each a biography;

- present the young to the old, the lesser to the greater.

When you are introduced you stand, whether being introduced to a man or to a woman.

Please note: it is never correct to call anyone in business like “baby”, “honey” or “darling”. Don’t say “How are you?”, do say “How do you do?” (formal), “Hello!”(informal).

Only after this routine you can say “Pleased to meet you”, “Nice to meet you”.

Exercise 4. Fill in the blanks with the necessary words: