WorkAdvanced
Asking a coworker to review your work in English (advanced)
Advanced English for asking a coworker to review your work. Key line: “Maya, could you give this a once-over when you get a minute?”
Full script
Lin
Maya, could you give this a once-over when you get a minute?
Them
Sure, do you want the quick version or the brutally honest one?
Lin
Quick first, please. My ego's still on its first coffee.
Them
Fair enough. The structure's solid, but this paragraph wanders a little.
Lin
Got it. Could you flag anything that sounds too wordy or vague?
Them
Yeah, especially this sentence—it buries the point like it's hiding treasure.
Lin
Ouch. Okay, I'll trim it down and stop smuggling extra adjectives.
Them
Sure, I'll go easy till your ego finishes its coffee, then I'll mark the rest.
Key phrases
The lines worth keeping. Read them once before you go out.
review
✓ give this a once-overfor a quick check
more natural than check
when you can
✓ when you get a minutewhen you have time
polite, not pushy
point out
✓ flag anythingmark problems
ask someone to note issues
shorten
✓ trim it downcut it down
Keep 'down': make shorter
Quick answers
review: what to say in English
Say “give this a once-over” — for a quick check. more natural than check.
when you can: what to say in English
Say “when you get a minute” — when you have time. polite, not pushy.
point out: what to say in English
Say “flag anything” — mark problems. ask someone to note issues.
shorten: what to say in English
Say “trim it down” — cut it down. Keep 'down': make shorter.