What is business English?

Business English is a specific subset of English language usage that concerns itself with business contexts. Various sectors of business, including finance, law, insurance, and banking rely on business English. Business English uses specific grammatical structures, vocabulary, and an expectation of clarity. Simple grammar and vocabulary define business English, and clichés and slang don't belong in business communication. Business English requires you to write in a way that's direct and to the point.

Why learn business English?

It's important to learn business English because it's the way that your colleagues and supervisors will expect you to communicate in a business environment. Having a thorough knowledge of business English allows you to communicate clearly and concisely. Understanding business English allows you to effectively compose emails, presentations, and speeches and helps you speak properly in any business context.

What are typical careers that rely on business English?

If you're looking at a career in law, finance, politics, or commerce, you'll want to gain a grasp of the concepts and rules of business English. You can call on your knowledge of business English in diplomacy, business administration, and public relations as well. Because English has become a universal language of business, you'll need to know business English to communicate with many international corporations as well.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn business English?

When you take online courses on Coursera, you can start with a basic survey course in business English and then move on to more specific topics, such as how to communicate with non-native English speakers in business, how to compose an effective email, and how to apply communication skills to negotiation. You can learn about business writing, how to use proper tone and directness in emails, and how to use business English in planning and negotiating.

What are the benefits of taking an online Business English course?

Online Business English courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your existing knowledge or learn new Business English skills. With a wide range of Business English classes, you can conveniently learn at your own pace to advance your Business English career skills.

What Business English courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Business English, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Business English Courses - Learn Business English Online

Explore the Business English Course Catalog

Intuit
Financial Statement Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Reconciliation, Financial Statements, Financial Statement Analysis, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Financial Reporting, Financial Analysis, Bookkeeping, Accounting, Analysis, Business Metrics, General Accounting, Cash Flows, Sales Tax, Payroll
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
618 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Introduction to Forensic Science
Skills you'll gain: Criminal Investigation and Forensics, Scientific Methods, Investigation, General Science and Research, Science and Research, Physical Science, Deductive Reasoning, Image Analysis, Estimation
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
2.6K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Macquarie University
Excel Power Tools for Data Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Power BI, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Visualization Software, Data Modeling, Microsoft Excel, Interactive Data Visualization, Pivot Tables And Charts, Data Transformation, Data Manipulation, Data Warehousing, Business Intelligence, Data Analysis, Data Import/Export, Data Integration, Data Cleansing
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
1.2K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Indian School of Business
Trading Algorithms
Skills you'll gain: Financial Trading, Financial Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Market, Market Trend, Market Dynamics, Analysis, Research Reports, Decision Making
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
1.1K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of California, Davis
Spanish Vocabulary: Meeting People
Skills you'll gain: Grammar, Language Learning, Vocabulary, Writing, Literacy
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
3.3K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Pennsylvania
Introduction to Programming with Python and Java
Skills you'll gain: Matplotlib, Object Oriented Design, Java, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Data Analysis, Unit Testing, Pandas (Python Package), Java Programming, Eclipse (Software), Data Structures, Data Science, Data Cleansing, Debugging, Pivot Tables And Charts, Data Visualization Software, Integrated Development Environments, Programming Principles, Python Programming, Computer Programming, Computational Thinking
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
1.8K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Digital Media and Marketing Principles
Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing, Marketing Communications, Marketing Strategies, Marketing, Digital Communications, Integrated Marketing Communications, Marketing Channel, Promotional Strategies, Search Engine Marketing, Advertising, Social Media Marketing, Media Planning, MarTech, Mobile Banking, Communication, Emerging Technologies, Branding, Consumer Behaviour
Build toward a degree
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
2.9K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Coursera Project Network
Spreadsheets for Beginners using Google Sheets
Skills you'll gain: Spreadsheet Software, Data Entry
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
2.2K reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Google Cloud
Essential Google Cloud Infrastructure: Core Services
Skills you'll gain: Cloud Infrastructure, Google Cloud Platform, Identity and Access Management, Cloud Computing, Cloud Storage, Data Storage, Cloud Security, System Monitoring, Encryption, SQL
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
11K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Michigan
Applied Plotting, Charting & Data Representation in Python
Skills you'll gain: Matplotlib, Plot (Graphics), Data Visualization Software, Interactive Data Visualization, Scientific Visualization, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Statistical Visualization, Graphing, Scatter Plots, Data Manipulation, Histogram, NumPy, Pandas (Python Package)
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
6.3K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
IBM
Security Analyst Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Cyber Threat Hunting, Incident Response, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Penetration Testing, Computer Security Incident Management, Intrusion Detection and Prevention, Threat Detection, Cryptography, Security Testing, Incident Management, Application Security, Encryption, Cybersecurity, Code Review, Security Management, Vulnerability Scanning, Vulnerability Assessments, Threat Modeling, Security Controls, Security Awareness
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
4.3K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Vanderbilt University
Microsoft 365 Copilot for Leaders
Skills you'll gain: ChatGPT, Verification And Validation, Ideation, Succession Planning, Microsoft 365, Target Audience, Business Writing, Generative AI, Microsoft Teams, Leadership, Meeting Facilitation, Organizational Leadership, Productivity Software, Creative Thinking, Creativity, Strategic Leadership, Complex Problem Solving, Strategic Communication, Business Leadership, Proposal Writing
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
870 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months