Telling someone they’re wrong can be a daunting task, especially if it’s in a work situation. That’s why at work, you very rarely hear someone flat out say “You’re wrong”. On the one hand you don’t want to insult whomever you’re speaking to because at the very least you have to work with them, and they could even be your boss or your client. On the other hand, you need to get them to understand that they are incorrect or else it could cause major problems down the line. While this seems to be a “Damned if you do, Damned if you don’t” situation, there are ways to accomplish both goals. All it requires is the proper phrasing.

With that in mind, here are three phrases that I’ve used to tell someone they’re wrong, without actually having to say it:

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