Office English — B2 Essential Words

department /dɪˈpɑːrtmənt/ noun B2 Office

Meaning: One part of a large organization, company, or government that does a specific type of work.

Example: She works in the marketing department.

Another example: The sales department hired three people.

Collocations: marketing department · department of · head of department

Synonyms: division, unit, section

Word family: departments (n pl) · departmental (adj)

⚠ Common mistake: Companies have departments; universities too (the English department). Government's are Departments with capital D (the Department of State).

🗣 In spoken American English: Office small talk starts here: 'Which department are you in?'

Register: Neutral — organizations essential.

headquarters /ˌhedˈkwɔːrtərz/ noun B2 Office

Meaning: The main office of a company or organization, where its leaders work.

Example: The company's headquarters are in Chicago.

Another example: She flew to headquarters for the meeting.

Collocations: company headquarters · at headquarters · headquarters in

Synonyms: main office, HQ, base

Antonyms: branch, local office

Word family: HQ (short form)

⚠ Common mistake: Headquarters looks plural but works as one place: headquarters IS/are both heard. The short form is HQ.

🗣 In spoken American English: Every franchise story ends here: decisions come 'from headquarters'.

Register: Neutral to formal — business essential.

branch /bræntʃ/ noun B2 Office

Meaning: A local office of a large company in another city; also a part that grows out of a tree's trunk.

Example: Our bank has a branch in every state.

Another example: A bird sat on the branch.

Collocations: branch office · local branch · branch in

Synonyms: local office, division, arm (of a tree)

Antonyms: headquarters

Word family: branches (n pl)

⚠ Common mistake: Two lives: company branches in cities, tree branches in parks. Banks and libraries talk branches daily.

🗣 In spoken American English: 'The Denver branch' — how national companies sound local.

Register: Neutral — business basics.

staff /stæf/ noun B2 Office

Meaning: All the people who work in an organization; the employees as a group.

Example: The hotel staff were friendly and helpful.

Another example: We need more staff in summer.

Collocations: hotel staff · staff meeting · members of staff

Synonyms: employees, team, personnel

Word family: staff (v — to employ) · staffing (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Staff is a group noun (usually no 's' for the group; 'staffs' is rare). One person is 'a member of staff', not 'a staff'.

🗣 In spoken American English: Reviews praise them by the group: 'The staff made our stay perfect.'

Register: Neutral — work essential.

equipment /ɪˈkwɪpmənt/ noun B2 Office

Meaning: The tools, machines, and devices needed for a particular job or activity.

Example: The office bought new computer equipment.

Another example: Gym equipment must be cleaned after use.

Collocations: office equipment · safety equipment · equipment for

Synonyms: gear, tools, machinery

Word family: equip (v) · equipped (adj)

⚠ Common mistake: Equipment is UNCOUNTABLE: some equipment, never 'an equipment' or 'equipments'. A single item is 'a piece of equipment'.

🗣 In spoken American English: IT departments guard it; gyms sign rules about it.

Register: Neutral — work and sport staple.

supply /səˈplaɪ/ noun / verb B2 Office

Meaning: An amount of something available to use; to provide something that is needed.

Example: The office supply closet is full of paper.

Another example: Farms supply the city with fresh vegetables.

Collocations: supply of · office supplies · supply chain

Synonyms: stock, provision, deliver

Antonyms: demand

Word family: supplies (n pl) · supplier (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Supplies (plural) = the everyday items (paper, pens). Supply and demand is the economics pair every student meets.

🗣 In spoken American English: Back-to-school season runs on 'school supplies' lists.

Register: Neutral — office essential.

folder /ˈfəʊldər/ noun B2 Office

Meaning: A folded cover for holding papers; on a computer, a place where files are organized.

Example: Put the contracts in the blue folder.

Another example: Create a folder for the project files.

Collocations: in the folder · file folder · new folder

Synonyms: binder (bigger), directory (computing)

Word family: folders (n pl) · fold (v)

⚠ Common mistake: Paper folders hold sheets; computer folders hold files — same organizing idea, two desks.

🗣 In spoken American English: 'Check the shared folder' is the modern office sentence.

Register: Neutral — office and computers.

file /faɪl/ noun / verb B2 Office

Meaning: A collection of information stored on a computer or in papers about one subject; to store documents in an organized way.

Example: Send me the file by email.

Another example: She filed the reports by date.

Collocations: save the file · file name · file a report

Synonyms: document, record, data set

Word family: files (n pl) · filing (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Computer files have names and types (.pdf, .jpg). To file papers is to organize them; to file a complaint/report is official.

🗣 In spoken American English: 'Attach the file' — the email instruction everyone knows.

Register: Neutral — office essential.

report /rɪˈpɔːrt/ noun / verb B2 Office

Meaning: A written or spoken account of something studied or investigated; to give such an account, or to tell an authority about something.

Example: The report covers sales for the whole year.

Another example: Report any problems to your manager.

Collocations: write a report · report on · report to

Synonyms: account, summary, findings

Word family: reports (n pl) · reporter (n) · reporting (n)

⚠ Common mistake: You report TO a boss and report ON a subject. Its twin 'report card' judges students each term.

🗣 In spoken American English: Work life in one cycle: do, report, repeat.

Register: Neutral — work core.

memo /ˈmeməʊ/ noun B2 Office

Meaning: A short official note sent within a company to give information or instructions.

Example: The boss sent a memo about the new hours.

Another example: Did you read the memo on parking rules?

Collocations: send a memo · memo about · office memo

Synonyms: note, message, announcement

Word family: memos (n pl) · memorandum (full form)

⚠ Common mistake: Memo is short for memorandum. Memos are internal — outsiders get letters and emails instead.

🗣 In spoken American English: 'Did you get the memo?' became slang for 'you missed the point' — from office life to everyday talk.

Register: Neutral/formal — office tradition.