English Communication: How to Say Good-bye

Greeting people is easy compared to saying good-bye, especially when at a social gathering.

Here are some of my favorite tips for graciously departing from a conversation.  The emphasis here is on “gracious.”

The situation: You have listened intently and participated in a conversation.  You deem it is  time to leave the gathering or you want to strike up conversation with someone else.

What to do?

Smile and tell the person “I am needing to go.”

Then call the person by name and acknowledge something they said.  This is to let them know you were indeed listening and taking in information.  For example,  “Bob, it sure was good talking to you.  I loved hearing about your hiking the Pacific Coast Trail.  It makes me want to start making a plan for hiking with my friends.  Hope you get to hiking again soon.”

Express your desire to see them again.  For example, “Hope I get to see you again at this gathering next time.”

Smile and depart.

What do I especially like?  The acknowledging of one of their topics of conversation.  I know it always feels so good to me when someone does that about what I have said.  So I make this a cornerstone of my leavetaking.

Gracious communication.  It only takes a few words.

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Be sure to watch our English Speech Tips videos and Accent Reduction Tip videos  for more English pronunciation and accent reduction exercises.