When presenting a strong case to a British audience, dial your language down rather than up. If your results are excellent, describe them as “quite encouraging” rather than “extraordinary.” If your proposal is compelling, present it as “worth considering” rather than “the clear solution.” This understatement does not weaken your case—it strengthens it. British audiences interpret restrained language as a sign that you trust your evidence to speak for itself, and emphatic language as a sign that you are compensating for weak evidence. Overselling triggers skepticism.
Underselling builds credibility. The same applies to enthusiasm: genuine but measured confidence is more persuasive than visible excitement. The audience will evaluate the substance independently; your job is to present it in a register that signals confidence rather than anxiety.
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