tact

(5) qualifiers

(6) Unable/not in a position to ⚠

(7) suggestions as questions

(8) Comperatives

(9) The progressive aspect

to avoid taking personal responsibility for the unhelpful remarks you make

(13) Modal Verbs ✏

I am afraid, we'd be unable to go beyond 7%

I wouldn't be able to authorize that myself

Unfortunately, I 'm not in position to accept that at this stage

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There might be a short delay

⭐ to add element of hedging, uncertainty and thus distancing

⭐ to avoid giving offence by restricting general remarks

examples: 🏁

there might be a short delay

there's seems to have been a slight misunderstanding

we would have some reservations about that

that might prove rather difficult to accept

You don't seem to have fully understood the implications

pretty much, a little, small

(4) not+[very/entirely/completely/wholly]+positive adjective

for negative remarks

🏁 examples

That might not be very convenient

(2) Would

⭐ the diplomatic alternative to the present simple

e.g. might, may, should etc

🏁 examples

that presents difficulties

that would present difficulties

`That is not a major problem

that would not be a major problem

We need your assitance thath the conditions can be met

we would need your assitance that the conditions can be met

(3) Seem

⭐ a euphemism for what's glaringly obvious

we have reached deadlock

We seem to have reached deadlock

That would be acceptable to both parties

That would seem to be acceptable to both parties

you don't understand

you don't seem to understand

🏁 examples

This isn't so straightforward

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