Talking About the Future in Pharma

Let’s talk about the future.

Not the futuristic, AI-will-run-the-world kind—but the real, everyday future that pharma professionals deal with constantly. Whether you're reviewing timelines, preparing for inspections, planning site visits, following up on safety reports, or getting ready for the next big product launch—you're always communicating what will happen next.

And here’s the catch: English doesn’t just have one future tense. It has a whole set of tools—will, going to, present continuous, present simple, shall, future continuous, future perfect, and future perfect continuous. Each one sends a slightly different message.

Let’s break it down with examples that fit across pharma roles.

🛠 Will = Instant decisions or offers

"I’ll double-check the SOP now."

You just decided this. No prior plan. Maybe your colleague just flagged an inconsistency and you said this in the moment. Quick, helpful, responsive.

🗓 Going to = Planned actions

"I’m going to run a compliance check this week."

You already planned it. Maybe it’s on your calendar. You’ve prepared, and now you’re letting others know.

📅 Present Continuous = Confirmed arrangements

"I’m meeting the QA manager at 2 p.m."

It’s booked. You’ve made the call, sent the invite, and it’s in both your diaries. We use the present continuous for these kinds of set appointments.

⏰ Present Simple = Fixed schedules

"The training session starts at 10 a.m."

It’s not about your decision—it’s a timetable. Think meetings, submission deadlines, audits. These are fixed and outside your control.

🎤 Future Continuous = Scene setting

"I’ll be presenting the new safety data at tomorrow’s meeting."

This sounds polished. It puts your listener into the moment. It’s great when you want to show professionalism, especially in presentations or updates.

✅ Future Perfect = Completed before a future time

"We’ll have finalized the submission by next Friday."

You’re showing confidence and control. You’re not halfway through—it’ll be done. This one is perfect for status reports and timelines.

📊 Future Perfect Continuous = Emphasizing duration

"By July, we’ll have been collecting patient feedback for six months."

This structure shows how long something’s been going on. It’s useful in reports, regulatory discussions, or when you want to stress consistency and effort.

Future in Pharma: Common Mistake to Avoid

Overusing “Will”

Many professionals default to will too often.

❌ "The validation will start tomorrow."

✅ Better: "The validation starts tomorrow." (It’s scheduled.)

❌ "I will meet the CRO team tomorrow."

✅ Better: "I’m meeting the CRO team tomorrow." (It’s arranged.)

These small shifts make your English sound more natural, more confident, and more aligned with how native speakers talk.

Let’s put this in action. Imagine this project update:

🗣"I’ll begin by outlining our approach. Next, I’ll be walking through key milestones.

By the end of the quarter, we’ll have completed Phase 2.

And we’re going to initiate recruitment at the new site next month."

See how each form adds a layer—intention, action, completion, plan? It’s not just grammar. It’s a strategy for sounding clear, confident, and credible.

🎧 Quick Pronunciation Tips:

• Say I’ll like /aɪl/ and we’ll like /wɪl/ or /wiːl/—don’t break them apart too much.

• Stick to going to in professional settings—avoid gonna.

💬 Try This Practice Task:

Write 4 future sentences about your work this week.

Use:

1. Will: "I’ll review the complaint report this afternoon."

2. Going to: "I’m going to call the CRO tomorrow."

3. Present Continuous: "I’m attending the stakeholder meeting on Wednesday."

4. Future Perfect: "By Friday, we’ll have submitted the audit response."

   
   

You’ll start to feel the difference—and so will the people listening to you.

Clarity matters. Your words help shape expectations, timelines, and trust. So the more precisely you talk about the future, the more confidence you build—with colleagues, auditors, investigators, clients, and even yourself.

And that’s the future worth working toward.

Mastering Professional Communication in Pharma: The Power of Indirect Questions

If you work in pharmaceuticals, especially in R&D, clinical trials, QA, or regulatory affairs, you're asking questions daily—about processes, data, deadlines, or project statuses. How you phrase these questions matters more than you might think.

Let's face it: direct questions can sometimes come across as abrupt or demanding, potentially affecting your relationships with colleagues, managers, or stakeholders. Indirect questions offer a solution by enhancing professionalism, politeness, and clarity in your communication.

In this article, we'll dive into how indirect questions work, how to form them correctly, and when they're most effective in your pharma career.

First Things First: Direct vs. Indirect Questions

A direct question is straightforward:

• "Where is the report?"

• "Did you complete the experiment?"

• "What chemicals does this analysis require?"

These questions are clear and concise, but in professional contexts—such as emails, meetings, or formal discussions—they can sometimes seem too blunt or demanding.

Here's where indirect questions shine. They rephrase your question, making it softer and more professional:

• "Could you tell me where the report is?"

• "Do you know if the experiment has been completed?"

• "Could you clarify what chemicals this analysis requires?"

Notice how the indirect question maintains clarity while adding a layer of politeness and professionalism.

Two Essential Rules for Indirect Questions

Indirect questions follow specific grammatical rules:

Top 5 English idioms pharma professionals often use at meetings

These are a few examples of English idioms that pharma professionals use during meetings to communicate effectively and efficiently with their colleagues.

Get the ball rolling

This idiom means to initiate or start a process.

For example, a pharma professional might say, "Let's get the ball rolling on the clinical trial protocol."

Cut to the chase

This means getting to the point or to skip unnecessary details.

"Let's cut to the chase and discuss the potential side effects of the drug."

In the same boat

This idiom means to be in a similar situation or facing the same challenges.

"We're all in the same boat when it comes to meeting the regulatory requirements."

Put all our cards on the table

This means being open and honest about everything.

'' Let's put all our cards on the table and discuss the potential risks and benefits of the drug."

Cross that bridge when we come to it

This means dealing with a problem only when it becomes necessary.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it and address any safety concerns that arise during the clinical trial."

Here's an example dialogue where pharma professionals use English idioms at a meeting:

Participants:

John, a pharmaceutical scientist

Maria, a regulatory affairs specialist

Tom, a clinical trial manager

Setting: A conference room at a pharmaceutical company headquarters

John: Let's get the ball rolling on the development of the new drug. We need to start discussing the preclinical studies.

Maria: I agree. We need to cut to the chase and identify any potential regulatory hurdles we may face.

Tom: We're all in the same boat when it comes to meeting the regulatory requirements. But let's put all our cards on the table and make sure we're not overlooking any key issues.

John: That's a good point. We need to cross that bridge when we come to it, but we should be proactive in addressing any concerns that arise during the clinical trial.

Maria: Absolutely. And we need to make sure we're communicating effectively with the regulatory agencies to avoid any surprises down the road.

Tom: Agreed. Let's keep our eye on the ball and focus on developing a safe and effective drug for patients.

Now, try to use them at work and let me know how it goes.

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Download the list of 100 common English idioms that pharma professionals use at the meetings

➡️ https://www.eglitium-courses.com/100-idioms