{"id":8263,"date":"2025-11-07T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/?p=8263"},"modified":"2025-11-04T04:57:04","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T04:57:04","slug":"negative-to-positive-business-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/negative-to-positive-business-english\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Say Negative Things Positively at Work"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/negative-to-positive-business-english\/#Common_Business_Euphemisms\" >Common Business Euphemisms<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/negative-to-positive-business-english\/#Instead_of_%E2%80%9CLong%E2%80%9D%E2%80%A6\" >Instead of &#8220;Long&#8221;&#8230;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/negative-to-positive-business-english\/#Instead_of_%E2%80%9CHard%E2%80%9D%E2%80%A6\" >Instead of &#8220;Hard&#8221;&#8230;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/negative-to-positive-business-english\/#Instead_of_%E2%80%9CProblem%E2%80%9D%E2%80%A6\" >Instead of &#8220;Problem&#8221;&#8230;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/negative-to-positive-business-english\/#Instead_of_%E2%80%9CFire%E2%80%9D%E2%80%A6\" >Instead of &#8220;Fire&#8221;&#8230;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/negative-to-positive-business-english\/#Instead_of_%E2%80%9CUnemployed%E2%80%9D%E2%80%A6\" >Instead of &#8220;Unemployed&#8221;&#8230;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/negative-to-positive-business-english\/#Instead_of_%E2%80%9CFire%E2%80%9D%E2%80%A6-2\" >Instead of &#8220;Fire&#8221;&#8230;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/negative-to-positive-business-english\/#Instead_of_%E2%80%9CQuit%E2%80%9D%E2%80%A6\" >Instead of &#8220;Quit&#8221;&#8230;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/negative-to-positive-business-english\/#Instead_of_%E2%80%9CWorried%E2%80%9D%E2%80%A6\" >Instead of &#8220;Worried&#8221;&#8230;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/negative-to-positive-business-english\/#Instead_of_%E2%80%9CPay%E2%80%9D%E2%80%A6\" >Instead of &#8220;Pay&#8221;&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/negative-to-positive-business-english\/#Wrap-up\" >Wrap-up<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>In business, strong relationships are essential for success.  So in situations when you have something negative to say, it's a good idea to find a more positive way to communicate your thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This time, we'll look at euphemisms, softer words used instead of others that may be too direct or unpleasant. Euphemisms are common in <a href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/negative-positive-english\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">many situations<\/a>, but this article will focus on a few that are especially useful in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_Business_Euphemisms\"><\/span><strong>Common Business Euphemisms<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Instead of \"Long\"...<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/03\/06090231\/rephrase_dylan-gillis-KdeqA3aTnBY-unsplash1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Workers with notepads having a business meeting while seated at a long table\" class=\"wp-image-8266\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/03\/06090231\/rephrase_dylan-gillis-KdeqA3aTnBY-unsplash1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/03\/06090231\/rephrase_dylan-gillis-KdeqA3aTnBY-unsplash1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/03\/06090231\/rephrase_dylan-gillis-KdeqA3aTnBY-unsplash1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/03\/06090231\/rephrase_dylan-gillis-KdeqA3aTnBY-unsplash1-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/03\/06090231\/rephrase_dylan-gillis-KdeqA3aTnBY-unsplash1-840x560.jpg 840w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For things like meetings and presentations, \"long\" often sounds negative. A good alternative is \"<strong>thorough<\/strong>\" or \"<strong>in-depth<\/strong>.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Scott's speech was certainly <strong>thorough<\/strong>; he covered every detail.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>The team submitted a very <strong>in-depth<\/strong> market analysis report.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>(Be careful not to confuse \"<a href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/app\/words\/word\/thorough\/zga0ELstQmCjlQAAAAASzw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">thorough<\/a>\" with \"<a href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/app\/words\/word\/through\/zga0ELstQmCjlQAAADoO_A\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">through<\/a>\" \u2014 they look similar, but their spelling, pronunciations and meanings are all different!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Instead of \"Hard\"...<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\"<strong>Challenging<\/strong>\" has a more positive nuance than adjectives like \"hard\" and \"difficult\" because it implies an opportunity to become better and eventually succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>My supervisor put me in charge of a really <strong>challenging<\/strong> task, but he's confident that I can handle it.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>The exam was really <strong>challenging<\/strong>, but I was able to pass it with help from my tutor!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Instead of \"Problem\"...<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To give an unfortunate situation a less negative feeling, try \"<strong>issue<\/strong>,\" \"<strong>setback<\/strong>\" or \"<strong>challenge<\/strong>\" instead of \"problem.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Our team is dealing with several <strong>issues<\/strong> on this project.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>We have to postpone our delivery date due to unforeseen <strong>setbacks<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Challenges<\/strong> with our supply chain will affect our ability to deliver on time.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Instead of \"Fire\"... <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Companies usually don't like to say directly that they've fired someone. Instead, \"<strong>lay off<\/strong>\" and \"<strong>let go<\/strong>\" are more commonly used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Due to financial difficulties, we unfortunately had to<strong> lay off<\/strong> a small portion of our workforce.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Many company employees are worried they will be <strong>let go<\/strong> in the coming months.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Related article: <a href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/business-work\/youre-fired-expressions-for-joining-and-leaving-companies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\"You're Fired!\" Expressions for Joining and Leaving Companies<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Instead of \"Unemployed\"...<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/03\/06090330\/rephrase_marten-bjork-6dW3xyQvcYE-unsplash1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A young professional carrying a briefcase while walking down the street\" class=\"wp-image-8267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/03\/06090330\/rephrase_marten-bjork-6dW3xyQvcYE-unsplash1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/03\/06090330\/rephrase_marten-bjork-6dW3xyQvcYE-unsplash1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/03\/06090330\/rephrase_marten-bjork-6dW3xyQvcYE-unsplash1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/03\/06090330\/rephrase_marten-bjork-6dW3xyQvcYE-unsplash1-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/03\/06090330\/rephrase_marten-bjork-6dW3xyQvcYE-unsplash1-840x560.jpg 840w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Someone who has lost their job has become \"unemployed.\" This word, however, can include negative nuances such as laziness or a lack of ambition, which may not actually be true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A more neutral way to express this is to say someone is \"<strong>out of work<\/strong>.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>He's been <strong>out of work<\/strong> for about four months.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>An even more positive alternative is \"<strong>between jobs<\/strong>.\" Here, the nuance is that even though someone lost their previous job, they're actively moving toward the next one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>I'm <strong>in between jobs<\/strong> right now, so I'm doing a lot of networking to find new opportunities.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Instead of \"Fire\"...<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Terms like \"fire,\" \"lay off\" and \"let go\" can refer to either individuals or groups. But there's another set of euphemisms that are often used when talking about changes that affect the whole company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\"<strong>Downsizing<\/strong>\" is reducing the total number of workers, which is a nicer way of saying a significant amount of employees are being fired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>We'll be <strong>downsizing<\/strong> in order to be more competitive in the current market.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>\"<strong>Restructuring<\/strong>\" is used in a similar way; it refers to fundamental changes that could result in workers moving to new roles or losing their jobs completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>The leadership believes <strong>restructuring<\/strong> is necessary to improve the company's profitability.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Instead of \"Quit\"...<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, some workers leave a company or position because of their own choice. \"Quit,\" however, sounds quite direct and harsh. A softer alternative is \"<strong>resign<\/strong>.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>After serving as a board member for many years, Johnson decided to <strong>resign<\/strong> in order to spend more time with his family.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Note that people can also be <em>forced<\/em> to resign, which is actually another way of saying they're being fired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>The leader was pressured to <strong>resign<\/strong> when the scandal became a big news story.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>\"<strong>Step down<\/strong>\" has a similar meaning and is often used when someone leaves a job or position because of pressure from others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>The public called for the politician to <strong>step down<\/strong> due to his controversial remarks.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Instead of \"Worried\"...<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/03\/06090430\/rephrase_pexels-yan-krukau-76408301-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A group of employees arguing with each other while a woman in the back of the room holds her head in frustration\" class=\"wp-image-8268\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/03\/06090430\/rephrase_pexels-yan-krukau-76408301-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/03\/06090430\/rephrase_pexels-yan-krukau-76408301-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/03\/06090430\/rephrase_pexels-yan-krukau-76408301-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/03\/06090430\/rephrase_pexels-yan-krukau-76408301-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2024\/03\/06090430\/rephrase_pexels-yan-krukau-76408301-840x560.jpg 840w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When problems appear, people often avoid saying how serious they are, especially when making public statements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In these situations, \"<strong>concerned<\/strong>\" is a common euphemism for \"worried.\" \"Concerned\" implies that the problem is being taken seriously and that everyone is calmly working on a solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>These unexpected developments are cause for <strong>concern<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Management is <strong>concerned<\/strong> about the lack of progress on this project.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Instead of \"Pay\"...<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Money is a very sensitive topic for many people. Even though \"pay\" as a noun isn't a negative word, in business, it's often substituted for words like \"<strong>salary<\/strong>\" or \"<strong>compensation<\/strong>.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>It's the company's policy for employees to not discuss details of their <strong>salary<\/strong> with one another.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>What kind of <strong>compensation<\/strong> can I expect if I accept this position with your organization?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>The term \"compensation package\" includes things beyond money, such as benefits and other <a href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/app\/words\/word\/perk\/zga0ELstQmCjlQAAAABtfQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">perks<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>We're prepared to offer you a very generous <strong>compensation package<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wrap-up\"><\/span><strong>Wrap-up<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Euphemisms are present everywhere in English communication, but they're especially common in the business world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using these words effectively first requires you to understand the context in order to determine what's best for the situation. Observe carefully, then respond appropriately!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Want to practice with these words in a real conversation? Book a lesson with <a href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Engoo<\/a>! A one-on-one Engoo lesson is only 25 minutes, and we have friendly instructors from around the world available 24 hours a day. Give it a try!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In business, strong relationships are essential for success. So in situations when you have something negative to say, it's a good idea to find a more positive way to communicate your thoughts. This time, we'll...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":432,"featured_media":11466,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"unified_meta_tagline_field":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[58,17],"class_list":["post-8263","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-work","tag-other-ways-to-say","tag-vocabulary"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Say Negative Things Positively at Work | Engoo Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It&#039;s important to choose words carefully in business settings. 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