If you and I are trying to schedule an appointment to talk on the phone and I say I’m available between 10:00am and 2:00pm, does that mean to you I can start an appointment at 2:00pm? Or, do you think the conversation has to be wrapped up by 2:00pm?

I usually am more specific, because people interpret it different ways, and even then sometimes I’m misunderstood, I assume because people aren’t reading closely and just looking at the times.

Topics: language, communication, planning, meetings, misunderstanding