Are you looking for a way to tell someone they talk too much without hurting their feelings?
Perhaps you want to sound as professional as possible to avoid any offense.
Well, you’ve come to the right place to learn more.
This article will teach you how to politely say someone talks too much in different contexts.
You can use any of these alternatives if you’re wondering what to say when someone talks too much:
- You are quite communicative
- Your communication is extensive
- You are clearly expressive
- Your dialogue is abundant
- You say quite a lot
- You could say a bit less
- You’re quite talkative
- You’re overly verbose
- Your verbal communication is prolific
- It’s clear you enjoy speaking
- I’m glad you like to talk so much
So, keep reading to learn how to professionally say someone talks too much. We’ll touch on each of the alternatives listed above to give you a better idea of how they work.
1. You Are Quite Communicative
Let’s start by using “you are quite communicative.” This is a great way to show someone talks too much when you think they’ve said more than they need to.
For the most part, it’s honest and direct.
So, you can use this when writing to a coworker.
It lets them know that they say more than enough, and you think they’d benefit from limiting how much they say. This is made more effective when writing emails (since less wordy emails are often better practice).
Check out this sample email to learn a bit more about using it:
Dear Darren,
You are quite communicative, but I don’t think that works in your favor.
Perhaps you’d benefit from writing a bit less!
All the best,
Clark Mathews
2. Your Communication Is Extensive
Next, you can use “your communication is extensive.”
This is a subtle and respectful way to tell someone they dominate conversations.
It could be a good option when writing to employees to let them know to limit how much they say.
While there’s nothing wrong with dominating a conversation, sometimes, it can make others feel left out.
So, you should use this if you’d like to hear from other employees and want the more dominant communicator to ease off.
Also, it’s worth reviewing this example to learn more:
Dear Adrian,
While I appreciate what you’re saying, your communication is extensive.
You should ease off a little to let some of your peers talk during meetings.
Best wishes,
Sam Bradley
3. You Are Clearly Expressive
If you’re wondering how to tell an employee they talk too much in meetings, try “you are clearly expressive.”
Of course, it’s best to use something like this when emailing them privately. After all, you might not want to bring this up with them in front of their peers.
So, if you notice that an employee does a lot of talking or hogs most meetings, this phrase will work well.
It shows that you’re happy they express themselves, but they need to tone it back. This could be the push they need to correct their attitude.
Check out the following email sample to learn a bit more:
Dear Kate,
You are clearly expressive, but I’d like to hear from others during our meetings.
Please try to let your peers speak up when they want to.
Thank you so much,
Sharon Carpenter
4. Your Dialogue Is Abundant
Next, you can keep things professional by saying “your dialogue is abundant.”
This should allow you to stop excessive talk in the workplace without being rude.
It’s not a negative phrase. Instead, it’s a positive way to show that someone likes to talk, but you’d appreciate it if they wouldn’t be so talkative or expressive when they’re meant to be working.
You can also check out this email example to learn a bit more:
Dear Matilda,
Your dialogue is abundant, but sometimes it’s unnecessary.
I hope you can understand what I’m suggesting.
All the best,
Harry Poster
5. You Say Quite a Lot
Feel free to use “you say quite a lot” to politely tell an employee they talk too much.
When someone talks too much at work, it can be tricky to know how to handle the situation.
However, keeping things friendly and positive goes a long way.
You might want to use something like this when emailing an employee to let them know they should tone it down.
It could be a good chance for them to work on themselves and try to avoid saying as much.
So, you can review this example to learn more:
Dear Michael,
You say quite a lot during office hours.
Do you mind trying to avoid speaking so much moving forward?
Thanks so much,
Don Wallace
6. You Could Say a Bit Less
You might want to use “you could say a bit less” when trying to tell someone they talk too much about themselves.
Of course, it doesn’t specifically show that someone talks too much about themselves. Instead, it’s implied by being more polite and sincere.
You can use this when speaking with a coworker. It suggests that they say more than they need to, and you’d appreciate it if they’d stop doing that so you can focus more on your work.
If you’re still unsure how to use it, review the following examples:
You could say a bit less about yourself sometimes. I need to focus more on my workload, after all.
You could say a bit less while we’re in the office. There’s no need for you to speak that much.
7. You’re Quite Talkative
Rather than putting someone down for talking too much, use “you’re quite talkative.” It allows you to address someone’s ability to talk too much in a nice way.
Generally, you can use this when meeting with a client. It’s quite a good opportunity for you to speak in person and let them know that they’ve said a lot more than you during a meeting.
The client should understand what you’re suggesting when using this phrase. So, it’s a chance for them to strip it back and let you speak up.
Check out these examples to learn a bit more:
You’re quite talkative, and I’d like to get some points across now. Do you mind if I do that?
It’s clear that you’re quite talkative. While I appreciate all your points, I do need to go through some things.
8. You’re Overly Verbose
Another great way to show someone talks too much is by saying “you’re overly verbose.”
This is a formal choice that works well when you’re tired of hearing someone speak.
It works best when someone speaks about themselves a lot. So, if you want to start speaking instead of them, you can use this to get them to calm down.
It might work best when writing to a client. After all, it shows you need them to focus on something else for a little while.
You can also review this email sample to learn a bit more about it:
Dear Miss Masterson,
You’re overly verbose, and I appreciate that.
However, I’d like to start discussing more intricate details with you.
Yours,
Tyler Woodchurch
9. Your Verbal Communication Is Prolific
It’s also good to write “your verbal communication is prolific” when someone talks too much.
This is a positive (and almost complimentary) way to call someone out for speaking too much.
Therefore, you can use it to sound professional and sincere. Try it when writing to your boss.
They’ll often take it as a compliment, but it means that you need to say something but can’t find a way to talk.
Check out this sample email to learn a bit more:
Dear Miss Scott,
Your verbal communication is prolific.
I’m very impressed, but I have a few things I’d like to run by you.
All the best,
Joanna Swanson
10. It’s Clear You Enjoy Speaking
Going back to something that works in person, try “it’s clear you enjoy speaking.”
This one is a little more informal, but it still works in business settings (spoken ones, that is).
For instance, you can use it when discussing projects with a coworker.
If you’ve been tasked to work through the same project, this could be a good chance for you to tell them to stop speaking while you share some ideas.
Also, check out these examples to learn more:
It’s clear you enjoy speaking, but I do have some ideas to share. Please give me a moment to go through them.
Well, it’s clear you enjoy speaking. However, I’m going to start listing some of my ideas now.
11. I’m Glad You Like to Talk So Much
Finally, you can say “I’m glad you like to talk so much.”
This puts a positive spin on things when telling someone they talk too much.
Generally, you can use it when you’d like them to calm down and let you speak. It’s respectful and direct, showing that someone doesn’t need to talk as often as they do.
It might be worth using this in a meeting with an employee. It could be a good way to review their performance without being too harsh about how much they talk.
You can also review these examples for more help:
I’m glad you like to talk so much, but it’s time to stop. You’ll have to let some of your peers share their views.
I’m glad you like to talk so much, but there’s a time and place for it! I’m afraid this is neither of those.