When reading company emails, there are times when a sentence catches my eye and I think, "Oh, this expression is nice!"

Just a few days ago, I came across such an expression in an email from a client.

To be candid, we need a bigger budget if we want this project to succeed. >> To be honest, we need a larger budget to make this project successful.

At that moment, I thought, 'Ah, I should write a blog about this.'

We often learn "Honestly" when studying English, but Americans actually use "To be candid" quite frequently in company emails and business conversations. It's especially useful for softening the atmosphere before discussing sensitive topics or sharing honest opinions.

We should also take a moment to clarify the word candid itself.

Candid doesn't just mean honest; it carries a strong sense of being "forthright about a situation," "not beating around the bush," and "speaking plainly."

For example, a candid opinion means a truly honest opinion, not one that is sugar-coated for politeness.

Can I be candid with you?

Can I speak honestly with you?

I appreciate your candid feedback.

Thank you for your honest feedback.

She was very candid about the problem.

She spoke very honestly about the issue.

However, there's an important point to note here. To be candid is a somewhat formal and polite expression.

Therefore, it feels very natural in company emails, conversations with clients, meetings, interviews, and business situations.

But what if you use it among close friends?

It's not incorrect, but it might come off as a bit too serious. For example, if a friend asks, "Hey, how does my hair look?" and you respond,

To be candid, it doesn't look that great.

While the meaning is clear, your friend might think, "What's with the sudden formal lawyer talk?"

With close friends, it's usually more natural to say it like this.

Honestly, it's not my favorite.

To be honest, it's not my style.

I'm gonna be honest with you. It looked better before.

To be honest, it was better before.

Real talk, I don't think that was a good idea.

Honestly, I don't think that was a good idea.

On the other hand, young Americans in their teens and twenties tend to use much more casual expressions when talking with friends.

The most commonly heard expression is

Not gonna lie.

Literally, it means "I won't lie," but the actual meaning is

"To be honest..."
"I really admit that..."
"The truth is..."

This is how you can understand it.

You can hear this expression dozens of times a day while watching American YouTube or TikTok.

Not gonna lie, that burger was amazing.

Honestly, that burger was really delicious.

Not gonna lie, I thought you were joking.

Honestly, I thought you were kidding.

Not gonna lie, I'm pretty nervous.

Honestly, I'm a bit nervous.

Friends often use Not gonna lie more than Honestly.

There's also another expression that young people use a lot.

I'm gonna be honest.

To be honest, I'm going to say this.

I'm gonna be honest... I don't like this movie.

Honestly, I don't like this movie.

Real talk.

Honestly speaking.

Real talk, you need some sleep.

Honestly, you need to get some sleep.

Low-key.

Subtly, actually.

Low-key, I wanted to leave early.

Honestly, I wanted to leave early.

High-key.

Outright, completely.

High-key, I love this song.

Honestly, I really love this song.

No cap.

For real, no lie.

This pizza is the best in town, no cap.

This pizza is the best in town, for real.

So, it's important to use expressions appropriately for the situation. Americans naturally switch expressions based on the context and the person they are speaking with.

In the workplace, it's "To be candid."

While having coffee with friends, it's "Not gonna lie."

When joking with friends, it's "I'm gonna be honest."

In the future, when you hear "Not gonna lie" in American dramas or YouTube, you will understand it as "To be honest" instead of "I won't lie."