You've heard it. You've probably typed it in a frantic Monday morning email. But honestly, most people use the word "liaise" like a shield—a fancy way to sound professional when they really just mean "I’m going to talk to someone." It’s one of those words that feels heavy in your mouth. Use it wrong, and you sound like a middle manager trying too hard. Use it right, and it actually clarifies a pretty complex social and professional dynamic.
The trick to using liaise in a sentence isn't just about grammar; it’s about understanding the "between-ness" of the word. It comes from the French lier, meaning to bind or tie. If you aren't tying two things together, you aren't liaising. You're just chatting.
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Stop Using Liaise as a Fancy Word for Talk
Let’s get real. If you tell your friend, "I'll liaise with you about dinner," they’re going to think you've lost your mind. It’s too stiff. But in a business setting, it serves a specific purpose. You use it when you are the bridge.
Imagine you’re a project manager. You have a design team that hates the developers, and developers who don't understand the client. You are the glue. In this context, saying "I will liaise in a sentence between the creative team and the technical staff" makes perfect sense. It implies a formal channel of communication. It suggests you are filtering information, translating jargon, and keeping the peace.
Merriam-Webster actually points out that the verb "liaise" is a back-formation from the noun "liaison." For a long time, linguistic purists hated it. They thought it was lazy. But by the mid-20th century, especially within military and government circles, it became indispensable. Why? Because "talking" doesn't capture the weight of official coordination.
Real-world examples of the "Bridge" dynamic
- "The embassy will liaise with local authorities to ensure the safety of the visiting delegates." (Notice how it implies a formal, official connection).
- "As the floor manager, you need to liaise between the kitchen and the waitstaff to keep ticket times down." (This shows the word’s utility in high-pressure environments).
- "Our marketing department will liaise with the PR firm to coordinate the product launch next month."
The Most Common Grammar Mistake
People often forget the preposition. You don't "liaise someone." You liaise with someone.
It’s a collaborative verb. If you leave out the "with," the sentence falls apart. Think of it like the word "agree." You don't agree someone; you agree with them.
Sometimes, people try to make it sound even more complex by saying "liaise together." Don't do that. It’s redundant. The word already implies a "together" state. It’s like saying "tuna fish." We know the tuna is a fish. We know liaising involves more than one person. Keep it lean.
Why Some Experts Hate This Word
There is a subset of writing experts, like those at the Plain English Campaign, who argue that "liaise" is just jargon. They’d tell you to use "coordinate" or "consult" or just plain "work with." And they have a point. If you can say it simpler, you probably should.
The problem with "liaise" is that it often masks a lack of action. If a politician says they are "liaising with stakeholders," it can sometimes be code for "we’re having meetings but nothing is actually happening yet." It’s a soft word. It’s a process word, not a result word.
However, in specialized fields like disaster relief or international relations, "liaise" is a technical term. A Liaison Officer (LNO) has a very specific job description. They aren't just "communicators." They are the authorized representatives of one organization to another. In these cases, using liaise in a sentence is the only way to be precise.
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Mastering the Tone
If you’re writing a cover letter, "liaise" can be a double-edged sword. It shows you know "business speak," but it can also make you sound like a robot.
Try this instead: "In my previous role, I acted as a point of contact, liaising with three different vendors to ensure project milestones were met on time." This works because it provides context. It shows who you were talking to and why it mattered.
Short sentences help here.
"I liaised with the team."
Simple. Direct.
But if you add too much fluff, it gets messy. "I was tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that I would liaise effectively with the various members of the team." That's a nightmare. It’s bloated. It’s exactly what gives business writing a bad name.
Using it in different tenses
- Present: "She liaises with the board of directors every Tuesday."
- Past: "We liaised with the contractor last week to fix the structural issues."
- Continuous: "I am currently liaising with the legal department to finalize the contracts."
The "Liaison" Relationship
It’s worth noting that "liaison" has another meaning—usually an illicit romantic one. This is why you have to be careful in casual settings. If you tell a coworker, "I'm looking for a liaison," you might get a call from HR.
Context is everything.
In a professional setting, people know you mean communication. But because of that French root, there’s always a hint of "intimacy" or "closeness" to the connection. That’s why we use it for high-stakes coordination rather than just telling someone where the bathroom is.
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Actionable Tips for Better Professional Writing
If you want to use liaise in a sentence effectively without sounding like an AI or a corporate drone, follow these rules.
First, check your preposition. Always use "with" or "between." If those words don't fit, you're using the wrong verb.
Second, check your audience. If you're talking to a close-knit team of three people who sit next to you, just say "I'll talk to them." Use "liaise" when you are dealing with different departments, different companies, or different levels of hierarchy.
Third, vary your sentence length around the word. Since "liaise" is a longer, more formal word, surround it with punchy, short sentences to keep the reader engaged.
Fourth, consider your intent. Are you actually coordinating something complex? Or are you just trying to sound important? If it's the latter, hit delete. Choose a word that carries less baggage.
Quick Checklist for Usage
- Am I connecting two or more distinct groups?
- Is this a formal or professional context?
- Did I include the word "with"?
- Can I replace it with "talk to" without losing the meaning of "coordination"?
The goal of language is to be understood. "Liaise" is a tool. It's a specific wrench for a specific bolt. Don't use a wrench when you need a hammer, and don't use "liaise" when you just need to send a quick Slack message.
To improve your writing immediately, go through your sent emails. Look for any instance where you used "liaise." Replace it with "work with" and see if the sentence gets stronger. If it does, leave it. If the sentence loses its sense of formal coordination, keep "liaise." That’s how you develop an ear for the word. Professionalism isn't about using big words; it’s about using the right ones. It's about being the bridge. Be the bridge, and the words will follow naturally.
Next Steps for Mastery
Start by identifying the "gatekeepers" in your current projects. These are the people you naturally need to liaise with. In your next status update, use the term specifically to describe your role in moving information from one group to another. This establishes your authority as the central hub of the project. Avoid using it in the same paragraph as other heavy jargon like "synergy" or "deep dive" to keep your writing feeling human and accessible. Over time, you'll find that "liaise" becomes a natural part of your vocabulary, signaling professional competence rather than just a desire to sound "corporate."