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As world economies become ever-more interconnected, English has emerged as the standard for global communication. Even if you generally feel comfortable speaking English in conversation--perhaps you do so daily--writing it is something else entirely. While the spoken word soon disappears into thin air, the written word remains. In other words, a mistake in printed text has a far greater chance of being scrutinized or--in the age of social media--ridiculed.
English as a second language has its own particular difficulties, partly due to the nature of the language itself and partly because so many people in so many places speak it. Here are our top tips for improving your business English writing skills.
Over the centuries, many languages have influenced the development of English. Thus, its grammar and spelling can be highly irregular. Idiosyncrasies are very hard to learn, except by constant exposure over a long period. Even native English speakers find it difficult to explain the numerous irregularities inherent to their language--they just know what sounds natural to their ears.
Tip: Does "Red little riding hood" make sense? In English grammar, it's important to keep your adjectives in the right order.
If you have any native English speakers in your office, ask them for help proofreading your text. Don't be offended if they provide many corrections. If time permits, ask your colleague to explain the changes to help improve your fluency in English.
If you do not have the opportunity to consult a native speaker, or if your text is too long for your colleague to check, it may make sense to turn to a professional editor.
Tip: Use an English language corpus to make your prose sound idiomatic.
English has an extremely rich vocabulary and a flexible structure, so it can be tempting to write creatively. But when writing in a non-native language, it's best to keep a steady hand on the throttle of creativity and write plainly and clearly. Keep your prose short, keep it straightforward, and say what you want to say as simply as possible. Whenever possible, get a native speaker or editor to check your writing before clicking send.
Tip: No one wants to hunt for meaning in a text. Stick closely to the principles of plain English.
A thesaurus is a tool for finding more interesting alternatives for boring or commonly-used words. When writing as a non-native, use this tool sparingly. Many words in the English language have a range of synonyms, but more often than not each has a nuance that could make it entirely inappropriate for your specific situation.
Take the following:
"I shall adore to articulate toward you apropos a neoteric hobbyhorse I am nursing for respective dealings inside the bunch."
This is a somewhat exaggerated example of thesaurus-abuse. What the author actually meant to say was:
"I'd like to tell you about a new idea I have for personal interaction in the team."
Tip: If you're not sure what combination of words to use, consult a collocation dictionary.
Here's a quick list of what to avoid when writing in a non-native language:
If you can work with a native speaker, you may find the above types of language can improve your text and help you connect with local readers. That's why Lionbridge engages a massive community of native-speaking subject matter experts in 350+ languages, who can help create, edit, and translate your content.
Interested in learning more or starting a project? Reach out today.