You work in the BPO field?
You talk to international customers?
Then just read this and get over mother tongue influence!
Indianism! We could start a whole new English grammar pattern with touch of our mother tongue. We sometimes complicate it with usage of big words and mess it even more.
Typically we use a "no" or "only" in end of every sentences as a question tag or exclamation as it comes in our mother tongue. Likewise, here are some Indianism we must avoid.
Lets start off with the classic "What is your good name?"
Are you suggesting a person has two names-- a good one and a bad one?
And that s/he should be only telling you her/his good name?
This is an example of thoughtless translation of Hindi--Aap ka shubh naam kya hai?
ATM Machine
The full form of ATM is Automated Teller Machine.
So next time when you say ATM, think of its full form as a sentence.
Despite of
It’s either in-spite of or just despite. ''In spite of/despite the heavy traffic, we got there on time.''
Even
People often say "even" when they mean "also" or "too".
When a strong statement is made, the statement is often followed with an example containing "even." The word "even" adds shock, surprise, or excitement to the example. So instead of ''She's even coming'' use ''She's also coming''
Me and my family
For heaven's sake put the monkey behind. Its "my family and I''. This might be accepted in the US, but did you forget we follow the rules of UK English?
The "sir theory"
Sir is an honorific used as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given name or family name in many English speaking cultures. It is often used in formal correspondence like "dear sir" etc..
But using Sir after a name is wrong. Just say "sir" or "Mr. Ronald"
Please put a mail
Knowing what 'a.m.' means what is the necessity of morning there?
Instead use" I woke up by 5 a.m." or I woke up 5 in the morning".
You talk to international customers?
Then just read this and get over mother tongue influence!
Indianism! We could start a whole new English grammar pattern with touch of our mother tongue. We sometimes complicate it with usage of big words and mess it even more.
Typically we use a "no" or "only" in end of every sentences as a question tag or exclamation as it comes in our mother tongue. Likewise, here are some Indianism we must avoid.
Lets start off with the classic "What is your good name?"
Are you suggesting a person has two names-- a good one and a bad one?
And that s/he should be only telling you her/his good name?
This is an example of thoughtless translation of Hindi--Aap ka shubh naam kya hai?
ATM Machine
The full form of ATM is Automated Teller Machine.
So next time when you say ATM, think of its full form as a sentence.
Despite of
It’s either in-spite of or just despite. ''In spite of/despite the heavy traffic, we got there on time.''
Even
People often say "even" when they mean "also" or "too".
When a strong statement is made, the statement is often followed with an example containing "even." The word "even" adds shock, surprise, or excitement to the example. So instead of ''She's even coming'' use ''She's also coming''
Me and my family
For heaven's sake put the monkey behind. Its "my family and I''. This might be accepted in the US, but did you forget we follow the rules of UK English?
The "sir theory"
Sir is an honorific used as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given name or family name in many English speaking cultures. It is often used in formal correspondence like "dear sir" etc..
But using Sir after a name is wrong. Just say "sir" or "Mr. Ronald"
Please put a mail
Where would you want us to 'put' a mail?
And how exactly would you like us to 'put' it?
You get the drift, right?
When you say 'Put a mail', you are most likely (and unconsciously) translating from colloquial Hindi -- 'Ek mail daal do.'
5 a.m. in the morning
Knowing what 'a.m.' means what is the necessity of morning there?
Instead use" I woke up by 5 a.m." or I woke up 5 in the morning".
Wind/Rain is coming
From where will wind come? Air cannot come. So can’t rain or any other natural phenomenon for that matter. Just saying “It’s windy” or “It looks like it’s going to rain” will do.
From where will wind come? Air cannot come. So can’t rain or any other natural phenomenon for that matter. Just saying “It’s windy” or “It looks like it’s going to rain” will do.
Out of station
Out of which 'station'?
Use 'out of town' instead.
Discuss about
The word discuss means 'talk about'
So there is no need of 'about' in the sentence.
Order for
When you order something, you order it, you do not order for it.
Can be able to
Both can and able hold the same meaning
So instead of
I can be able to do it.
Say
I can do it.
or
I will be able to do it.
Kindly revert
In Standard English,revert means return to a former state.
So one cannot revert after reading your mail.
Instead of saying
Kindly revert back to me.
Say
Please reply to me.
Do the needful
Here come the king of indianism, 'Do the needful' is a very old fashioned English. It went out of style decades ago,by the time British left. This is outdated all over the world expect India
So instead of
Please do the needful.
Say,
Please do what is necessary or needed.
Years back
If anything has happened in past, its 'years ago' and not years back.
The Indian-ism of Indian English can add unique character to the language just like US English or Australian English which is very different to that of UK’s. But we must remember to get our grammar correct.
