Why I didn’t correct you

People ask me this, and some of them ask twice before they believe the answer. Why don’t you correct me?

There’s a moment, when you know the word came out wrong, where you brace for the red pen. Most of my clients have had that pen since school.

I let it go because I understood you. A different word arrived, the meaning came through, and stopping would have cost more than the mistake did. Sometimes I say your sentence back with the word you were reaching for. Sometimes I don’t.

Some words do matter, and those we stop for. The rest of the time you’re doing the hardest thing there is in a second language, which is speaking it in real time, and the red pen can wait.

Quick win: After your next English call, ask yourself one question. Did we understand each other? Save “was that correct” for the writing.