Are You Translating Word for Word?

I love catching those tiny translation mistakes that make you sound… well, German.

Here’s what I often hear:

• “I will inform you until Friday”
• “I became a call yesterday”
• “I am holding a presentation next week”

What you actually want to say:

• “I’ll let you know by Friday”
• “I received/got a call yesterday”
• “I’m giving/delivering a presentation next week”

The funny thing?

Native speakers understand you perfectly. But these small tweaks make ALL the difference in how professional we sound.

My tip?

Pick one phrase that you use often and consciously switch it for a week. Just one. Once that feels natural, move to the next. Small changes, big impact on how confident you sound.