We’ve talked about the importance of using plain language before.

If you want your texts to be easy to understand, here are some tips to help you:

Do you want to sound more sophisticated, professional or distant?

If so, you might be tempted to use the nominal style. But be careful! Nominalisation can also make your writing difficult to understand and impersonal.

In her German newsletter, Dr. Annika Lamer explains what nominalisation is and why it’s important to use it consciously when writing German texts.

However, it’s important to use it consciously in English, too.

In a previous blog post, I wrote about avoiding nominalisations in English.

What we need to do

1. Use verbs instead of nouns. For example, say “We decided” instead of “We made a decision” or “They discussed” instead of “They had a discussion.”
2. Use active voice instead of passive voice. For example, say “John completed the project” instead of saying “The completion of the project was achieved by John.“
3. Keep sentences straightforward.  Avoid using long, complicated sentences. Shorter, simpler sentences are easier to understand.
4. Focus on clarity and readability: Make sure your writing is clear and easy to understand for your target audience. 

Follow these tips to help you write clear, concise and engaging English.

Your readers will thank you. 

Is it really?

Well, Foil thinks so.

Look here: https://youtu.be/JjyM3u1VdpY?si=3VgMddlt8znc0Jpi

Imagine you come from an English-speaking country.

A job offer lands on your desk. But there’s a catch—it’s in Germany!

The only thing standing between you and this career leap? The German language.

Now, this might seem like a mountain to climb. But worry not! I’ve got some ‘wunderbare’ tips to transform you into a German maestro in a jiffy!

1. German: Where Words Dance in Harmony

German is a language where words waltz together, creating splendid combinations. Take ‘Handschuh’ (hand shoe), for instance, which means glove! Imagine a shoe, but for your hand. That’s German creativity in action!

2. A Symphony of Sounds: A Vocal Rollercoaster

Hold on tight! In German, ‘w’ sounds like ‘v,’ ‘j’ is your trusty ‘y,’ and ‘z’ throws a linguistic curveball, morphing into ‘ts.’ Buckle up for a ride on this exhilarating vocal rollercoaster!

3. Mastering the Art of ‘Wollen Sie’

German isn’t just a language; it’s an art form waiting to be painted. Begin your masterpiece with ‘wollen Sie’ (Do you want), add an English word—and voila! You’re crafting sentences with the finesse of a German poet, perhaps with a dash of a tipsy accent for flavour!

4. German Genders

In German objects have genders—masculine, feminine, neuter. Yes, you heard it right! Your table might identify as male. Fear not, though; you’ll master this gender game swiftly.

The quirks and twists of German are all part of the adventure!

Enjoy the ride as you unravel the language’s mysteries—and gear up for a ‘wunderbare’ linguistic escapade!

Can a nine-word question help us make better decisions?

Dan Pink explains how self-distancing can help, by asking ourselves, “What would I tell my best friend to do?” 

Give it a try next time!

Let’s have a laugh with British comedian Michael McIntyre as he spills the beans on how Americans jazz up English!

According to Michael, Americans are like artists with words. They add more details to make their English clearer and more precise.

For instance, they transformed “pavement” into “sidewalk” because, well, it’s where you walk, isn’t it?

Then there’s the “bin” makeover.

Americans decided, “Hey, let’s call it a ‘waste paper basket’ so nobody throws their lunch in there accidentally.”

But the word party doesn’t stop there!

Americans brought in “eyeglasses” to let you know exactly where those glasses belong—on your eyes, not your feet.

And racquetball? It’s like squash but played with a racquet!

Remember, Michael was just having a chuckle. He loves the American twist on English.

No hard feelings, just a good ol’ laugh! 😄