“I’ve been hearing this for over 25 years. And it’s wrong”, I often say in my training sessions.

The myths always sound the same:
❌ Complex words prove expertise.
❌ Jargon builds credibility.
❌ Plain English is boring.
❌ People don’t want it simple.
❌ Nuances will be lost.

But the truth looks different:
If people can’t follow you, they won’t remember you.
If they feel excluded, they won’t trust you.
And if it’s boring, it’s not the words — it’s you.

Plain English doesn’t mean “dumbing something down.”
It’s smart, respectful and essential in global business.

Do you want people to listen, remember and act?
Then stop hiding behind complexity.
Make it understandable.

I experience it daily: those who communicate clearly get through. 

💬 What do you think? Simple or complex?

Welcome to this week’s Sparks Plus — your quick, practical boost for clearer, more confident English.
Five short sections, all easy to read and use right away.

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1️⃣ Quick Win

The past of must is had to.

Example:

• Present: I must finish this report today.
• Past: I had to finish the report yesterday.

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2️⃣ Real-World English in Action

A client said, “I’m in the home office today.”

In German, “Homeoffice” means working from home.
In English, home office means your study or workspace at home (and “Innenministerium” in Britain).

Say: I’m working from home.

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3️⃣ Christine’s Pick

Tool I Love: Reverso Context. See how words are used in real sentences, not just dictionary definitions.
Perfect for checking tone, style and usage.

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4️⃣ Reader Question

Q: Is it OK to write “Dear all” in a business email?

A: It’s common in international teams, but I recommend “Hello everyone” for a friendlier, more global tone.

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5️⃣ Spotlight

Want to practise speaking in a safe, friendly group?
Join my next Speed Networking for the Bold & Brave today at 12pm.

It’s free — and you’ll leave feeling more confident in English.
Save your place here.

Thanks to a recent post by Daniel Pink for sparking this thought…

Here’s a small shift that changes everything:
Stop only telling people what you do.
Start telling them who you are.

• “I solve problems” → “I’m a problem solver”
• “I design websites” → “I’m a web designer”
• “I write reports” → “I’m a strong communicator”

Why it works:
Nouns like designer, leader, strategist sound more professional.
They help others see your strengths and help you believe in them too.

Try it now:
Imagine you’re applying for your dream job.
What’s one sentence you could upgrade?

👇 Would you like to share it with me — or just say it out loud?
(You might be surprised how good it feels.)

You think you’ve nailed the pronunciation…
and then someone tells you the “k” in knife is silent.
Or that the “p” in psychology is just… pretending.
And Wednesday?
The first “d” is basically on holiday.

This isn’t your imagination.
It’s not even rare.
It’s just… English.

I see this all the time in business conversations:
German professionals freeze for a split second, wondering,
Do I say this letter… or leave it out?

Here’s the thing:
Every language has its quirks.
This just happens to be one of English’s favourites.

Don’t let it throw you.
Laugh at it. Learn it. Move on.
(And remember — even native speakers mess up Wednesday sometimes.)

💬 Which silent letter trips you up the most?

I meet them every week — and they always make me smile. ✌

There’s Present Perfect Peter:

“I have written the report yesterday.”

Freeze-Up Fiona:
C1 certificate… but silent in meetings.

Dictionary Diana:
Fluent — as long as DeepL is running.

Polite Petra:
Starts every team email with “Dear Sir or Madam.”

And then…

• Overthinking Olga – rehearses every sentence three times
• Accent-Anxious Anni – apologises before every English word
• Culture-Worried Klaus – terrified of sounding rude
• Direct Dieter – allergic to small talk
• Grammar-Obsessed Greg – lives by the rulebook
• Shy Simon – barely heard in meetings
• Chitchat-Challenged Christina – freezes at “How was your weekend?”
• Idiom-Confused Ingo – takes them all literally
• Perfectionist Peter – rewrites everything three times

Hand on heart:
Which one are you?
The perfectionist?
The cautious one?
The formal one?

(It’s okay to be a mix. Most of us are. 😉)

PS Not sure. Do the fun quiz to find out! 

“Best regards” is like that colleague who’s always polite…
but never really warm.

I see it everywhere.
German professionals sign off every email with it.
Formal. Predictable.
And completely forgettable.

Your email closing is your digital handshake.
It’s the last thing people read.
And Best regards often feels like a limp handshake — safe, but not exactly memorable.

You have other options:
Ones that sound warmer.
Ones that match the relationship.
Ones that actually feel human.

The shift?
Stop defaulting to Best regards just because it feels safe.
Choose something that fits the person and the context.

Your emails will feel different.
And so will the way people respond to you.

💬 Be honest — what’s your real go-to sign-off?