Vernon H.’s Post

What's the best way to learn phrasal verbs? One of my students asked me this question the other day. I wanted to share my answer with you here in case you have the same question. ❌ Learning long lists of phrasal verbs is not very effective ❗ It is important to learn phrasal verbs that are important to you as an accountant and you feel comfortable using. I suggest that you ➡️ start a “Phrasal Verb” vocabulary book. ➡️ enter the verbs that YOU want to remember. ➡️ Include a meaningful example sentences. ➡️ Review them regularly ➡️ Challenge yourself to use one a day. When you study phrasal verbs, you should think about these 3 questions: ❔ Is it necessary for me to learn hundreds of phrasal verbs? ❔ Do the strategies I use for learning and remembering phrasal verbs actually work for me? ❔ What learning strategies might help me improve my ability to learn phrasal verbs? 🚀 Let me know in the comments below: What phrasal verbs do you use regularly and which would you like to use? #AccountingEnglish #AccountingAndAccountants #BusinessEnglishCoach To learn more about phrasal verbs, whether you need them and how to learn them, read my article. https://lnkd.in/dxEVvbH

Translation is trust and trust breaks when meaning gets lost. I’ve seen people lose credibility over one mistranslated word. Not because they didn’t try , but because Google Translate doesn’t know tone, culture, or context. Here’s the thing: translation isn’t about switching words. It’s about switching worlds. 🌍 When you translate without understanding the message behind the words, you don’t just lose meaning, you lose people. I’ve read NGO reports that sound like robots wrote them. Proposals that feel flat because emotion got lost mid-sentence. And academic work that’s grammatically perfect but soulless. Because no matter the language, people read emotion before they read grammar. So next time you’re translating something from English to French, or your local language to English, don’t aim to sound “correct.” Aim to sound clear, human, and credible. If your message had to cross one more language today, would it still sound like you?

Grammar crammer - might and may ‘May’ and ‘might’ are often used as if they mean the same thing, but they don’t quite overlap. The difference lies mainly in likelihood and tense. ‘May’ usually refers to the present or future and suggests that something is probable. It can also be used to ask for or grant permission - for example, ‘You may leave now’ or ‘May I open the window?’ ‘Might’ is generally linked to the past and describes situations that are less likely or more speculative. It can also refer to events that didn’t happen. In British English, ‘might’ is sometimes used to ask for permission, though this is far less common in American English. If you want to test which to use, think about how certain you are. If something seems likely, use ‘may’: ‘I may apply for that course.’ If it seems uncertain or hypothetical, use ‘might’: ‘I might apply if I have time.’ In terms of tense, ‘may’ fits best with the present or future, while ‘might’ works well with the past, as in ‘She said she might call later.’ ‘May be’ and ‘might be’ follow the same logic. ‘May be’ expresses a likely possibility, as in ‘The meeting may be postponed.’ ‘Might be’ suggests a weaker or more tentative possibility, or a polite suggestion: ‘You might be better off waiting until tomorrow.’ In short, ‘may’ usually expresses permission or probability, while ‘might’ leans towards uncertainty or speculation. The two often overlap, but context will guide the right choice.

There’s no such thing as “The English.” Wait... what? Yes, you read that right. There isn’t one English. There are many. 🗺️ American vs. British English: → “Elevator” vs. “Lift” → “Cookie” vs. “Biscuit” → “Vacation” vs. “Holiday” → “Realize” vs. “Realise” 🇬🇧 British vs. the rest of the world: → “Thongs” (AUS) = flip-flops, not what you think 😅 → “Robot” (SA) = traffic light → “Arvo” (AUS) = afternoon → “Gaff” (IRL) = house 💼 Corporate vs. Everyday English: → “Let’s circle back” = “Let’s talk later.” → “Low-hanging fruit” = “Easy win.” → “Take ownership” = “Be responsible.” ⚖️ Legal vs. Medical vs. Tech English: → “Due diligence” (Legal) → “Symptoms” or “Dosage” (Medical) → “Deployment,” “Debugging,” “Scalability” (Tech) 🎓 Academic vs. Functional English: → “The aforementioned phenomenon” (Academic) → “Like we said before…” (Functional) 💬 Formal vs. Informal: → “I would appreciate it if you could…” → “Can you send it over?” 🗣️ Slang vs. Perfect Grammar: → “I ain’t got no time for that.” → “I don’t have time for that.” So, what’s correct English, then? Here’s what I believe 👇 The idea of “correct English” loses its power once you realize there are "Englishes", different versions, accents, registers, and styles that reflect culture, purpose, and personality. Once again, this shows that perfection doesn't really exist... But we must choose the English that serves our goals. Get a general foundation, yes. But then, specialize: 📍 If you work in IT → learn technical and business English. 📍 If you’re in healthcare → focus on medical communication. 📍 If you negotiate, present, or lead → build your functional fluency. Because real success doesn’t come from “sounding native.” It comes from being effective, authentic, and clear. Always remember: the purpose of a language is to communicate and connect with others, not to judge them. 💭 What kind of English do you use the most, and how does it show up in your daily life or work? Image credit: "r/therewasanattempt" on reddit

Translation isn’t about words. It’s about worldviews. Because sometimes, it’s not just the language that changes, it’s the logic. On Monday, my sister texted me asking to translate my nephew’s science notes from English to French. Due to the political instability, he couldn’t make it to school, and his teacher had sent voice notes for revision. As the “writer” of the family, I said, “Sure, easy.” Until I got to flat bones. And my confident “os plats” suddenly… wasn’t giving 😅 That’s when I remembered , technical translation isn’t a word-for-word task. 📌You need context, field knowledge, and sometimes even subject-matter experience. That’s the real secret behind good translation: It’s not about being bilingual, it’s about being bicultural. Because when science, medicine, or law enters the chat, Google Translate bows out gracefully. Whether you’re writing a proposal, a report, or even training material, your translation partner needs to understand your domain, not just your dictionary. Ever come across a word that sounded “right” but just didn’t fit the context? Maybe from your local language to English or vice versa? Drop it below , let’s compare our funniest translation fails 👇🏽

ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION AND SPELLING English pronunciation and spelling differ because English has undergone significant changes since its spelling was standardized, including sound shifts, while its spelling remained relatively static. This is compounded by the language borrowing words from many other languages, often keeping their original spelling but adapting the pronunciation, and a mismatch between the number of sounds in English and the 26 letters available to spell them. Key reasons for the difference Language evolution: The pronunciation of English has changed over centuries, but spelling conventions have not always kept up. The most significant example is the Great Vowel Shift, where the pronunciation of long vowels changed dramatically between the 15th and 16th centuries, leaving the spelling unchanged. Borrowing words: English has incorporated many words from other languages (like French, Latin, and Spanish), but has often kept the original spelling while adapting the pronunciation. Examples: The word "lieutenant" is spelled according to French rules but pronounced differently, and "debt" was originally spelled "det" before a silent "b" was added to make it look more like its Latin root, debitum. Limited alphabet: English has a large number of vowel sounds (around 20), but only five vowel letters (a, e, i, o, u) and sometimes 'y'. This requires using multiple letters to spell a single sound (e.g., the "ea" in "read") or using the same letter for different sounds (e.g., the 'i' in "bit" and "bite"). Historical spelling decisions: Some spelling conventions were established by early English scribes, who based their work on French spelling rules after the Norman invasion, or on the incorrect assumption of a word's etymology. Silent letters: Many words have silent letters that are a legacy of older pronunciations. For example, the 'k' in words like "knee" was once pronounced, but its use in spelling has remained even after it was dropped from pronunciation.

😂 Ah, the art of saying “F* off” in corporate** — politely! Here are some of the best “corporate-friendly translations” that say it without actually saying it 👇 --- 💼 1. “Thanks for your input — we’ll take it from here.” 👉 Translation: Please stop interfering. --- 💼 2. “Let’s agree to disagree.” 👉 Translation: You’re wrong, but I don’t have the energy to argue. --- 💼 3. “I appreciate your perspective.” 👉 Translation: That’s the dumbest thing I’ve heard today. --- 💼 4. “Noted.” 👉 Translation: Ignored completely. --- 💼 5. “I’ll keep that in mind for future reference.” 👉 Translation: Never happening. Ever. --- 💼 6. “Per my last email…” 👉 Translation: Can you read properly this time? 😅 --- 💼 7. “That’s an interesting suggestion.” 👉 Translation: Absolutely not. --- 💼 8. “Let’s revisit this later.” 👉 Translation: Let’s pretend this never existed. --- 💼 9. “I’ll take it under consideration.” 👉 Translation: Deleted from my mind instantly. --- 💼 10. “I’ll let you know if anything changes.” 👉 Translation: It won’t. Don’t wait up.

At what point does clarity stop being clear — and start sounding careless? When drafting in English, that’s the line every professional needs to find. ⚖️ Too formal, and readers struggle to follow. 💬 Too casual, and the text starts losing authority. 🧠 Studies show that contracts written in plain English are: ✅ easier to understand, ✅ reduce negotiation friction, and ✅ build trust between parties. ❌ But when the tone slips into everyday conversational English, that trust drops again. 👉 Why? Because tone signals intention. When a contract sounds like a contract — concise, structured, and respectful of formality — it feels reliable. When it sounds like an email, it doesn’t. That’s why I teach my students to: ✏️ Rework authentic clauses in Before/After pairs to keep precision while improving flow. 🔍 Replace nominalizations (“make a payment”) with verbs (“pay”) to sound direct but still professional. 🤖 Use AI as a language-awareness tool, not a replacement for judgment. These small shifts make contracts sound more trustworthy without losing their legal force. For professionals who use English as a second or foreign language, mastering that balance changes everything — not just how you write, but how your writing is received. Because plain language isn’t about simplifying. It’s about writing with clarity, confidence, and credibility. 👉 Join the waitlist for The Contract English Accelerator (link in the first comment).

✍️ Commas Can Change Meaning — Especially with “Which”! One of the most overlooked yet crucial aspects of transcription is understanding how punctuation shapes meaning. Take this simple example 👇 ➡️ “There is a representative policy board which I report to.” ➡️ “There is a representative policy board, which I report to.” Both sound the same when spoken — but the comma completely changes the meaning. 🔹 In the first sentence (no comma), the clause “which I report to” defines the board. It means there could be many policy boards, but the speaker refers to the specific one they report to. 🔹 In the second sentence (with a comma), the clause is non-defining — it just adds extra information. There’s only one policy board, and the speaker happens to report to it. Here’s another simple illustration 👇 🐾 “A black cat which is hungry jumped on the table.” → There are many black cats, but the one that’s hungry jumped on the table. 🐾 “A black cat, which is hungry, jumped on the table.” → There’s only one black cat — and by the way, it’s hungry. 💡 Pro Tip for Transcribers: As a transcriber, our job is to ensure the meaning is clear, not just the sound. Many Indian English transcribers tend to treat commas as optional — often using them interchangeably or inconsistently, especially before “which.” This habit can blur the intended meaning and cause confusion in formal or professional transcripts. As transcribers, we must listen carefully and apply grammar consciously, not casually. A misplaced comma can change the context, tone, or even accuracy — especially in legal, medical, or corporate transcripts. So next time you review your work, ask yourself: “Am I defining something, or just adding extra information?” That single comma can make all the difference. ✨ #TranscriptionTips #GrammarMatters #CommaRules #Transcribers #PunctuationMatters #IndianEnglish #LanguageClarity #WritingTips

If anyone is interested in developing their skills in English, a quick thought based on my experience that might be helpful. 💬 Here are some tips for developing this skill: 1. Naturally expand your vocabulary through reading. The most effective way to grow your vocabulary is through immersion in varied reading materials. Novels, essays, poems, news articles expose readers to different registers of language and styles of expression. When reading, note down unfamiliar or intriguing words and then look for opportunities to use them naturally in speech or writing. 2. Improving your writing skills. Journaling, blogging, or composing short essays can help maintain fluency and discipline. Beyond simply writing, reading with a critical eye is essential. Observing how great writers craft their sentences can teach lessons no grammar textbook ever could. Another important factor is the process of revision. Editing forces a writer to confront weaknesses in phrasing and organization, teaching conciseness and coherence. Seeking feedback from peers, mentors, or online writing communities provides fresh perspectives that can accelerate improvement. 3. Refine speaking and communication. Mastering a language also means being able to speak it effectively. Engaging in public speaking, debate clubs, or discussion groups can strengthen your ability to organize thoughts and express them persuasively. Listening to skilled English speakers through podcasts, TED Talks, or interviews can serve as an informal education in rhythm and delivery. Emulating their pacing and phrasing helps build confidence and eloquence. 4. Think critically in English. This means engaging deeply with ideas: questioning, analyzing, and articulating responses. Reading opinion pieces, philosophical essays, or editorials can stretch your intellectual engagement with the language. Writing reflections or summaries after reading or watching something complex can help clarify one’s understanding and improve analytical writing. This habit cultivates both intellectual discipline and linguistic sophistication. 5. Explore the global varieties of English. British, American, Australian, Canadian, and Caribbean English each have unique idioms, pronunciations, and cultural references. Learning about these differences enhances cultural awareness and broadens one’s appreciation of the language’s diversity. It also helps you become more adaptable, capable of understanding and relating to people across linguistic and cultural boundaries.