Business Emails – The Informal Trap
August 8, 2013Here are the Top 6 grammar mistakes I see Israeli business executives making: what are your thoughts?
- I’m speaking English with my overseas clients.
instead of > I speak English with my overseas clients.
- Yossi reports to his boss which is the CFO.
instead of > Yossi reports to his boss who is the CFO.
- These meetings is for all employees.
instead of > These meetings are for all employees.
- She wrote email to her staff.
instead of > She wrote an email to her staff.
- On August, I am leaving on a business trip.
instead of > In August, I am leaving on a business trip.
- Last week, we go to a business conference.
instead of > Last week, we went to a business conference.
Some people get hung up on grammar; some don’t think it’s important at all. BUT if this is your first contact, remember – first impressions are critical.
An English speaker will mark you as unrefined or unsophisticated when you make grammatical mistakes. If you’re going to engage with high-level people, this can mean the difference between landing a job/deal or not, leaving a good impression or not, and managing a crisis, or not.