Unlike in Dutch, the word “own” can’t stand alone. You’ve always got to make clear who it is referring to.
Author Archives: Mike Wilkinson
Allow to do something
This structure always needs to say who is being permitted to do something. It can’t stand alone.
New speaker, new line
If your text is to flow naturally, typographical conventions need to be observed as well. It’s not just about getting the wording right.
A twelve-and-a-halfth anniversary
It’s not a number of years that gets celebrated in the English-speaking world. Rephrasing or explanation is needed if you don’t want readers scratching their heads.
Clause order
In 1972, the company was founded. The company was founded in 1972. Both valid, depending on the emphasis, but the default for Dutch writers is often the less obvious form.
Medical Latin
Don’t assume that Latin in Dutch medical texts will be the same in English: this is often not the case. Abbreviations in particular can be incomprehensible to English speakers, even doctors
Let it be
Of several small, versatile words that are widely used by English authors and hardly ever turn up in non-native texts, the one that’s missed most often is “let”.
Answering your own questions
Want your English to sound natural? Then don’t keep answering your own questions. Want to know more? Read on!
A monumental mistake
A monument is a structure erected in remembrance of a person or event. They’re often on a grand scale, which is why “monumental” simply means extremely large.
Propagating initial capitals
Where sentences don’t start with a capital for some reason, there’s no need to propagate the need for one until you find somewhere to put it.
Advanced Dunglish 