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Author Archives: Mike Wilkinson

Nicknames

A nickname isn’t a preferred short, alternative or familiar form of the actual name on youur passport. It may be mean and unkind, unrelated to the actual name, or even offensive.

Posted byMike WilkinsonNovember 1, 2021November 11, 2021Posted inAdvanced, Fake English, MistranslationsTags:dunglish, engels, roepnaam1 Comment on Nicknames

When isn’t it -ize?

When you’re using the -ize spelling rather than -ise, there are some words that retain the -ise ending nevertheless. How can you tell?

Posted byMike WilkinsonOctober 28, 2021October 28, 2021Posted inAdvanced, US-UK issuesTags:-ise spelling, -ize spelling, dunglish, engels1 Comment on When isn’t it -ize?

Get real

A very versatile verb that native English uses a great deal but is often forgotten about by non-natives: to get.

Posted byMike WilkinsonOctober 26, 2021October 26, 2021Posted inAdvanced, Style, Underused wordsTags:dunglish, engelsLeave a comment on Get real

An existential question

Casually noting that something is present in English just uses the verb “to be”, whereas “to exist” is reserved for more positive assertions.

Posted byMike WilkinsonOctober 20, 2021October 20, 2021Posted inAdvanced, Overused words, StyleTags:bestaan, bestaan uit, dunglish, engels3 Comments on An existential question

Richard of York gave battle in vain

That’s the mnemonic we all learned at primary school in England for the colours of the rainbow. Unfortunately, that’s one more colour than in Dutch!

Posted byMike WilkinsonOctober 12, 2021Posted inAdvanced, CulturalTags:dunglish, engels, regenboog, spectrum3 Comments on Richard of York gave battle in vain

Zwarte Piet

No matter what your personal take is on Black Peter, be aware that Brits and Americans are liable to see him as an offensive racial stereotype.

Posted byMike WilkinsonOctober 4, 2021October 4, 2021Posted inBackground, CulturalTags:dunglish, engels, Zwarte Piet1 Comment on Zwarte Piet

As you ought to realise

Realising mostly means comprehending rather than creating something: getting the picture, not painting it.

Posted byMike WilkinsonOctober 3, 2021Posted inAdvanced, Dual meanings, Overused wordsTags:dunglish, engels, realiseren, zich realiserenLeave a comment on As you ought to realise

Biological or organic?

Environmentally-aware agriculture is organic in English, not biological.

Posted byMike WilkinsonSeptember 26, 2021Posted inAdvanced, Dual meanings, MistranslationsTags:biologisch, dunglish, engelsLeave a comment on Biological or organic?

A timely reminder

A project can be completed on time, or in good time, or as scheduled. But the nuances of “timely” aren’t always quite the same.

Posted byMike WilkinsonSeptember 15, 2021Posted inAdvanced, Style, US-UK issues, Wrong registerTags:dunglish, engels, Eurospeak, tijdigLeave a comment on A timely reminder

Expertise

Only use this to mean someone’s acquired skill and knowledge in English, not as a term for a valuation or checkup or other professional opinion.

Posted byMike WilkinsonSeptember 11, 2021Posted inAdvanced, Dual meanings, Mistranslations, StyleTags:contra-expertise, dunglish, engels, expertiseLeave a comment on Expertise

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