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Category Archives: Style

Executing, accomplishing, performing

When a task is being done, far simpler alternatives are available. The one that is most commonly overlooked is to “carry out”.

Posted byMike WilkinsonJuly 6, 2021Posted inAdvanced, Style, Wrong registerTags:dunglish, engels, uitvoeren, uitvoeringLeave a comment on Executing, accomplishing, performing

Don’t mention it

When someone mentions something, it’s a minor sideline, a small point. “Oh, by the way…” Not a general verb for a statement in a report or document.

Posted byMike WilkinsonApril 29, 2021May 1, 2021Posted inAdvanced, Overused words, StyleTags:dunglish, engelsLeave a comment on Don’t mention it

Chapter and verse

A document really has to be pretty large before you can call its subdivisions “chapters”. We’re talking a small book, not a ten-pager.

Posted byMike WilkinsonApril 18, 2021Posted inAdvanced, Overused words, StyleTags:dunglish, engels, hoofdstukLeave a comment on Chapter and verse

A programme of programs

In British English, the spelling “program” is normally used nowadays for IT but “programme” is still the norm for other contexts.

Posted byMike WilkinsonApril 15, 2021April 15, 2021Posted inAdvanced, Style, US-UK issuesTags:dunglish, engels, programmaLeave a comment on A programme of programs

A telling point

The verb “to tell” is quite widely used and versatile in English, but comparatively rarely used by non-natives.

Posted byMike WilkinsonApril 5, 2021Posted inAdvanced, Style, Underused words, Wrong registerTags:dunglish, engels3 Comments on A telling point

Support

A perfectly good word, but hugely less common than its Dutch equivalent. So Dutch authors overuse it horrendously.

Posted byMike WilkinsonMarch 24, 2021Posted inAdvanced, Overused words, StyleTags:dunglish, engels, ondersteunen, ondersteuningLeave a comment on Support

Sir McCartney…?

Nope. On the rare occasions you’re referring to somone with the title, it goes with the first name: Sir Paul. Otherwise ‘sir’ is a standalone without any name attached.

Posted byMike WilkinsonJanuary 19, 2021January 19, 2021Posted inAddressing, Advanced, Style, US-UK issuesTags:dunglish, engels, sirLeave a comment on Sir McCartney…?

Tautologous doublures

In an effort to make a text sound richer and wordier, Dutch authors sometimes include both the Dutch and English in the same phrase.

Posted byMike WilkinsonJanuary 17, 2021January 17, 2021Posted inAdvanced, StyleTags:dienst, dunglish, engels, serviceLeave a comment on Tautologous doublures

In relation to, with regard to

Texts by Dutch authors tend to be full of little phrases like these. Sure, they have their place, but there’s often a natural one-word alternative.

Posted byMike WilkinsonJanuary 8, 2021Posted inAdvanced, Longwindedness, Overused words, StyleTags:dunglish, engelsLeave a comment on In relation to, with regard to

Youth and young people

“Youth” has several meanings but often with an old-fashioned, condescending, daddy-knows-best feel to it.

Posted byMike WilkinsonDecember 30, 2020Posted inAdvanced, Style, Wrong registerTags:dunglish, engels, jeugd, jeugdherbergLeave a comment on Youth and young people

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