Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing in Different Types of English

Writing in a non-native version of English is doable but isn’t as easy as you might think

Many online writers are having to branch out to find work at the moment. The take-up of AI has pulled jobs out of the sector, lowered rates, and increased competition.

While some writers look to break into new niches or writing formats, some find work in different countries. They pitch to write articles or blogs in a different version of English.

So, a British writer might apply for contracts to write in Australian or US English. This switch is feasible. You can technically work in any English-speaking market if you speak English.

However, it isn’t an easy switch to make at the start. If you assume that English is one big global language and don’t write according to geographic conventions, then you will make mistakes.

These translation errors can affect the readability and accuracy of the articles you write. They can affect the number of revisions you have to make and, in some cases, your acceptance rates.

Let’s look at some of the common mistakes you might make when you make this switch and how to avoid them.

You put too much confidence in spelling and grammar tools

Spell checkers and grammar tools make it easier to write in a different version of English. You simply set the language in which you want to write. The checker or tool should then pick up any spelling or grammar mistakes.

The keyword here is should.

These tools are not perfect, and you can’t solely rely on them to convert your version of English into that of another country. They won’t spot some errors.

For example, if you are a US writer writing an article for a UK client about personal banking, then you might run into a cheque/check problem. The UK uses cheques; the US uses checks.

Tools set to UK English will accept both spellings. If you don’t know that there is a difference, then you might use a check instead of a cheque.

Is this really a big deal? Well, a sharp-eyed client will want a revision; their perception of your skills might go down a notch. If you publish directly, then your article might lose reader credibility because of this typo.

You use the wrong words in the wrong context

Some words have different meanings in different versions of English. If you aren’t familiar with a word’s usage, you might use it incorrectly.

Take the straps that people wear to hold up trousers. In the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, they are called braces. In the US and Canada, they are called suspenders.

However, in the UK, suspenders are garter belts that hold up women’s stockings. Still with me?

If you write for a UK audience and talk about someone putting on his suspenders, then your reader will not have the right image in their head. They’ll see a man wearing a garter belt and stockings.

If you talk about the man putting suspenders on his pants, then you compound the problem. In the UK, we wear trousers instead of pants. Pants are underwear.

Even if your reader knows these differences, you affect your readability flow. Using these words in the wrong context is jarring. It makes the reader stop and think rather than focus on your writing.

You use the wrong idioms

Idioms and slang phrases can add a voice and regional credibility to your writing. However, you should be careful how you use them. Don’t assume that the idioms and phrases you use will translate to another region.

Sometimes, phrases are similar but use different words. For example, you flog a dead horse in the UK and beat one in the US.

Other times, they are just confusing. Brits jump a queue. Some might not understand what the US phrase — cut in line — means.

Using the wrong idiom or phrase for your geographical target makes your writing stand out in the wrong way. If someone has to figure out what you mean, then you lose their reading attention for a while.

You introduce factual errors

Some writers introduce mistakes and inaccuracies when they write in non-native English. These can affect the value and credibility of the information in an article to a reader.

For example, if you are giving directions to the bottom floor of a building in the UK, you would use the ground floor. This might confuse an American for whom the ground floor is the first floor. They might think that your information is inaccurate. You lose trust.

How to avoid making these mistakes

I started writing online content for US clients years ago. My content probably wasn’t great to start with. I made some of these mistakes and ended up writing bland and functional copy just to avoid sounding like a Brit.

I started to note down American words, spellings, and idioms in a notebook. Reading books by American authors and watching US TV shows and films helped. I would jot down anything that didn’t sound British. Gradually, I knew enough to relax and find an American voice.

I did the same thing whenever I worked on any new version of English.

Do be careful of your sources here. Pulling out phrases from Downton Abbey won’t make an article read right for a modern UK reader; writing like you’re a character in The Wire won’t help you create professional copy for an American company.

It’s also worth thinking about the topic words you use and checking them. For example, if you’re writing about cars, then search online to check if the part names you use are different in your target country.

Finally, keep this George Bernard Shaw quote in mind.

England and America are two countries separated by a common language.

This applies to the differences between all English-speaking countries. We all use the same language, but each of our languages is different.

If you remember this quote as you research and write, then you have a better chance of creating copy that reads like it was written by a native speaker.