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Author Archives: barnabyharward
Misused English terms in EU publications
There is a general opinion among non-native speakers of English that the language of official publications is correct and may be used as a model to follow. Unfortunately, when it comes to many official EU documents, this opinion is wrong. Due to … Continue reading
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The difference between “in future” and “in the future”
Consider these examples: You should be more careful in future. In the future we plan to make significant investments in Romania and Bulgaria. In the first example “in future” means “from now on and always”. It is often used in … Continue reading
The difference between “affect” and “effect”
Generally speaking, the difference is this: “affect” is a verb meaning to have an influence on, to cause a change in something (often negative), “effect” is a noun meaning a result. So, for example: If an area is affected by flooding, … Continue reading
Differences between British and American English
When you write in English you should decide whether to use British or American. Some companies have a policy about this, but many do not. Either way, you should aim to be consistent throughout a piece of writing. The table … Continue reading
The difference between “in case” and “in the case”
“In the case” means “if”. For example: In the case the Lessee fails to undertake reparations within this period, the Lessor may terminate the Lease. = If the Lessee fails to undertake reparations… You may also use this phrase with … Continue reading
How to use the word “control”
“Control” can be either a noun or a verb. It is commonly misused in both instances. “Control” as a noun WRONG As the Branch is an organisational part of the Company, the public authorities may ask for these documents in … Continue reading
Differences between “on” and “at” (and “in”)
This may seem simple, but it’s surprising how many advanced speakers of English as a foreign language continue to make mistakes with prepositions.
How to use the word “risk”
Consider the following: There is a potential risk that the Company may refuse to satisfy your demand. Almost every time I read the word “risk” I have to correct how it is used. This is usually because it is preceded … Continue reading
The difference between “milliard” and “billion”
In English, a “billion” is 1 000 000 000 (a thousand million). This has always been the case in US English. In British English, in the past the word “billion” meant a million million. If we wanted to refer to a thousand … Continue reading
Don’t use double negatives
My last post referred to confusing multiple negatives. This one looks at the common grammatical problem of double negatives. Have a look at this example: WRONG This Escrow Account Agreement expires if no money is not credited to the Escrow … Continue reading
Common Mistakes in Business English 