Tag Archives: British/US English

How to talk on the phone

Posted on May 4, 2015 by

Here are a few examples of phrases commonly used in telephone conversations. Obviously the people’s names and the company name are invented. Introducing yourself If an assistant answers the phone: They say: Good morning, Company X, How can I help you? … Continue reading →

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The difference between “in future” and “in the future”

Posted on April 11, 2014 by

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 →

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Differences between British and American English

Posted on December 16, 2013 by

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 →

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The difference between “milliard” and “billion”

Posted on May 21, 2013 by

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 →

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How to end emails

Posted on November 6, 2012 by

Here are the basic rules for starting and ending correspondence: START END Formal Dear Sir, Dear Madam, Dear Sir or Madam, Formal Yours faithfully, (UK) Sincerely (yours), (US) Yours truly, (US) Formal / Standard Dear Mr Smith, (UK) Dear Ms … Continue reading →

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How to start emails

Posted on November 6, 2012 by

If you don’t know the name of the person you are writing to, start business emails with either of the following: Dear Sir, Dear Madam, Dear Madame, is wrong. If you don’t know whether you’re writing to a man or … Continue reading →

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The difference between “program” and “programme”

Posted on April 2, 2012 by

There is some confusion about the meaning and spelling of these words. “Program” is US English. It is used for every meaning of the word, both as a noun and a verb. “Programme” is UK English. It is used for … Continue reading →

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