8/22/2023 0 Comments Faux pas meaning in englishIn case you are planning a trip abroad, here’s a quick list of the most common cultural faux pas and a few tips on how to avoid committing them. While none of these infringements landed me in serious trouble, I certainly wasn’t earning any gold stars for excellent expat behavior. I vacuumed on Sundays (not allowed!), ate without wishing my fellow diners a good meal (rude!), and addressed my elderly neighbors by their first names (it’s always Herr or Frau!). As a new comer in Switzerland, I committed many a social crime. Now that we’re all grown up it’s easy to assume that we have a handle on all those social rules that keep the world running on a civilized note.īut if you’ve ever found yourself in a foreign county, you probably noticed that customs don’t always translate. I see today’s Merriam Webster word of the day is acumen, which seems like an apt place to start.As children we learned to say please, thank you and to keep our elbows off the table. My parting advice? Once you’re comfortable with the basics, expand your vocabulary, take some risks, and have a little fun. You may have noticed me trying out a few here. I once had a high school Humanities teacher who compared well placed words to water chestnuts in stir-fry just the right amount delivered a well-timed crunch and pleasing texture, without overwhelming the dish (or essay). Garner’s Modern American Usage notes, biannual and semiannual both correctly mean “occurring twice a year.”.Biennial means ‘occurring every two years,’ while biannual means ‘twice a year.’. ![]() Did you even know the word biennial existed? After reading the definitions below, I won’t blame you if you swear off use of these words altogether, in favor of a more clear description. Semi-annual, Biannual and Biennial: If you’re not confused about the difference, you should be. Throw assure in the mix, and it’s anyone’s guess. Even the experts are confused! Technically ensure means to confirm, whereas insure pertains only to protection, like an insurance policy. Insure: According to Writer’s Digest some stylebooks say these two are interchangeable, and some say they’re not. Orientate does have British origins, so be culturally sensitive. In the US we get oriented to a new position, and you orient yourself using a compass. Orientate: I was surprised to learn this is a real word, and agree that it sounds like fingernails on a chalkboard. It is however considered non-standard, and people over the age of about twenty-two won’t accept it as proper English. Irregardless: Unfortunately our tendency to conflate irrespective and regardless has turned this into a legitimate 20th century word. Compensation experts have a real reason to use this one when designing incentive plans, but the rest of us should steer clear. Incentivize: You mean motivate, and it’s a good practice to say what you mean. Beware of making words longer to sound more sophisticated - in this case simple is good enough. ![]() Simplistic: “We’ve come up with a very simplistic go to market strategy” means your strategy is oversimplified or dumbed down. So be careful before promising you’ll peruse that contract before you sign it. The correct meaning is to study or scrutinize. Even if you get this one wrong, I hope your coworkers give you the benefit of the doubt. Dead Wrongīare with me: Unless you’re inviting a colleague to undress with you, the right usage is “bear” with me. Use these words and phrases, correctly or incorrectly, at your own risk. In case those don’t make it to the top of your interminable to-do list, here are a handful of my personal favorite solecisms (it means blunders). Grammar Girl's 101 Misused Words You'll Never Confuse Again is fairly straightforward, and there’s even a Grammar Girl podcast on iTunes. There are a handful of books that can help you avoid the pitfalls of commonly misused English words. Whether or not you were an English major, it’s worth taking some time to refresh your business communication skills. Companies are placing a premium on not only verbal but written communication skills, with some even asking candidates for a writing sample as part of the application process.Ī strong command of English at work can build your confidence and earn the respect of peers and higher ups. Authors as diverse as Malcolm Gladwell and Deborah Tannen talk about the sometimes serious impact of miscommunication and misunderstandings at work. ![]() How well you communicate will surely be a factor the next time you’re being evaluated for a new job or considered for the next promotion. Communication matters during everything from first impressions to presentations, meetings and conference calls. You hardly need to be convinced or reminded about the importance of clear and concise communication at work.
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