When I first started out as a content writer, I couldn’t wait to read my first article when it was published on the web. I still remember the bittersweet feelings when I saw that the article was published just the way I had written it. Only, the writer’s name was not mine. It was an American name. The reason is simple: apparently, no one wants to read an article written by an Indian. Disappointing as it may be, we, as Indians, must look deep into where we go wrong, and try to bridge the gap between content written by native speakers of English and Indians. Here is a look at the ten commonest mistakes that Indian writers make:
1. Use of clichés
Clichés in writing are one of the clearest giveaways of amateur writing. As tempting as it may be to use phrases like “one in a million”, “too good to be true” etc., it is always better to think of an original way to express your ideas. This is sure to have a much deeper impact than a trite phrase or expression.
2. Use of -ing
The excessive use of ‘-ing’ where not required is something that most Indian writers cannot quite understand. Compare the following two sentences:
The girl was walking towards the room cautiously.
The girl walked towards the room cautiously.
Even though the difference is subtle, the second sentence has a crisper impact than the first one.
The best tip is to simply do away with ‘-ing’ unless necessary.
3. Translation
Indian writers often think in their native language, and then translate their thoughts to English. This approach leads to major writing disasters. Take for instance, an example, in which a writer wrote, “This website puts four moons on your experience of watching movies”. While an Indian would understand that it is a direct translation of the Indian idiom, “chaar chaand lagaane”, a native speaker would be perplexed.
4. Use of passive voice
When I first heard of this basic, yet complex rule of writing, I could hardly understand what it even meant. To put it very simply, try to use active voice wherever possible. Consider the example:
She was captivated by the picture on the screen.
The picture on the screen captivated her.
The second sentence is easier to comprehend and is crisper.
5. Long sentences/wordiness
A common mistake made by Indian writers is the use of long sentences, which have to be read at least twice to understand. The basic rule is to keep it short and smart!
6. Use of obsolete/non-existent words-
“Indian English” is a rather controversial area that no one can claim to have mastered. With words like ‘prepone’, ‘expire’ (“Sam’s father expired two days ago”), ‘the same’ (“I shall await your response on the same”)”, ‘kindly’ (“kindly assist me in the matter”)”, ‘only’ (“I am like this only”) etc. being a part of the vocabulary, it is important for Indian writers to make an effort to do away with these typically Indian terms.
7. Trying too hard to sound western
In the effort of aping the West, Indian writers try to infuse certain western expressions and mimic western humor, usually ending up with a boring and incomprehensible write-up. Be original!
8. Use of redundant words
A common mistake made by Indian writers is to use unnecessary words to fill up space. Whether this is to live up to a high word count, or simply to provide fluff where the writer runs short of ideas, it is a big no-no for quality writing. Use the minimum amount of words that you need to express your idea. This is much more likely to evoke a response from the reader, as compared to a far-fetched statement, which most readers will quit reading midway.
9. Excessive use of adjectives and flowery words
A commonly committed mistake by Indian writers is the use of high-sounding words and redundant adjectives, in an effort to sound experienced, and show-off their command over English. It is important to remember that your writing is not judged by how complex it is, but rather by how crisp, concise and impactful it is.
10. Grammatical errors
Last, but definitely not the least, is grammatical errors, which are the biggest turn-off for a reader. Something as simple as ‘who’s’ instead of ‘whose’, ‘it’s’ in place of ‘its’, etc., or the graver errors like “did not went”, immediately make the write-up look unreliable. It just takes a few minutes to proofread what you have written and those few minutes are really worth it.
Editor's note: Most articles submitted to Chillibreeze go through a selection process. Only 30 percent of submitted articles are accepted for publication on the Chillibreeze.com featured article list. All accepted articles are edited and proofread for glaring errors of punctuation and grammar. Sentence structure is changed in certain cases and sometimes, entire sections are rewritten. If you notice any errors that have slipped through the cracks, do let us know! (Email us at info at chillibreeze dot com).
Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in February, 2012. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.
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—About our writer:
Born and brought up in Kenya, Vineet works as a freelance web content writer. She is a pharmacist by profession, and has in-depth knowledge about health-related issues, due to which she would love to explore the arena of medical writing. She has worked with a variety of portals, including a website for yoga, and various entertainment websites. She also writes for a monthly youth magazine regularly, and would love to explore endless more ventures”
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