About the Author: J. McCorquodale is a linguist writing about languages in English, French and Italian. She acts as a legal translator with Tectrad, a professional translation service group for english to spanish, english to french translation, web site translation and other specialist work. More articles on the subject of grammar, vocabulary and translation are also available there.
The Greengrocer's Apostrophe How should you use the apostrophe? It is one of those points you do not want to miss in writing or translating to english. In fact a surprising number of english speaking people do not seem to know, as can be seen by the number of mistakes in shop signs and advertisements. Some of the worst culprits are allegedly greengrocers, hence the expression the "greengrocer's apostrophe". Signs can...... Source : French Translator
Easily Confused Words Mistakes in using one word for another when they are similar in spelling but different in meaning are easily made.When editing, or simply reading, business documents drafted in English I have noted that certain pairs of words that are pronounced or spelt similarly are frequently confused - even at times by native English writers! Some of the most common mistakes are discussed below.Enquire /...... Similar Editorial : Beyond the Words by Patricia Gatto. | Source : French Translator
A Few Rules Of English Commercial Correspondence Business communications are becoming increasingly informal as electronic media and the Internet permeate every level of business contacts. It is no longer unusual to receive a business message from someone you have never met addressing you by your first name. Nonetheless, first contacts in the business world are still usually by letter, which is a far more formal medium. It is therefore useful to...... Similar Editorial : Learning Through Correspondence by Jennifer Petersen . | Source : French Translator
Machine Translation "Automatic translation" or "machine translation" systems have been available for a number of years. The underlying assumption is that a computer can translate as well as a human translator.We have recently tried out two machine translation systems available on the internet. We tested their ability to translate two short texts: one financial, the other legal.First, here is the original French...... Similar Editorial : Translation Plez by Tony Dean. | Source : French Translator
British Vs. American English George Bernard Shaw famously said that the British and the Americans were "two nations separated by a common language".Below are some examples of different usage in British and American English. You may already be aware of some of these differences, others may surprise you.UK / USBank holiday / Legal holidayFortnight / Two weeksOrdinary/extraordinary general meeting (of the shareholders) / Regular...... Similar Editorial : British Gas Business by Stephen Morgan. | Source : French Translator
The Rules Of English Jim Smith,Managing Director,Smith Sons,12 Temple Lane,London WC5 4SN.Dear Mr Smith,TextYours sincerely,Sam JonesSales Director In the case of a personal business letter, the senders address should figure above the date... Similar Editorial : The Business Of English by Mike 123 Mike 123. | Source : Learn A Second Language
