Tomato/ Tomah-to, Potato/ Po-tah-to
English is not just English – for example, an American asking for ketchup could cause a bit of confusion in Australia, and likewise an Australian asking for tomato sauce to go with their fries may get some raised eyebrows in the U.S. There are numerous phrases that resonate in each origin that mean something different elsewhere.
In England, asking someone to look in the boot will spur Americans to look in their shoe – while the British will run to lift the trunk of their vehicle. A Brit asking an American for a rubber will get snickers, while Americans are bound to be the source of many laughs at the Australian table when it comes to table linens.
While these may be everyday phrases, rather than terms that come up in standard business writing, you get the point – there are many opportunities for confusion and miscommunication. Make sure that your content writing company is aware of the differences in English origins both large and small.
Are You at the Centre or Center?
The differences in English word origins don’t end in the word meanings – the nuances extend into the spellings of words as well.
While in the U.S., the liter may be located at the center of the theater, in England, that litre is at the centre of the theatre. And the blue colour of your neighbour’s house in Notting Hill is not the same as the blue color of your neighbor’s house in Los Angeles.
While a misplaced “e” or “r” may not seem the end of the world, thoroughness and attention to detail greatly influence your company’s reputation with clients and potential clients alike. When you place your company’s content in the hands of a content writing service, it’s important that the service is able to truly write in your organization’s voice – and that means not only in style and quality, but in the details as well. So how do you know about the qualifications of a given content writing service to write in your voice? Before hiring any organization, you should always secure samples of their work – so make sure that the samples that you are reviewing represent your organization’s native voice and tone.
Ensure that the writing is more than dotted “i’s” and crossed “t’s” – the writing should be well planned, grammatically correct, and have the “e’s” and “r’s” in the right place for your location – wherever that may be.