Welcome to the grammar Minute, where we’re saving the English language sixty seconds at a time! I’m Lauren Smyth, and today we’re going to talk about using foreign words in your writing. Before you say you only speak English, think twice – there are probably quite a few foreign words you use all the time without thinking about it. How about versus? Et cetera? Ad nauseam? En masse? Status quo?
I’m not here to tell you these words and phrases shouldn’t be used. They have widely accepted English meanings that pose no difficulty for most readers. But look how different these words look from most of the words we use in common language. “Faux pas” doesn’t look English when you find it in the middle of a sentence. These phrases can often be unclear, far removed from their original meanings, and no more descriptive than plain English.
In general, avoid using foreign words and phrases in writing if there is an easy English equivalent available. Words we just can’t do without, like “entrepreneur” and “versus,” are perfectly acceptable for general use.
That’s your Grammar Minute! Visit thegrammarminute.com for more tips and tricks.