Learning a language is a process of trial and error. Of course, as a non-native speaker, you will occasionally make mistakes; you can't avoid that.
But if you become aware of some common mistakes, you will be one step closer to professionalising your business English.
A common grammatical error made in English by non-native speakers is the use of If versus When.
Dutch speakers often confuse the use of if and when because both are translated in Dutch as 'als'. However, using when or if- in English correctly is important in order to make the right nuance in what you want to say:
When
When indicates that something will definitely happen and refers to the time of a future situation:
If
If is about the possibility that something might happen:
Example
In the following situation if and when can both be used except the meaning is different:
Example
A good tip to remember the correct use of when and if, is the following sentence: 'when in doubt, use if!'
More tips on English grammar and common mistakes in English? These articles might also interest you:
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