Interacting with American clients is one of the most difficult thing which I have seen and heard from my friends. This is mostly due to huge cultural difference and the way the use of English. Like the word pardon is unusual for them and its better saying come again or could you please repeat it. One of the biggest mistake is using shortcuts while talking. This should be avoided as they might not be that comfortable with your accent. Here are 24 tips on verbal,email and others which you will find useful for sure.

Note: This Articles came as a printout in our office. SO I am not sure who is the author of this article.

1. Do not write “the same” in email - It makes little same to them. Be specific. Instead of saying - I will try to organize the documents and inform you about the same , simply say - I will try to organize the documents and inform you when it is done.
2. Do not used the word “regard” - Its not commonly used in American English. A better sentence would be - About this issue than saying regarding this issue or with regard to this
3. Avoid using the word “Doubt” in emails or conversations. Doubt is a word used in terms of doubting a person. A better option will be - I have a question on this.
4. Do not use the word “screwed up” liberally. Though the word is used in humors but if situation is not good, you might end up in a horrible situation. A better solution is - The situation is messed up
5. Do not interrupt in between. Its a normal habit of interrupting others when you are in a group avoid them with your American clients specially. Specially on phone if there is any delay on phone, give the person over phone a little bit of time. You don’t want to loose your customers right?
6. Avoid using - Do you understand ?. This is most commonly used in India which really is annoying to me also sometimes. It makes me feel like I am so dumb that you need to ask this every time. A better option is “Does that make sense”
7. Use proper punctuations. Its a bad habit to write an email like love letter. Your lover might like it but not the clients. Use proper breaks, punctuations, use semicolons, hyphens. This way you make things right to the point and specific.
8. Do not say “Pardon”. This word is not commonly used in American English. Saying Please come again or could you please repeat it, is a better solution
9. Avoid using shortcut terms like Can’t or Don’t. If they are not very comfortable with your accent this will create further problems as they will either try to judge their own way or wont ask you more. Its always better saying cannot or do not
10. Avoid using term Mail for email. In American English a mail us a posted letter while email is an electronic mail. If you say - I have mailed you the document, They might think you have made arrangement for postal delivery.
11. There is no word as prepone. Many of us have developed a habit of saying prepone which is inspired from the word postpone.( I am getting a red line now for that word too.) Instead of saying prepone use advanced as in - The meeting was advanced.
12. Its tea-yar not Tire. This is one of the major mistake we make in India. When you say a AC Three tire its not “Tire” but its “tea-yar”. For god sake don’t make them feel about tires when you try to explain a 3 - Tier- Architecture
13. Using End of September , sounds better than September End.
14. Ask for exact time rather that what’s the time. They use “Quarter of one” more often rather than saying 1:15. Better to ask exact time.
15. Relating to above when they have to ask for time they might say “Do you have the time?” which is confusing if you have been in habit of using it for asking a person if he has some spare time.
16. Avoid using Today with night. It’s again one of the most commonly used word meaning, to say Today night make sense here but actaully if you break up what Day has to do with night. Say Tonight and This evenings rather than saying Today Night or Today Evening.
17. There is no word as updation. Its mostly used in technical issues related to database.You update somebody not “I am updating him” . This sounds like you are inserting some records in his mind, that’s funny.
18. Refer them with their Name: If you are meeting some American client for the first time, they will more happy of they called by their name rather than greeted by Sir and please don’t ever call a women as “madam”. You make her feel like a 80 year old lady, lol.
19. Avoid using abbreviations in first email. Its a normal culture to use abbrv ( like this) which might lead your client to no where. Expand it for the first like Java API for Registry ( JAXR) and then in later part of the mail use JAXR.
20. Avoid using “Hi” as a subject in emails as a subject. Confused ? Well when you compose any email there is a subject part which appears to your mail recipient first than your matter inside. If the person is very busy he might just skip mails thinking it from one of his friend. Be specific on email subjects.
21. Avoid using “Back”. Back is the word which will make you feel your client something else like when you say “back in my mind”. Common Back is used like Back Pains, your mind doesn’t have a back you body does. Use Ago in days and before in time.
22. Use however instead of But, It makes a negative impact.
23. Its better to use Last day then yesterday when it comes to shipping or marketing.
24. Similarly instead of using Tomorrow use Next Day when it comes to shipping or marketing.

Wooo.. That was some research done by our team today and it made us also to think what kind of mistakes we had been making all the time. These tips can also be used in blogging and your mail email conversations.

This is just 24, there could be much more .. Would you like to share with us ? DO tell us in comments.

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About The Author of this article: Ashish is one of the co-author of this blog and writes on various interesting softwares, PC tips and more. You can read more of his articles here.

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