This is not a big deal. Go ahead anyway and write it, but if the other person corrects you back. Then apologise. And then, make a note and a reference in your own email for your own record as well... like.... "Mr Chris..... ... blah blah blah...... SHE......"... Make sure you write this into the email. So next time you want to check or refer or reference something, then this is your history and filing record, isn't it ? Situation like this is going to happen anyway. It is how you follow up the email that matters the most. "My apologies, it seems that I do not have the full details of your record, I will correct this in my emails' filing, and my own department's notes. "....
I have not seen anyone writing “ thanks in advance” in any of my emails for so many years except Chinese clients! Studying English is also about understanding their cultures as well.
Old school vs new school! I did not say it is wrong. I had lived in an English speaking country for long time and that’s my just my experience ! English in England English in Australia English in America English in Canada Different cultures will also affect how English is used in different countries too. “Owing to this incident” or “ Due to this incident” should be used at beginning of the sentence? Which one is more correct to you?
@alphonsus17 No right or wrong, and no offense. We are all open for discussion. I still think the essence of business email is to achieve our ideal business output. Different phrasing/tone/choice or word might make a big difference on how the recipient take/react to your ask/request. Perhaps this channel can take a deep dive on the written tone and word choice, how to reveal our emotion or attitude in a more precise and accurate way. It would be useful 🤓
The issue with the original sample email is the sender was trying to be overly courteous and resulted in misuse of courtesy terms (don’t know the technical phrase for such expressions - never cared about understanding the technicalities of how the grammar is constructed 😂). One thing that wasn’t mentioned is the tone of the email - assuming this is an exchange between business counterparts at a similar level of seniority and there’s already an established relationship between the sender and the recipient, the tone of the email can be less formal and more concise but at the same time being polite. The original email can be condensed down to 4 simple lines. “Share” is a term widely misused in modern English - by sharing something means I possess something and giving you a portion of what I have that will result in me having less of what I initially possess. Sharing of information also means the recipient gained by receiving information from the informant. In this context (names and info of the meeting attendees) one can simply ask the counterparty to “provide” or “send” the information requested. Hi Chris, Thank you for sending the presentation deck. Please confirm the latest figures were used and provide the source of information. The conference room for our upcoming meeting can seat up to 20 people. Much appreciated if you can provide the list of attendees in advance. Thanks! Regards Melody
Sometimes when you are using too much emotion in an email or in a communication, you can come across as overly... Exaggerating ?... Because, the concept of "golden rule" applies. I.e. I need to treat you as if I don't know you or owe you.. etc etc etc. It is very strange to use all this because in HK, it is such a dense city... Knowing people is quite easy. But still... One has to try... To maintain and keep to an order of things. Normally, emotions are saved for family and friends... Work is often a bit more formal.
@@MeiinUK it’s true that in certain situations being overly courteous may even come across as arrogant or impolite. For work it’s best to keep things simple and concise with a flat tone and leave out the excesses.
@@Ginbaubabe : One thing that I don't like is to be ultra explicit... I have come across this more in American firms. But most British turns would allow you to know the implied meaning of the language or your job titles. I don't normally ask to "share" information than.... Asking for expected documents etc. "We are reaching the month-end period, and is in our focus to reconciling our reports. Can you forward the missing receipt from this preliminary report ?".... Why focusing on the objects, than focusing on the action of you ?.... One is describing what you are trying to do. The other is coming across as demanding. You don't have to come across as demanding at all. Cos it is within your job that your own team members would help too. Or business unit. Cos you both work for the same company !
@@Ginbaubabe : By the way, the way you described this ? This kind of "poker face" style... might be very "chinese".... as not to show emotions, and it shows seniorities... and "in power".. but by British standard, this is not the mannerism... and body language in the corporate environment does count, and it is indeed.. different to different countries too. This is a given. If you want to court "international clients".. then I expect a team of ettiquettes individuals... that comes across as polite etc.. Towards those countries. Did you not noticed when Trump was in power... and every part of HIS body language... when he went to SE Asia.. was EXTREMELY.... expressive ? He DELIBERATELY did that... which the head of states of those countries, literally thought it was exaggeration and it was a show. So they smiled so much... but actually... it was an actual "insult".. but this was not even obvious ? That was strange.
Aiya.... and then.... this in turn... changes HK... because... the mistakes are kept in those old files... and everything else.. even though the engineers could do decent work.. but they file in these basic things... And then you have a gap. Normally, it is the management, deals with this... If you were the team leaders, or the manager.. you would send the entire team, to correct their templates.. and send the entire team, to do this task.. or for them to have this. This is the basic ettiquettes first. I don't even get why this should be a firing thing... Cos if a person has around 60% decent skills.. this is small potatoes.... Just wrap them up, or to delay their rise.. Til they use these templates, and "keep the reputation of the company intact" !!!! To be honest, if this was an actual large company... you can actually get IT to lock their computers, to stop them from sending such junky emails. This is what I would do. And you cannot mis-send or to mis-use company's templates. (In case, it also legally false promise as well.) Large companies can have this.. maybe the small medium sized families doesn't have such options. In which case, go to the old methods lor... Which is to buy and use old templates. Use the paper copies and use fax lor. Get a nice paper letterhead and use an old style. Then have the name or the signature space... like the traditional way of doing things.
"Yours faithfully".... Is a very traditional English phrase. By that, I mean it has context that links to Christianity. Because they are saying "faith"... As in, "yours faithfully" normally either when you're writing a very close letter towards a loved one or family... Or if you are very close to a boss. I would feel confident to say that. Especially so... If say... If I know that our project is hitting a big rock... I would definitely use that phrase to give us all the confidence. To the reader, it can come across as... "I have faith in this project"...
Just happened to come across your Vlog ....... Business email today is not the same as 50 years ago. I personally think that most HK students wouldn't be able to digest your email lessons because these errors you mentioned are only realized when ones lives in English immersion. I love English, which I have been studying for 30 years. The difference between text book English and daily natural English is that the former is guided by grammar and the latter is obtained through immersion. The former can sound odd and stiff because students tend to form sentences by grammatical rules and sometimes they try to make it sound smooth by being literal, but only end up sounding weird. You are correct. The word "Dear" often has been misused by students in HK. Just want to chime in. Your lesson is very helpful!
A lot of people can speak great English, but I think they are not stepping forward..... I noticed this much. The ones who can and do... often don't. I know so. I don't know whether this is because they don't want to equalise the playing field. Or that... they want their child to be put forward too or instead of. Whatever is the reason.. what is clear is that, there is a downward trajectory.... Which is a bit scary to say the least. I think it is better if Melody just write plain exact set format all the time. It will help. The way I read these kind of analysis is too much for any child. Just basic format for a situation is fine, and stick to it, and you will find the confidence to expand a lot more later on any way... I don't think my English was very smooth til I was around my 30s.... Worrying doesn't help you learn better though. Hopefully you will meet some good colleagues along the way, which they can do those classic conversational English to even out the speaking. That's all you can do. I dunno... sing some Christmas songs ! If people like karaoke so much. Just try and sing some basic children's songs ??!!.... :) Reading books tend to also help as well. Or you could do what I was taught as a child, which is to have a cassette tape... along with the book, so then I read and follow along the story.. This is what most people do. But saying that, the language is a small part of your job, especially if you work in a scientific, or the financial sector, you have to have a very lateral thinking brain. If you have a good boss, in your dept, they would literally use a template, a team's template.... so that you can focus on other areas of the work.
Great video!! To minimise grammatical mistakes, sometimes using point form can be useful. This can also ensure consistent style and tone are applied across the email. Also a minor point to add for the 1st mistake - if there are 2 Chris in the circulation list, we may need to include the surname of the addressee to avoid confusion.
When I used to work in an American company, American colleagues generally used "Best Regards". Later, I transferred to work in a British company, and my British colleagues used "Kind Regards".
"Best" Regards = 最好的敬上 "Kind Regards" = 敬上 One sounds more understated than the other? Normally, the "tone" for American English is a little bit emphasized, more than the undertone of the British English. This could be the difference between "speaking under a Monarchy" (and sound more subservient) than the more "free and liberal" America. This is why the English sounds a little bit more different ?
I have to read and reply to lots of English emails to customers in South East Asian coutries. The mistakes you have metnioned are very common in differnt countries. It's very helpful to know that they are actually not proper English. By the way, I am from Taiwan and have studied Cantonese before. You videos are very useful for me to study both English and Cantonese at the same time😃
Very clear explanation👍🏻 The English standard of many HK people in workplace is too bad and they don’t care about grammar at all even for the “high level management” such as in HA.🤭
The English before was quite good, is because either the individuals were English.. or has English ancestries... (i.e. Their parents were English....)... So therefore they could speak more fluently... but in 2023.. we are now talking about the fact that... this is now diluted... as in... In HK, there are now like third to fourth generation of descendents of English heritages.. and they officially have diluted English. I can see this quite clearly now. Their Cantonese is of a much higher standard than mine. Whereas their English is now lacking. (And reverse is true for myself too. My English is a lot better than my Cantonese, even though I am of Cantonese descent.)
@@cphohkyes, we understand when to use active voice & passive voice, what we disagree with her is, "please advise" shouldn't be regarded as too formal and old fashioned!
This is because, this can be an actual "mean joke"... and because nobody stopped this kind of circulation or the email. It keeps going round. Do you need your boss to step forward to say "stop using this", or would you be an adult and to stop using this first? This kind of thing, is also a test of your IQ too if you think about it. Either when somebody is trying to ruin a group's actual "formal method".. and a joker comes along and mess it up. Bearing in mind that these emails are sent OUT of the organisation... and not an internal joke. Once you do this. Should you keep doing this wrong action ? Why should the other person make way for your mistakes ALL of the time ? And because this goes out.. it keeps going round... and the joke keeps going round and round and rund and round and round... and add the AI too.. the AI carries it round and round and round and round and round..... Again and again and again and again and again.... Round and round and round and round and round... And then throw in the SEO as well.. it keeps going round and round and round and round. Like a feeling of bad de ja vu....
好大隻眼呀！😳 Uh, email or not, people nowadays don’t really care so much regarding grammar in casual communication even in business environments, sadly that’s the trend.
For 'Please', 'Kindly' and 'Please Kindly'/'Kindly Please', it would seem that the first and the secould could be interchangeably used in emails, while the third would seem a bit rude. Indeed, for some emails (informal or formal) nowadays, some people, who have been well educated even, have used the third in their emails!
In the US corporate world, ‘please advise’ and ‘thanks in advance’ are commonly used. The use of ‘can’ is not an error, ‘could’ is just extra polite. Lastly, ‘double confirm’ is definitely used; it just might be less formal.
American companies use more of an explicit tone. "Can you"... a strong "yes or no". Cos that is, by their laws, actually factual, implicit... and it is also evidences as well? Whereas in British English, you don't... the "implied" meaning is far more important. Cos the "doing" is the evidences. i.e. Did you or did you not do this. And that is shown by your actual actions. Letters and paperwork, is a form of confirmation and sales invoices... Normally, most people do not say... what they need to do in their roles. Their job description should've highlighted the boundaries of their roles? But most of the time in America... their teams are far too big.. and they live in different states. HK is such a small place.. and your job title ought to be clear... Cos somebody within your team... or your dept.. should have adviced you. i.e. If you do not know what your team does.. that is the fault of your manager. So don't make your manager look bad... in front of others. If you do not know, ask your team leader, or ask your manager. It is their job to get this correct...
@@techie1818 : The problem is.. they are "thinking in Cantonese"... and then they try to find the exact English words and translation to match. That is why they would keep doing this. They associate in their mind as : "Could you" = 你可唔可以去做 "Would you" = 你願唔願意以去做 (Extras: 你想唔想去做 = Do you want to do it ? Which you don't ask, unless it is a promotion situation or other, or it is expansion into some areas that your team need to cover, but it is normally not within your dept's areas to be held responsible for. ) In English.. the context.. and " the meaning behind the conversation is important".... 1. Could you = Can you be able to do this, even though I do not know if you can or have the capability and skills. = "你識唔識點樣去做呢樣嘢 " (因為我唔知你嘅技能去到邊度.) [如果你做唔到，請向我解釋點解你做唔到. 您需要什麼工具，或者需要什麼情景能做到這一點？ ] 2. Would you = I know that you have the skills to do this, but can you do this anyway ? = 你願唔願意以去做 (因為我知度你有能力 .) [如果你唔願意去做，請向我解釋點解你唔願意去做. 你目前嘅工作量有幾多，你交呢啲工作嘅時間表畀我. 畀我重新安排. ] This is why.. people say that English is an "implied" meaning... and not "explicit" as in American English. (Oh, I love to sit with the popcorns.... lol.) 1. If I know that I don't have the capability, then my answer would normally be a "no".... maybe sometimes, this small thing is missed off. The answer should've been...."I can do it, if this XYZ is given to me, cos I currently don't have it. I need these tools... then yes, I can try." Sigh. Normally.. most people would always be a "Yes man". Even if they don't or is not self aware.. unfortunately.
If these sorts of issues is material, I am not sure folks are learning English or just copying templates. This sort of discussion pigeon hole the use of the language rather than educating others of the building blocks of the usage of the language.
Only if you're the tax office ! lol.... She is right, you shouldn't be asking somebody to do something, and then not to sound kinder. Definitely have the kinder approach in written tone, BECAUSE... you are also representing the organisation too. This is just customer service. You wouldn't say "If you don't reply back in 10 minutes, then I will come down to your office, and find you and duff you up.. .Neat and good...." Would you ? lol...... (Actually.. in HK.. I think it will happen.... lol....) IF they do.... then do the right funny thing....and mimick... who's that guy who told all in that podcast.. about the media sector.... He said, their enemy's paper came into their office, and threaten that they will take them over... and then the CEO played a neat trick back. :) Ah... who's that British guy ? Basically, they settled the score in a professional way. I think he ordered some gift in advance to the office, before he went to the office, or something like that. And then he took that gift and gave it back to the guy. It's very funny.
I totally agree with you about 畫蛇添足because Chinese language writing likes to be very descriptive or 'flowery'. I was 'required' to include those terms in the English translation of the company's internal document !!!!
Dear Melody, 今天是我第一次看老師Channel，知識非常有用，如果有機會，可否解釋以下句子出現問題， This email是通知客人旅行團出發日期📅， Departs at Winnipeg Airport at noon, 28th October - 2nd November 2023. 但是客人回答，要求改成：Departure at Churchill Train Station 7:30pm, Thursday, 2nd November 2023. Many Thanks!
Thanks very much for pointing out the subtle difference between "please" and "kindly". The mis-use of the word "kindly" has been so pervasive in Hong Kong commercial world....
From Singapore. Thanks for sharing. It’s helpful, and I like your voice too. Subscribed and liked. Looking forward to…. (I’m nt going to make the mistake here!) hahaha!
Hi Chris，I received the presentation desk.Could you please comfirm the data and advice the source for me? The meeting allowed 20 people and please send me the attandent list. Looking forward hearing from you, thanks 帮我改下，学到了，我看邮件只看事实，不看礼貌的
12:02 非常認同， 除非手寫書信， 英國🇬🇧人基本上已淘汰咗your sincerely and your faithfully.
現在Email 一般都係 Best regards, Regards, Kind Regards, Best. 聖誕卡就寫 best wishes. 簡單易記，無死錯人。❤🎉 Cheers 🥂 只見HR發啲輕鬆慶賀內容用過， 只可以平輩間用。多數係同送貨員、Uber、波友、pub友、waiter、櫃檯，想對方開心啲Cheers 就剛剛好❤😊
很好的分享，不過對於can的用法我有點意見，其實這裏是可以用can的，Could 只是比較有禮貌， can亦不一定是有質疑你能力的意思，只是不太formal. 美國人特別喜歡用Can, 可能沒有英國人那麼有禮貌吧！同樣道理，美國人的電郵很少用Dear甚至 Hi, 同事之間都只用名，例如Mary…, 甚至對最高的上司，都是這樣，香港學生的英文最常見的問題就是太累贅，把事情複雜化。
我每天要用幾十封電郵跟外國客戶溝通，他們都是這樣寫的，只是習慣不同
純粹分享, 叫人全名又唔一定冇禮貌喺職場既角度, 外國人既英文名有時真係玩死你。如果未聯絡過要寫email俾嗰個人, 真係唔知佢係男定女。咁啱我份工上司prefer我寫人全名，真係寧願叫全名好過搞錯姓別，到時仲offensive
好似叫Chris 同Alex 可以係女人,叫Tracy同Macy又可以係男人。同埋喺美國要顧及人地既性取向, 女人可能prefer 你喺email 寫Mr, 我接觸唔多但都要be aware
最攞命係有啲名根本都唔係英文名，真係搞唔掂😂
This is not a big deal. Go ahead anyway and write it, but if the other person corrects you back. Then apologise. And then, make a note and a reference in your own email for your own record as well... like.... "Mr Chris..... ... blah blah blah...... SHE......"... Make sure you write this into the email. So next time you want to check or refer or reference something, then this is your history and filing record, isn't it ? Situation like this is going to happen anyway. It is how you follow up the email that matters the most.
"My apologies, it seems that I do not have the full details of your record, I will correct this in my emails' filing, and my own department's notes. "....
關於sincerely同faithfully既分別有個口訣：你識個個人就錫(s)佢，唔識就罰(f)佢 😊
幾好記👍🏻👍🏻
非親非故Faithfully 🤣
It's so old fashion. People just use best regards these days in business.
我就建議記住 sincere 同 faith 點解先...
@@2522jai 當年補習天王史sir係咁樣教
不覺得 thanks in advance 是錯誤，native既老細都會用，就係當佢較為客氣d叫我做野既時候 🫠 business emails 包含太多politics, 有時唔係文法/文化既問題
I have not seen anyone writing “ thanks in advance” in any of my emails for so many years except Chinese clients! Studying English is also about understanding their cultures as well.
@@alphonsus17 I have seen it. Not from Chinese.
Old school vs new school!
I did not say it is wrong. I had lived in an English speaking country for long time and that’s my just my experience !
English in England
English in Australia
English in America
English in Canada
Different cultures will also affect how English is used in different countries too.
“Owing to this incident” or
“ Due to this incident” should be used at beginning of the sentence?
Which one is more correct to you?
@alphonsus17
No right or wrong, and no offense. We are all open for discussion.
I still think the essence of business email is to achieve our ideal business output. Different phrasing/tone/choice or word might make a big difference on how the recipient take/react to your ask/request. Perhaps this channel can take a deep dive on the written tone and word choice, how to reveal our emotion or attitude in a more precise and accurate way. It would be useful 🤓
@@alphonsus17 “Thank you / Thanks in advance” is used widely in emails, at least where I live, not just by just Chinese people anyway.
The issue with the original sample email is the sender was trying to be overly courteous and resulted in misuse of courtesy terms (don’t know the technical phrase for such expressions - never cared about understanding the technicalities of how the grammar is constructed 😂). One thing that wasn’t mentioned is the tone of the email - assuming this is an exchange between business counterparts at a similar level of seniority and there’s already an established relationship between the sender and the recipient, the tone of the email can be less formal and more concise but at the same time being polite. The original email can be condensed down to 4 simple lines.
“Share” is a term widely misused in modern English - by sharing something means I possess something and giving you a portion of what I have that will result in me having less of what I initially possess. Sharing of information also means the recipient gained by receiving information from the informant. In this context (names and info of the meeting attendees) one can simply ask the counterparty to “provide” or “send” the information requested.
Hi Chris,
Thank you for sending the presentation deck. Please confirm the latest figures were used and provide the source of information.
The conference room for our upcoming meeting can seat up to 20 people. Much appreciated if you can provide the list of attendees in advance. Thanks!
Regards
Melody
Sometimes when you are using too much emotion in an email or in a communication, you can come across as overly... Exaggerating ?... Because, the concept of "golden rule" applies. I.e. I need to treat you as if I don't know you or owe you.. etc etc etc. It is very strange to use all this because in HK, it is such a dense city... Knowing people is quite easy. But still... One has to try... To maintain and keep to an order of things. Normally, emotions are saved for family and friends... Work is often a bit more formal.
@@MeiinUK it’s true that in certain situations being overly courteous may even come across as arrogant or impolite. For work it’s best to keep things simple and concise with a flat tone and leave out the excesses.
@@Ginbaubabe : One thing that I don't like is to be ultra explicit... I have come across this more in American firms. But most British turns would allow you to know the implied meaning of the language or your job titles. I don't normally ask to "share" information than.... Asking for expected documents etc. "We are reaching the month-end period, and is in our focus to reconciling our reports. Can you forward the missing receipt from this preliminary report ?".... Why focusing on the objects, than focusing on the action of you ?.... One is describing what you are trying to do. The other is coming across as demanding. You don't have to come across as demanding at all. Cos it is within your job that your own team members would help too. Or business unit. Cos you both work for the same company !
@@Ginbaubabe : By the way, the way you described this ? This kind of "poker face" style... might be very "chinese".... as not to show emotions, and it shows seniorities... and "in power".. but by British standard, this is not the mannerism... and body language in the corporate environment does count, and it is indeed.. different to different countries too. This is a given. If you want to court "international clients".. then I expect a team of ettiquettes individuals... that comes across as polite etc.. Towards those countries. Did you not noticed when Trump was in power... and every part of HIS body language... when he went to SE Asia.. was EXTREMELY.... expressive ? He DELIBERATELY did that... which the head of states of those countries, literally thought it was exaggeration and it was a show. So they smiled so much... but actually... it was an actual "insult".. but this was not even obvious ? That was strange.
‘’Thanks and let me know if any questions?‘’ 足夠了嗎？ 不是應該 ... if there is any question 或if you have any questions 嗎？討論下，不要介意。你的channel做得好好。
I feel the same. ...if there were any questions.
2:26 文法其實都不對。 即使你真的想表達這個意思，"The movie was well received" 之後不用再加 with thanks，因為已經成為劉家傑老師常說的「冗詞」。
老派寫字樓人士係初期接email 時，硬係覺得email 寫得果兩三隻字好肉酸唔大體，就好似小學生初初作文咁塞塞塞字數，塞到連意思都錯埋但自己又唔覺，慢慢其他公司既人收到感覺又好似幾好喎，讕晒 formal 喎，咪你抄抄我我又抄抄佢，就搞到周圍都見到呢類誤區出現係好多寫字樓，最慘有d 上司指明要新入行既跟舊有 email 黎寫，笑鬼死人囉
Aiya.... and then.... this in turn... changes HK... because... the mistakes are kept in those old files... and everything else.. even though the engineers could do decent work.. but they file in these basic things... And then you have a gap. Normally, it is the management, deals with this... If you were the team leaders, or the manager.. you would send the entire team, to correct their templates.. and send the entire team, to do this task.. or for them to have this. This is the basic ettiquettes first. I don't even get why this should be a firing thing... Cos if a person has around 60% decent skills.. this is small potatoes.... Just wrap them up, or to delay their rise.. Til they use these templates, and "keep the reputation of the company intact" !!!!
To be honest, if this was an actual large company... you can actually get IT to lock their computers, to stop them from sending such junky emails. This is what I would do. And you cannot mis-send or to mis-use company's templates. (In case, it also legally false promise as well.) Large companies can have this.. maybe the small medium sized families doesn't have such options. In which case, go to the old methods lor... Which is to buy and use old templates. Use the paper copies and use fax lor. Get a nice paper letterhead and use an old style. Then have the name or the signature space... like the traditional way of doing things.
Very professionally explained but very practical. Love and thank you Melody.
無意中發現了 譚老師這教學視頻，很實用，講解很清晰，加上老師甜美的笑容，清晰好聽的聲音及發音，立刻給訂閱和點讚👍，感謝老師的分享！
工作日常嚟講
比較多用 I look forward to hearing from you, 連 am 都可以唔需要~
Yours faithfully 同 yours sincerely 我諗我中學畢業之後都無用過😂
中學時老師教「非親非故，faithfully」XDDD
呢個口訣幾好🤣
我老師係教，唔熟既人直接f 落去
"Yours faithfully".... Is a very traditional English phrase. By that, I mean it has context that links to Christianity. Because they are saying "faith"... As in, "yours faithfully" normally either when you're writing a very close letter towards a loved one or family... Or if you are very close to a boss. I would feel confident to say that. Especially so... If say... If I know that our project is hitting a big rock... I would definitely use that phrase to give us all the confidence. To the reader, it can come across as... "I have faith in this project"...
@@MeiinUK唔識就唔好喺度扮曬嘢，講錯曬！
@@phoebecheung2023 : "Faithfully" means "kowtow" ah you stupid.... If you do not kowtow to something or somebody then don't apply. Simple.
謝謝你好清楚的講解，請日後多啲發放關於商業電郵或英語對答分享給我們，好實用。支持你💪👍👍
感謝支持！
Just happened to come across your Vlog ....... Business email today is not the same as 50 years ago. I personally think that most HK students wouldn't be able to digest your email lessons because these errors you mentioned are only realized when ones lives in English immersion. I love English, which I have been studying for 30 years. The difference between text book English and daily natural English is that the former is guided by grammar and the latter is obtained through immersion. The former can sound odd and stiff because students tend to form sentences by grammatical rules and sometimes they try to make it sound smooth by being literal, but only end up sounding weird. You are correct. The word "Dear" often has been misused by students in HK. Just want to chime in. Your lesson is very helpful!
A lot of people can speak great English, but I think they are not stepping forward..... I noticed this much. The ones who can and do... often don't. I know so. I don't know whether this is because they don't want to equalise the playing field. Or that... they want their child to be put forward too or instead of. Whatever is the reason.. what is clear is that, there is a downward trajectory.... Which is a bit scary to say the least. I think it is better if Melody just write plain exact set format all the time. It will help. The way I read these kind of analysis is too much for any child. Just basic format for a situation is fine, and stick to it, and you will find the confidence to expand a lot more later on any way... I don't think my English was very smooth til I was around my 30s.... Worrying doesn't help you learn better though. Hopefully you will meet some good colleagues along the way, which they can do those classic conversational English to even out the speaking. That's all you can do. I dunno... sing some Christmas songs ! If people like karaoke so much. Just try and sing some basic children's songs ??!!.... :) Reading books tend to also help as well. Or you could do what I was taught as a child, which is to have a cassette tape... along with the book, so then I read and follow along the story.. This is what most people do. But saying that, the language is a small part of your job, especially if you work in a scientific, or the financial sector, you have to have a very lateral thinking brain. If you have a good boss, in your dept, they would literally use a template, a team's template.... so that you can focus on other areas of the work.
非常實用，老師講解得很清楚易明白 多謝老師👍👍👍
2:54 「formal」 個發音🙄🤔 thermal ?
"Thank you in advance" 不一定讓人有咄咄逼人的感覺吧。可解作/暗喻，"無論你最終可以幫忙與否，我都要 '在這' 先多謝你"。Pls let me know if my interpretation is correct. Thanks.
Thank you in advance is commonly used in UK and it’s a polite phase
@K Ma
俗語説：『一朝天子 一朝神』這事無可避免的⋯⋯
新時代 新思想 新作為 但並非代表舊有的是應被摒棄/不對
就算幾新年代都應顧存必備的禮貌 所謂【禮多人不怪】嘛！
@@lululuk6643 有道理，完全同意🙌
@@april_rain3103 true👍
@K Ma
講真 我不是OxF 我只對事 不對人
我都是接受正規教育由專業導師悉心培育成長出來的 何錯之有！？
難道從前的四書五經亦要取締嗎 現代人能否完整消化所言何物 所謂何事 新一代勿太自以為是⋯⋯
Very nice upload! Great contents ! Thank you for sharing my beautiful New Friend! You have a wonderful day!
Great video!! To minimise grammatical mistakes, sometimes using point form can be useful. This can also ensure consistent style and tone are applied across the email. Also a minor point to add for the 1st mistake - if there are 2 Chris in the circulation list, we may need to include the surname of the addressee to avoid confusion.
Melody考師啲英文教學好好，好啱香港，什至廣東年青人用。will share with my younger colleagues. Thanks, Melody!
謝謝Melody~❤講解得很清楚 + 簡潔
When I used to work in an American company, American colleagues generally used "Best Regards". Later, I transferred to work in a British company, and my British colleagues used "Kind Regards".
The Brits also like to use “Cheers,”
In Australia, we generally use Cheers or have a nice day/weekend
@@wizardscauldron Only in very informal correspondence! In speech, it can also mean "thanks".
@@Onbehaard thanks for the insights on usage. I am American, we only use “Cheers” when we toast with a drink! 🥂
"Best" Regards = 最好的敬上
"Kind Regards" = 敬上
One sounds more understated than the other? Normally, the "tone" for American English is a little bit emphasized, more than the undertone of the British English. This could be the difference between "speaking under a Monarchy" (and sound more subservient) than the more "free and liberal" America. This is why the English sounds a little bit more different ?
不過最近同間英國公司聯絡，個職員都係講well received 睇佢個姓都係英國本地人🤔
睇完開頭兩個例子已經冇興趣睇落去，你自己喺片中都話係「非禮貌」而唔係錯誤，但係你個標題又話係十個常犯錯誤，咁邊句先真呀？
9:23 應該係bare infinitive, 唔係bear infinitive. 另外，kindly未必係代表不滿，而係帶有少少提醒(reminder)嘅作用
kindly 有少少悔氣地講「我唔該你⋯⋯」
@@tootoochan depends on context and mood
好似有人問whats wrong with you咁😂😂
Kindly is polite in UK, a lot of people use kind regards as well as best regards
曾經看過一個英國人教學視頻，佢話只用regards係非常不禮貌，應該用Best regards 或者Kind regards😅
你的分享好有用，有很多錯誤都不留意。👍🏻 但自從AI（如Grammaly） 等這些工具出現，現在的大學生/在職人士寫文都依賴工具去檢查糾正， 英文水平都較以前下降。
想問下有沒有任何建議，可以有效使用AI等工具協助同時又能保持/提升英文水平呢？ 🤔
Thx.
Hi Melody, 很欣賞您的解釋，使我明白我在email 裹常犯的錯誤，得以改善！💕😊
非常實用，易明！ 解答左我好多email上一直疑惑既問題！ Thanks for sharing 😀
幫到你就好👍🏻👍🏻
I have to read and reply to lots of English emails to customers in South East Asian coutries. The mistakes you have metnioned are very common in differnt countries. It's very helpful to know that they are actually not proper English. By the way, I am from Taiwan and have studied Cantonese before. You videos are very useful for me to study both English and Cantonese at the same time😃
God help you guys, if this is the standard. lol..... I didn't know ! Oh dear.
除了考試之外，一般商業email 最重要言簡意精。忌冗長！因為一天可能要覆幾十個。大概文法不會太著重，寫出重點便是了！formal communication 才會注重文法，如求職信件，查詢信件、．．．
Use double check.....instead of confirm. Please note that / Please be aware. Looking forward to hearing is a typical TOEFL question.😀
搵到多一個錯處！
9:24字幕有typo
變左”bear” infinitive🤣
Very clear explanation👍🏻
The English standard of many HK people in workplace is too bad and they don’t care about grammar at all even for the “high level management” such as in HA.🤭
The English before was quite good, is because either the individuals were English.. or has English ancestries... (i.e. Their parents were English....)... So therefore they could speak more fluently... but in 2023.. we are now talking about the fact that... this is now diluted... as in... In HK, there are now like third to fourth generation of descendents of English heritages.. and they officially have diluted English. I can see this quite clearly now. Their Cantonese is of a much higher standard than mine. Whereas their English is now lacking. (And reverse is true for myself too. My English is a lot better than my Cantonese, even though I am of Cantonese descent.)
好正，好有用，希望可以有多d職場email教學片🙂
遲啲會拍多啲！
你好，請問可否講解下thereon , therein 呢類字眼？同埋，yet 的用法。🙏🏻
well done melody -
to me, bla bla bla .." sounds negative, if not pejorative, especially when it's overused.
keep it up with your great works!
1/2/5/9: 常見, 但我認為5) 對長輩、上師或客戶，用 " Please advise...." 好啲。對下屬、晚輩用 " let us know" , 加埋 " please." 就更好.
3/4/6//8/10: 已知. 少見.
7: 新知. 我都有錯.
Thanks for sharing !🙏
Please note that 'Please Advise' is used in many emails (informal or formal) nowadays; it is not old-fashioned.
Exactly 👍
Concur
甚至警察對講機通訊都會有"Please be advised, suspect on foot" .
Melody is correct. Please advise is in active voice and please be advised is in passive voice. Its pure grammar, nothing old-fashioned
@@cphohkyes, we understand when to use active voice & passive voice, what we disagree with her is, "please advise" shouldn't be regarded as too formal and old fashioned!
但不知為何, 我去到很多公司, 包括收到別人的電郵, 都是寫Well recevied with thanks , 大家好像不介意是錯誤, 好像是香港人的"想約俗成", 我諗可能外國人已習慣我們的港式英語, 所以沒有糾正我們的錯誤吧!😅
Yes，美國人都係咁寫
@@chantony3752 對呀, 我做的公司都是與美國人溝通, 佢地都是咁寫! 但不知美國人是否跟我們香港人!
This is because, this can be an actual "mean joke"... and because nobody stopped this kind of circulation or the email. It keeps going round. Do you need your boss to step forward to say "stop using this", or would you be an adult and to stop using this first? This kind of thing, is also a test of your IQ too if you think about it. Either when somebody is trying to ruin a group's actual "formal method".. and a joker comes along and mess it up. Bearing in mind that these emails are sent OUT of the organisation... and not an internal joke. Once you do this. Should you keep doing this wrong action ? Why should the other person make way for your mistakes ALL of the time ? And because this goes out.. it keeps going round... and the joke keeps going round and round and rund and round and round... and add the AI too.. the AI carries it round and round and round and round and round..... Again and again and again and again and again.... Round and round and round and round and round... And then throw in the SEO as well.. it keeps going round and round and round and round. Like a feeling of bad de ja vu....
請問 Received with thanks or Received and thanks is better?
either Please or Kindly. Please kindly...
You are so pretty and your pronunciation is so beautiful.
好大隻眼呀！😳
Uh, email or not, people nowadays don’t really care so much regarding grammar in casual communication even in business environments, sadly that’s the trend.
7:12 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻真係講解得很好❤ 譯成中文時，大家就超級明白晒了
7:20 please be noted..應該不是被動式, 應該是noted被當作形容詞, 比please note來的更客氣些的正式社交語彙.我在接獲外國公司email回復時,它們公司信中經常使用please be noted....
我英文唔係咁好尤其 gramma, 但我都揾到9點，有D意外又驚喜或者自己英文其實都唔太差。不過 thank you in advance 原來唔係太有禮貌呢點真係唔知。。。仲成日用。咁其實咩情況先啱用呢句呢？whats app 問客人攞收貨地址我都成日用，又啱嗎？thanks～
"please kindly", "please be advised", "herewith" 等等字句屬 cliche, 很多英文老師和 business writing 的書早有提及, 避免使用, 但在一些商業文件包括電郵, 還經常看到過時的用詞, 可能有人還覺得這才夠得體formal.
都好同意你的说法。I used to write thanks in advance for your reply...因为真的想对方回答，尤其大家一起做事。
妳講中文、英文都很好，流𣈱，不過中文聽起來比較自然些，但你講英文就有點兒 formal、造作的感覺，不太自然。
如果妳講中文和英文都用同一的處理手法應該會舒服些。
希望以上的意見是有用的。🫣😊
我是中年OL, 感謝你的貢獻. 我學到很多, 謝謝!
請問如果根據對方的英文名字不能判斷是男或女, 是否在上款寫 Mr/Ms. Wong. 另外, 對方誤會了你的性別, 如何禮貌地或不經意地告知對方?
主持人美貌 + 智慧並重👍👍👍
Thank you 😳
宜家唔駛咁煩，搵 chatGPT執下佢就得，email成段文變完美
@@dr.strange-backtofuture3991 我哋好快會被 AI 取代😂😂
7:38 "Please", "Kindly" vs "Please kindly"...
e.g. Please subscribe.
Please comment:
"Please kindly subscribe" ?!
😅原來pls kindly.... 係錯的 。Thanks a lot for your sharing.
係呀👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
MELODY, 您好； 在商务信函里开始时，除了称呼DEAR某某某先生/女士，还可以怎么称呼对方呢~多谢
另外见到一个常犯錯误，应该用advise动词时，错用名词advice。外国学生也可能会犯这错误
Thank you
For 'Please', 'Kindly' and 'Please Kindly'/'Kindly Please', it would seem that the first and the secould could be interchangeably used in emails, while the third would seem a bit rude. Indeed, for some emails (informal or formal) nowadays, some people, who have been well educated even, have used the third in their emails!
Great video, pointed out many common mistakes in email writing. Many thanks!😼
Thanks Melody, 很有用!👍
In the US corporate world, ‘please advise’ and ‘thanks in advance’ are commonly used. The use of ‘can’ is not an error, ‘could’ is just extra polite. Lastly, ‘double confirm’ is definitely used; it just might be less formal.
Be very careful with could or would. It’s not for sounding more polite but proper tense. 90% of the time people use it in the wrong.
@@janusjones6519 Tense is not in the picture here. When you make a request, it is current.
@@techie1818 not always
American companies use more of an explicit tone. "Can you"... a strong "yes or no". Cos that is, by their laws, actually factual, implicit... and it is also evidences as well? Whereas in British English, you don't... the "implied" meaning is far more important. Cos the "doing" is the evidences. i.e. Did you or did you not do this. And that is shown by your actual actions. Letters and paperwork, is a form of confirmation and sales invoices... Normally, most people do not say... what they need to do in their roles. Their job description should've highlighted the boundaries of their roles? But most of the time in America... their teams are far too big.. and they live in different states. HK is such a small place.. and your job title ought to be clear... Cos somebody within your team... or your dept.. should have adviced you. i.e. If you do not know what your team does.. that is the fault of your manager. So don't make your manager look bad... in front of others. If you do not know, ask your team leader, or ask your manager. It is their job to get this correct...
@@techie1818 : The problem is.. they are "thinking in Cantonese"... and then they try to find the exact English words and translation to match.
That is why they would keep doing this. They associate in their mind as :
"Could you" = 你可唔可以去做
"Would you" = 你願唔願意以去做
(Extras: 你想唔想去做 = Do you want to do it ? Which you don't ask, unless it is a promotion situation or other, or it is expansion into some areas that your team need to cover, but it is normally not within your dept's areas to be held responsible for. )
In English.. the context.. and " the meaning behind the conversation is important"....
1. Could you = Can you be able to do this, even though I do not know if you can or have the capability and skills. = "你識唔識點樣去做呢樣嘢 " (因為我唔知你嘅技能去到邊度.) [如果你做唔到，請向我解釋點解你做唔到. 您需要什麼工具，或者需要什麼情景能做到這一點？ ]
2. Would you = I know that you have the skills to do this, but can you do this anyway ? = 你願唔願意以去做 (因為我知度你有能力 .) [如果你唔願意去做，請向我解釋點解你唔願意去做. 你目前嘅工作量有幾多，你交呢啲工作嘅時間表畀我. 畀我重新安排. ]
This is why.. people say that English is an "implied" meaning... and not "explicit" as in American English.
(Oh, I love to sit with the popcorns.... lol.)
1. If I know that I don't have the capability, then my answer would normally be a "no".... maybe sometimes, this small thing is missed off.
The answer should've been...."I can do it, if this XYZ is given to me, cos I currently don't have it. I need these tools... then yes, I can try."
Sigh. Normally.. most people would always be a "Yes man". Even if they don't or is not self aware.. unfortunately.
//Please share
Please 開頭好似命令，我會用
Can/Could/Would you please share
都可以試試 “I would appreciate it if you could…”
好彩我由文員轉返做oa, ed打電郵既野留返俾啲高級人士
想問 Received with thanks VS Received and thanks 有冇分別
Hi, Melody
我第1次听你的节目，你讲解英文文法很清楚👍，英文文法令到我很混乱，所以我的英文进步得很慢，希望以后跟你学习，会更加了解英文文法的结构，我已经订阅你的频道啦! 你讲得非常之好👍大家努力💪💪💪
Hi Melody, …………
Hello, 你好，這段片很有用呀。想請問如果用 "Please be informed that Jayden will take leave on 15 March. Thanks." 這句子文法上是正確嗎？謝謝。
正确
If these sorts of issues is material, I am not sure folks are learning English or just copying templates. This sort of discussion pigeon hole the use of the language rather than educating others of the building blocks of the usage of the language.
I think she is trying to correct the mistakes made, and to explain why it is so.. within the IELTS or other.
Wow! What a great video again. Thank you for your teaching.
My pleasure!
看来我还要先学习Cantonese
Noted AND thx.
v useful and practical, please share more ^^😀
Thank you, I will~
Not exactly of kindly means more demanding. It is based on the situation how you use it. In a letter, we often use kindly to inform you .....😅
Only if you're the tax office ! lol.... She is right, you shouldn't be asking somebody to do something, and then not to sound kinder. Definitely have the kinder approach in written tone, BECAUSE... you are also representing the organisation too. This is just customer service.
You wouldn't say "If you don't reply back in 10 minutes, then I will come down to your office, and find you and duff you up.. .Neat and good...." Would you ? lol......
(Actually.. in HK.. I think it will happen.... lol....) IF they do.... then do the right funny thing....and mimick... who's that guy who told all in that podcast.. about the media sector.... He said, their enemy's paper came into their office, and threaten that they will take them over... and then the CEO played a neat trick back. :) Ah... who's that British guy ? Basically, they settled the score in a professional way. I think he ordered some gift in advance to the office, before he went to the office, or something like that. And then he took that gift and gave it back to the guy. It's very funny.
溫馨提示，字幕錯咗，bare infinitive 打咗bear infinitive 。
我經常用double confirm😅
以後可以嘗試避免下～
同埋去address人係唔會用title + first name，例如Mr. Chris😂
Yes 👍🏻
I totally agree with you about 畫蛇添足because Chinese language writing likes to be very descriptive or 'flowery'. I was 'required' to include those terms in the English translation of the company's internal document !!!!
Thx Melody for your sharing. Practical indeed.
keep an eye on it 和 keep an eye out for it 有什么区别。我看了很多还是搞不清。中文翻译好似两个都是留意那意思。
Please be informed that係咪都唔岩
Dear Melody, 今天是我第一次看老師Channel，知識非常有用，如果有機會，可否解釋以下句子出現問題， This email是通知客人旅行團出發日期📅， Departs at Winnipeg Airport at noon, 28th October - 2nd November 2023. 但是客人回答，要求改成：Departure at Churchill Train Station 7:30pm, Thursday, 2nd November 2023. Many Thanks!
我是再傳統英資公司工作，我以前外國人上司嘅下款都係統一用 Regards or Best Regards. 甚少用 Yours Sincerely or fainthfully.
請問如果接收email的兩個人都叫Eric，如果寫成Dear Eric, Eric … 好像有點怪，應該怎樣寫會比較好呢？ 假設一個叫Eric Wong一個叫Eric Chan
Hi Melody, 如果提人做乜乜乜係唔係寫please be reminded to....？另想問下我見以前啲電郵有attachment，就會寫attached please find.咁樣就可以？我喺度諗呢啲係唔係簡寫？謝謝您回撥Melody老師。
唔係話唔啱不過有啲地方並唔係咁太切合日常。
日本人習慣寫全名先至為之係專重。
well received分active voice同埋passive voice，喺active voice嘅時候解作完好無缺咁收到，好多時係用嚟表示收到包裹或者貨物嘅時候用。
你好 👋🏻 我係HK01教育版記者🙆🏻♀️我哋而家想做一個關於2023DSE嘅人物專訪，咁啱見到你幫學生專攻英文好似唔錯，想睇下你會唔會肯接受我哋訪問🙏🏻
訪問內容大致分左兩部分🙏🏻
第一部分大概係想你比2023DSE考生嘅一啲應考心得同心得🙇🏻♀️
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可以選擇做其中一個都得🙏🏻時間同地點可以遷就你，或者上我哋公司做訪問都可以，唔該晒你🙏🏻🙇🏻♀️
Thanks very much for pointing out the subtle difference between "please" and "kindly". The mis-use of the word "kindly" has been so pervasive in Hong Kong commercial world....
From Singapore. Thanks for sharing. It’s helpful, and I like your voice too. Subscribed and liked. Looking forward to…. (I’m nt going to make the mistake here!) hahaha!
Email 用best regards 已夠
Hi Chris，I received the presentation desk.Could you please comfirm the data and advice the source for me? The meeting allowed 20 people and please send me the attandent list. Looking forward hearing from you, thanks 帮我改下，学到了，我看邮件只看事实，不看礼貌的
BTW, 我真係好想知v 字頭應該點發音, 好多時D人話跟外國發音, 聽落好似f音, 但我就唔明點解有兩個字母會一樣發音, 咁a very good ferry 咪分唔到? Focal 同 vocal 又分唔到?
hi miss tam 在機場工作多年、在電報、電郵常用 tks 、msg、rgds 、 Re : / regarding 這些又是否合適 用於工作以外的字句、請多指教、thank you
如果唔識對方應該寫Regards定Best regards好啲呢？
兩個都可以
改正版sample寫：「Let me know if you have anything and I hope to hear back from you」
「anything」 好似斷得好突然，後面使唔使加啲嘢例如you want to know？
謝謝分享！想請問一下如果想confirm某啲嘢，用”May I please confirm xxxxx” 可以嗎？定係用返”Could you please confirm xxx?” 比較好呢？
除了第一个错处，好像都是小学生已经不能错的文法问题。至于please kindly, 见过有人这样用，不确定是不是有问题。
我全部錯晒，香港人英文！😂😂😂
Glad you mention the tone of writing
Grammar 上， please be advised of the new policy. 我直頭直接簡單寫 「you are advised of the new policy.」背左佢， 少頭痛
請教一下Melody，please share 會不會有點命令的語氣在裏面，從而令到收信人感到唔舒服呢？@Melody Tam
Hi Chris, 或Hi Melody, 正宗英文，中間要加逗號。Hi, Chris, 或 Hi, Melody,