WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Grammar Minute: Using Foreign Words in English Writing

Episode Date: November 30, 2023

Change the status quo. Avoid Latin like you avoid cliches - that is, like the plague.

Welcome to the Grammar Minute, where we're saving the English language 60 seconds at a time. I'm Lauren Smith, and today we're going to talk about using foreign words in your writing. Before you say, I only speak English, think twice about that. There are probably quite a few foreign words you use all the time without really thinking about it. How about versus, et cetera, ad nauseum, 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 for most of the words we use in common language.

Fopaa doesn't look English when you find it in the middle of a sentence. These phrases can often be unclear, removed from their original meanings, and no more descriptive than plain English. So, in general, avoid using foreign words and phrases in your writing if there is an easy English equivalent. That's your Grammar Minute. Visit thegrammarminut.com for more tips and tricks.