The 10 Most Common Mistakes in Executive English
Subtle Errors That Undermine Your Credibility (And How to Fix Them)
Why These Mistakes Matter
These errors are subtle but they immediately signal 'non-native speaker' to North American clients. The problem? Native speakers rarely correct you. They understand what you mean, so they let it slide. But they notice. And in executive-level business situations, these small errors accumulate into an impression of lower fluency than you actually have.
The 10 Most Common Mistakes
Starting with 'Actually...'
In English, 'actually' implies correction or surprise. Using it habitually sounds condescending.
Wrong:
"Actually, I think we should consider..."
Right:
"I think we should consider..."
Action Item:
Delete 'actually' from most sentences. Reserve it for genuine corrections.
Overusing 'I think'
Excessive hedging undermines your authority. Executives state positions; they don't constantly qualify.
Wrong:
"I think the deadline is next Friday. I think we need more resources."
Right:
"The deadline is next Friday. We need more resources."
Action Item:
State your position directly. Save 'I think' for opinions, not facts.
Using 'No?' as a tag question
This is a direct translation from Spanish. In English, it sounds informal and uncertain.
Wrong:
"We should move forward, no?"
Right:
"We should move forward, right?"
Action Item:
Use 'right?' or 'don't you think?' for tag questions, or eliminate them entirely.
Saying 'I have a doubt'
'Doubt' in English means skepticism or disbelief. You mean 'question.'
Wrong:
"I have a doubt about the timeline."
Right:
"I have a question about the timeline."
Action Item:
Replace 'I have a doubt' with 'I have a question' or 'I'm unclear on...'
Apologizing excessively
Starting with 'Sorry, but...' or 'Sorry to bother you' undermines your authority.
Wrong:
"Sorry, but I disagree with that approach."
Right:
"I see it differently. Here's why..."
Action Item:
Replace apologies with direct statements or gratitude.
Using 'assist' instead of 'help'
'Assist' sounds formal and stiff. Native speakers say 'help.'
Wrong:
"I can assist you with that project."
Right:
"I can help you with that project."
Action Item:
Use 'help' in almost all cases. It's more natural and direct.
Saying 'in this moment'
This is a literal translation. English uses 'right now' or 'currently.'
Wrong:
"In this moment, we're focused on Q4."
Right:
"Right now, we're focused on Q4."
Action Item:
Replace 'in this moment' with 'right now,' 'currently,' or 'at the moment.'
Overusing 'very'
Excessive use of 'very' weakens your statements instead of strengthening them.
Wrong:
"This is a very important project that's very urgent."
Right:
"This is a critical project that's urgent."
Action Item:
Use stronger verbs and adjectives instead of 'very + weak word.'
Saying 'I will send you'
Missing the object. English requires 'I will send you THE EMAIL/DOCUMENT.'
Wrong:
"I will send you by end of day."
Right:
"I'll send you the proposal by end of day."
Action Item:
Always include what you're sending: the file, the email, the document.
Using 'How do you call...?'
This is a direct translation from Spanish. English uses 'What do you call...?'
Wrong:
"How do you call this in English?"
Right:
"What do you call this in English?"
Action Item:
Replace 'How do you call' with 'What do you call' or 'What's the word for...'
Robert Cushman
I help Latin American tech professionals communicate with executive-level confidence so they can close bigger contracts, command premium rates, and advance their international careers.
After coaching 200+ professionals from Smarttie, Grupo Kopar, Terramar Brands, and Sourceability, I know that what separates good from great in high-pressure meetings isn't vocabulary—it's leadership communication.