0Common Indianisms in English
Indian English has a rich flavour, but some expressions sound unusual or incorrect to global ears. A few common examples:
- “Discuss about” → correct: “Discuss” already includes “about,” so just say “Let’s discuss this”.
- “Order for food” → correct: “Order food”.
- “Do the needful” → dated; better: “Please take the necessary action.”
- “Revert back” → “revert” itself means “reply,” so just say “Please revert”.
- “Pass out” for finishing college → in international English, “pass out” means fainting; better: “graduate.”
Why does this happen? Because we transfer patterns directly from Indian usage into English without realising global norms differ. Are Indianisms wrong? Not always — many are perfectly acceptable in local settings. But if your goal is global communication, you need to be aware of them. Activity: Pick 3 Indianisms you use often and replace them with globally understood alternatives in your next email or conversation. Takeaway: small corrections here improve clarity and reduce misunderstandings when speaking to international audiences.
