Here’s the good news: in decades of training teams, the most common email mistakes we see almost never involve grammar. Non-native speakers are usually excellent at grammar. The problems are structural, and much simpler to fix.
Mistake one: the buried ask. “I was just wondering whether, in light of the update we discussed, it might be possible to consider moving the deadline.” Somewhere in there is a request. Put it first: “Could we move the deadline to Friday? Here’s why.”
Mistake two: the paragraph wall. Long paragraphs ask a lot of tired readers. Aim for three or four lines per paragraph, one idea each, and bullet points wherever you’re listing more than two things.
Mistake three: the missing sign-off. Different cultures expect different levels of warmth, but every email needs a clear ending, a next step, an owner, and a date. “I’ll send the draft by Thursday. Any questions before then, just shout.” That’s it. Clear, human, complete.
Fix these three, and your emails get shorter, kinder and far more effective. If you’d like us to red-pen a few with your team, that’s precisely what our training sessions are for.
– fin. Questions? Just ask.
We teach this stuff for a living.
Our training sessions turn posts like this into practical skills, clearer emails, smoother meetings, fewer cultural awkward moments.