Good morning, everyone. Today, we're going to dive into the nuances of effective business English by dissecting a single, seemingly simple sentence: "You should benefit us of further informations as we feel ourselves unable to help you." This sentence, while understandable, is riddled with common errors that can significantly impact how your message is received.

Deconstructing the Mistakes

First, let's address the grammar. The phrase "you should benefit us" is not standard English. In business, the word benefit is powerful and should be directed at the customer, not at your own company. The correct way to use it would be to say, "This will benefit you."

Next, we have "informations." The word information is an uncountable noun. It's always singular, no matter how much you have. You wouldn't say "sugars" when asking for sugar; you'd ask for "some sugar." The same rule applies to "information." It's just "information." Similarly, "training" is also an uncountable noun, so you should avoid using "trainings."

Finally, the phrase "we feel ourselves unable" is a misuse of the reflexive form. In English, reflexive pronouns like "ourselves" are typically used for physical, literal actions. For instance, "We cut ourselves." Using it to express a state of mind sounds unnatural and can even be misunderstood, as the text points out. A native speaker would simply say, "we feel unable to help you" or "we are unable to help you."

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The Impact on the Reader

Why do these mistakes matter so much in a business context? They don't just affect grammar; they affect perception. Grammatical errors can give a poor impression and make your company seem unprofessional or disorganized. On a deeper level, the tone of the original sentence is unhelpful and places the burden on the customer. It sounds like the company is difficult to deal with, which is the last message you want to send.

The problem often arises from direct translation. The writer focused on a word-for-word conversion from their native language rather than on the business purpose of the message. The goal here should be to ask for information in a way that shows you want to help the customer.

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The Solution: A Simple Rewrite

By rewriting the sentence to "Please could you let us have some further information so that we can help you?", the message becomes clearer, more polite, and customer-focused. It's a simple change, but it completely changes the dynamic and improves the reader's experience.

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A Note on Correction and Learning

While it's crucial to identify and fix these mistakes, it's also important to do so in a supportive way. The "red pen" approach, where managers harshly correct every error, can be demotivating for employees. Instead, we should foster an environment where people feel comfortable asking questions.

It's in your best interest to understand why certain phrases are better than others. Even within a single language, like UK English, there can be multiple correct spellings, such as recognize or recognise, and judgement or judgment. Company or personal preference dictates which to use. If your manager asks you to write something a specific way, you have a right to ask for the reason, and they have a duty to explain it.

Remember, making mistakes is human, but consistently making them in business can damage your professional image. We need to focus on quality, which means defining what "acceptable" and "top quality" mean for your specific business. Don't "bury your head in the sand" 🤦‍♀️ when you see a problem. Acknowledging and correcting mistakes is the only way to improve and succeed.