Cómo Sonar Más Natural en Inglés (para Hablantes No Nativos)

For non-native English speakers, writing in English can feel like navigating a minefield. Even when grammar is technically correct, something can still feel "off" about your writing. Native speakers might not be able to pinpoint exactly what's wrong, but they notice when text doesn't flow naturally. This guide will help you identify and fix the patterns that make writing sound non-native, so you can communicate with confidence.

Why Natural Writing Matters

In professional settings, how you write shapes how others perceive you. Research shows that readers make subconscious judgments about a writer's competence based on how naturally their text flows. This isn't about accent or cultural background—it's about connecting effectively with your audience.

Natural-sounding writing:

• Builds instant credibility with readers
• Makes your ideas easier to understand
• Reduces miscommunication
• Helps you advance professionally
• Builds confidence in your communication abilities

The good news? The patterns that make writing sound unnatural are learnable and fixable.

Common Patterns That Sound Unnatural

1. Overly Formal Vocabulary

Many non-native speakers learn English from textbooks that emphasize formal vocabulary. While this is grammatically correct, it can sound stiff in everyday professional contexts.

Sounds unnatural: "I am writing to inquire whether you have received my previous correspondence."

Sounds natural: "I wanted to check if you received my last email."

Sounds unnatural: "We shall proceed with the implementation forthwith."

Sounds natural: "We'll start the implementation right away."

2. Missing Contractions

Native speakers use contractions constantly in everyday writing. Avoiding them makes your text sound robotic.

Sounds unnatural: "I do not think we will be able to make the deadline. It is going to be difficult."

Sounds natural: "I don't think we'll be able to make the deadline. It's going to be difficult."

When to skip contractions: Very formal documents, legal writing, or when you want to emphasize a word ("I do NOT agree").

3. Literal Translations

Translating phrases directly from your native language often produces awkward English. Each language has its own idiomatic expressions that don't translate well.

Common examples:

• "Please kindly do the needful" → "Please let me know if you need anything else"
• "I have a doubt" → "I have a question"
• "Revert back to me" → "Get back to me" or "Reply to me"
• "Discuss about" → "Discuss" (no preposition needed)
• "Prepone the meeting" → "Move the meeting earlier"

4. Awkward Word Order

English has specific patterns for word order that differ from other languages.

Sounds unnatural: "I yesterday went to the office for completing the report."

Sounds natural: "I went to the office yesterday to complete the report."

Sounds unnatural: "She is a very much experienced developer."

Sounds natural: "She's a very experienced developer."

5. Article Overuse or Underuse

Articles (a, an, the) are one of the trickiest aspects of English. Languages without articles (like Russian, Chinese, or Japanese) and languages with different article rules often lead to mistakes.

Common issues:

• "I sent you email" → "I sent you an email"
• "Can you send me the document I need?" → "Can you send me the document I need?" (correct)
• "The life is beautiful" → "Life is beautiful" (no article for general concepts)

6. Overusing "Please"

While politeness is important, overusing "please" can sound overly deferential or even passive-aggressive in some cultures.

Too much: "Please find attached the document. Please review it at your earliest convenience. Please let me know if you have questions."

Just right: "I've attached the document for your review. Let me know if you have any questions."

Phrases That Sound Natural

Here are some expressions native speakers commonly use that you can incorporate into your writing:

Agreeing

• "That makes sense."
• "Good point."
• "I see what you mean."
• "Absolutely."

Disagreeing Politely

• "I see it a bit differently."
• "That's fair, but I think..."
• "I hear you, though..."

Requesting

• "Would you mind..."
• "Could you..."
• "Any chance you could..."
• "When you get a moment, could you..."

Following Up

• "Just wanted to check in on..."
• "Circling back on this..."
• "Any updates on...?"
• "Where are we on...?"

Acknowledging

• "Thanks for the heads up."
• "Got it, thanks."
• "Makes sense."
• "Thanks for clarifying."

Practice Exercises

Try rewriting these sentences to sound more natural:

1. "I would like to inform you that the meeting has been postponed." → "Just a heads up—the meeting has been postponed."

2. "Please be informed that I shall be on leave tomorrow." → "Quick note—I'll be out tomorrow."

3. "Kindly revert back at the earliest." → "Could you get back to me when you have a chance?"

4. "I am having a doubt regarding the project scope." → "I have a question about the project scope."

5. "We need to discuss about this issue in the next meeting." → "We should discuss this in our next meeting."

Tips for Developing Natural Writing

1. Read Native-Written Content

Immerse yourself in emails, articles, and books written by native speakers. Pay attention to how they phrase things, not just what they say.

2. Listen to Natural Speech

Podcasts, videos, and conversations help you internalize natural patterns. Notice how casual professional communication differs from textbook English.

3. Use Contractions

When in doubt, contract it. "I'll" instead of "I will," "we're" instead of "we are," etc.

4. Keep Sentences Shorter

Long, complex sentences are harder to get right. Break them into shorter ones.

5. Read Your Writing Aloud

If it sounds awkward when spoken, it probably sounds awkward to readers too.

6. Get Feedback

Ask native-speaking colleagues to flag phrases that sound off. Over time, you'll internalize these corrections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it bad to be formal in English? Not at all—formal English is appropriate in many contexts. The key is matching your formality level to the situation. Most workplace communication is more casual than textbook English suggests.

How long does it take to sound natural? With conscious practice, you can see improvement in weeks. Full fluency in natural expression typically develops over months to years of immersion.

Should I avoid my native language patterns entirely? No—your unique perspective is valuable. The goal is to be understood clearly, not to erase your background. Focus on the patterns that cause confusion.

Are there tools that can help? Yes! AI-powered writing assistants like WordWiz can suggest more natural phrasings for your text, helping you learn patterns while improving your current writing.

Building Confidence

Remember: billions of people speak English as a second language, and most native speakers appreciate the effort and don't expect perfection. Your ideas are valuable regardless of how perfectly you phrase them.

The goal isn't to pretend you're a native speaker—it's to communicate clearly and confidently. With practice and attention to these common patterns, you'll develop writing that flows naturally and conveys your expertise effectively.

Start noticing these patterns in your daily writing, make small adjustments, and watch your confidence grow over time. You've already mastered the hard part—learning English. Now it's just about polishing the details.