The CrackVerbal Guide to

“Indian” English

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The CrackVerbal Guide to “Indian” English

1. Did you really mean that?

Indian English or “Indian-ism” is best explained when an Indian meets “foreigners” and try
to speak "chaste English" and ask their "good name" and how many "issues" they have, and
insist that they do not "observe formality', but "have a beer bottle" or two with him. They
cannot meet his "better half", because she is having "a head bath", but being "newly
married", he is "cent-per-cent" sure that she is "carrying". Since he is not "a busybody"
today because he has had his "offs" changed to Sundays by "oiling" his boss, he might offer
them a ride in his new car, but will make sure there is a "stepany" in the "dickey", otherwise
they might have to "foot" it in case of a "puncture".

Here is a list of some commonly used “Indian-ism” and their equivalent in Global English.

Indian-ism Global English

Explain me something Explain something to me
Have you shifted? Have you moved?
Would you be having the account number? Would you have the account number?
A little more longer A little longer
Mr. Tom (First Name) Mr. (Last Name)
I am having 2 brothers I have 2 brothers
What state does he belongs to? What state is he from?
Driving License Driver’s License
May I suggest you something? May I suggest something to you?
Good Name Name
Entry from backside Entry from behind
Myself (Name) I am (Name)
I will revert back to you I will revert to you
I am…….this side Could I speak with…….?
Return back Return
You can be rest assured You can rest assured/I assure
This is more preferable This is preferable
Repeat it again Repeat it/Say it again
Today morning This morning
Yesterday evening Last evening
In the night At night
Four days back Four days ago
I am very very sorry I am very sorry
I’ll think on it I’ll think about it
I am understanding it now I understand it now
I come from India I am from India
These both books are mine Both these books are mine
The climate of India is better than America The climate of India is better than that of
America
He has left paining He has given up painting
I asked her where she was going I asked where she was going

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The CrackVerbal Guide to “Indian” English

I saw 2 females there I saw 2 girls/ladies there

He is my cousin brother He is my cousin
I shall meet you inbetween 5 and 6 I shall meet you between 5 and 6
I and Abdul travel together Abdul and I travel together
I have give a test I have taken a test
This novel is too interesting This novel is very interesting
He is your brother, No? Is he your brother?
I neither insulted you nor him I insulted neither you nor him
We came by walk We came by walking
We discussed about it We discussed it
I have seen the film last night I saw the film last night
I am doubting whether he will come I doubt whether he will come
It is time we leave It is time we left
I am hearing a strange noise I hear a strange noise
He entered into the room He entered the room
How long are you working here? How long have you been working?
When have you bought the car? When did you buy the car?
Are you having a cold? Do you have a cold?
I am not understanding exactly what you I don’t understand what exactly you mean
mean
I am liking it very much I like it very much
Let us discuss about this Let us discuss this
They did it, no? They did it, didn’t they?
He is here, isn’t it? He is here. Isn’t he?
My all bags are empty My bags are all empty
He does this always He always does this
I only told her to do that I told her to do that
I simply forwarded the mail to my boss I just forwarded the mail to my boss
Cope up with Cope with

2. Do you pay for a Gift? Then why “Free Gift”?

Some of these Indian-isms have to do with certain words that are plain redundant. Like in
the list above – it is pointless to say “Revert back” when “Revert” means the same.* Here
are some redundant expressions:

Don’t use Use

And et cetera Et cetera
As a result of Because
As otherwise Otherwise
As about About
Attached hereto Attached
At this point in time At this time/ Now

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The CrackVerbal Guide to “Indian” English

Avail oneself of Use

Be of the opinion Believe
Both alike Alike
Both together Together
Check into Check
Connect up Connect
Continue on Continue
Cooperate together Cooperate
Customary practice Practice
During the time that While
Each and every Each or every
Enclosed herewith Enclosed
Enter into Enter
Forward by post Mail
Free gift Gift
Have a tendency to Tend to
In many instances Often
Inspite of the fact that Although
In the amount of For
In the event that If
In the matter of About
In the process of being Being
In this day and age Nowadays
Inform of the reason Tell why
Is of the opinion Believes
Letter under date of Letter of
Letter with regard to Letter about
New beginner Beginner
Advise/ Inform Say/ Tell/ Let us know
Along these lines/ On the order of Like/ Similar to
As per As/ According to
At an early date/ At your earliest Soon/ Today/ Next week/ A specific date
convenience
At this time/ At the present time/ At this Now / At present
writing
Check to cover Check for
Deem Believe/ Consider
Due to the fact that/ Because of the fact that Because
Favor/ Communication Letter/ Memo/ Et Al
For the purpose of For
Forward Send
Free of charge Free
In accordance with According to
In advance of / Prior to Before
In compliance with As you requested
Un re, re For

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The CrackVerbal Guide to “Indian” English

In the amount of For

In the event that If/ in case
Kindly Please
Of recent date Recent
Party Person/ a specific name
Said Not to be used as an adjective
Same Not to be used as a noun
Subsequent to After/ since
The writer/ the undersigned I / Me
Up to this writing Until now
On account of the fact that Because
Owing to the fact that Because / since
Past experience Experience
Place emphasis on Emphasize
Place an order for Order
Repeat again Repeat
Same identical Identical
Revert back Get back
Send an answer Reply
Up above Above
Whether or no Whether
Write your name Sign

3. Enclosed herewith are a list of phrases to avoid

Then there are the “archaic” phrases which are left-overs from the British Raj - a colonial
legacy that has no place in the modern world of SMS-lingo and emoticons.

Avoid the following words/phrase:

1. According to our records

2. I have your letter
3. Acknowledge receipt of
4. I wish to thank
5. May I ask
6. As to
7. With reference to
8. In due time
9. In due course of time
10. With regard to
11. With respect to
12. In receipt of
13. At hand

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The CrackVerbal Guide to “Indian” English

14. On hand
15. In the near future
16. Attached please find
17. Attached hereto
18. In view of
19. Enclosed herewith
20. Enclosed please find
21. Our Mrs.Campbell
22. Beg to inform
23. Permit me to say
24. Duly
25. Pursuant to
26. For your information
27. Thank you in advance
28. Hereby
29. Heretofore
30. Herewith
31. Thereon

Hope this was useful!

The CrackVerbal Team

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The CrackVerbal Guide to “Indian” English

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