Indianisms

What are Indianisms?

These are commonly used words/phrases/or expressions used in spoken English of Indians. Often, these may be
misinterpreted or misunderstood by native English speakers, so it is important to avoid these.

For us, some of the expressions may not sound strange because we are used to hearing this form of English. However, a
person who has not been exposed to our way of speaking might be at a loss at times wondering what we might have meant
by saying, for example, “Are you having a pen…” As far as they are concerned, one uses the verb “to have” (in the -ing form)
with “a bath”, “dinner” etc. So they might just turn around and ask, “With what? Sauce or jam?!!”

We will see some common ones here.

1. Use of itself or only for emphasis:

Can I meet with you tomorrow itself? (Incorrect)
Can I meet with you tomorrow? (Correct)

We’ll need to have our classes here itself. (Incorrect)

We’ll need to have our classes here. (Correct)

Now only I’ve understood the problem. (Incorrect)

Now I’ve understood the problem. (Correct)

We arrived today only. (Incorrect)

We arrived today. (Correct)

Don’t use “itself” or “only” to emphasize Time or Place: Instead, use Intonation to provide emphasis.

2. Use of back with return or revert

He returned it back to me. (Incorrect)

He returned it to me. (Correct)

He will revert back to me. (Incorrect)

He will revert to me. (Correct)

3. Use of more with prefer or better: Prefer means to like more and better is a comparative, so these words do not
take more.

This is more preferable. (Incorrect)

This is preferable. (Correct)

I prefer this more than that one. (Incorrect)

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I prefer this to that one. (Correct)

This option is more better. (Incorrect)

This option is better. (Incorrect)

4. Use of to with told / asked / requested : Told means said to, so we cannot repeat the use of to after told

He told to me that I was late. (Incorrect)

He told me that I was late. (Correct)

He asked to me if I was in town. (Incorrect)

He asked me if i was in town. (Correct)

He requested to me for help. (Incorrect)

He requested me for help. (Correct)

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If we say Alternatively we should say

 I am Mary Smith this side This is Mary Smith

 Could I talk to ___________. Could I speak with ___________.

 Mr. (First Name) Mr. (Surname)

 What’s your good name please? May I have your name, please?

 Myself, _______________. I am _______________.

 Where do you stay / put up / putting up Where do you live?

 When are you shifting? When are you moving?

 I am understanding, I am
understanding it now, I am knowing I understand, I know

 I’m not getting you I’m sorry I couldn’t catch that

 Could you repeat it once again / come

Again Could you repeat that

 I’ll just be back I’ll be back in just a minute

 Today itself I will get back to you. I’ll get back to you later today

 I will get it today only I’ll get it for you today

 You’ll get it today itself You’ll get it by the end of the day

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  Cope up with Cope with

 The reason is because Because

 Are you student or doing job? Are you studying or working?

 We have too much of …. We have too much ….

 My cousin brother /sister My cousin

 I and my brother My brother and I

 I’m having this job since four years I’m working here for the last four years

 Rest is okay Everything else is fine

More Indianisms

Do the needful
Do the needful is very old-fashioned English, It went out of style decades ago, about the time the British left. This term is
outdated all over the world except in India.

Examples:

I have done the needful. – Incorrect

I have done what is necessary or needed. – Correct

Please do the needful. - Incorrect

Please do what is necessary or needed. - Correct

Please do the needful to attend the mentioned training. – Incorrect

Please do what is necessary to attend the meeting. - Correct

My computer's broken. Please do the needful. - Incorrect

My computer is broken. Please look into this. - Correct

I have sent you an email. Read it and do the needful. – Incorrect

I have sent you an email. Read the email and do what is necessary. – Correct

I am very hungry. Please do the needful. - Incorrect

I am very hungry. Please make me a sandwich. – Correct

Kindly revert
In Standard English, Revert means to return to a former state.

Examples:

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Kindly revert back to me. - Incorrect

Please reply to me. – Correct

Kindly revert back for any clarification. - Incorrect

Please contact us should you need assistance to proceed from here. – Correct

Please feel free to call us for clarifications. – Correct

Please revert at the earliest. - Incorrect

Please reply at the earliest. – Correct

Reply back
The use of reply back is wrong because it contains a redundancy. The word reply means to say something back. The
meaning of the word back is already contained in reply, so there is no need to use them together.

Examples:

Please reply back as soon as possible. - Incorrect

Please reply as soon as possible. – Correct

I’ll reply back to the email. - Incorrect

I will reply to the email. – Correct

Prepone
Prepone is one of a few words that we Indians have created for our own convenience. Apparently, this phrase has become
so popular that it’s even been added to a few dictionaries!

Examples:

I have preponed the meeting. - Incorrect

I have rescheduled the meeting to . – Correct

Please do XYZ without fail

Here, Please is a request and without fail is an order.

Examples:

Kindly attend the meeting without fail. – Incorrect

Kindly attend the meeting. Please do not fail me in this. – Correct

Please intimate me
To intimate is a rare verb meaning to inform someone privately.

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Examples:

Please intimate me. - Incorrect

Please inform me. – Correct

Do one thing

Do one thing is the direct translation of Ek kaam karo and this usage is incorrect. One thing can be ten things, but it is still
one thing.

Examples:

Scenario: My computer keeps getting hung.

Indian Usage: Do one thing. Clear your history. Delete your cookies. Defrag your hard drive. Run a virus check. Restart your
computer.

Correct Usage: Do the following:

 Clear your history.

 Delete your cookies.
 Defrag your hard drive.
 Run a virus check.
 Restart your computer.

Do one thing. Take a left turn there. - Incorrect

You can take a left turn there. – Correct

Let’s do one thing, let’s order both veg and non-veg. - Incorrect

Let’s order Vegetarian and Non Vegetarian. – Correct

Do one thing, set the headline in Times New Roman. - Incorrect

You can set the headline in Times New Roman. – Correct

You have carpal tunnel? Do one thing, adjust your chair higher, put something underneath your feet, and put the keyboard
on your lap. - Incorrect

You have carpal tunnel? Adjust your chair higher, put something underneath your feet, and put the keyboard on your lap. –
Correct

Note: Carpal tunnel means cramp.

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Out of Station
Out of Station is widely used in India which is incorrect.

Examples:

If you lose your card or it stops working and you happen to be out of station, then you cannot apply for a new card. -
Incorrect

If you lose your card or it stops working and you happen to be out of town, then you cannot apply for a new card. – Correct

He is out of station. - Incorrect

He is out of town. – Correct

Discuss about
The word discuss means to talk about. There is no need to insert the word about after discuss.

Examples:

What shall we discuss about today? - Incorrect

What shall we discuss today? – Correct

Let’s discuss about the issues. - Incorrect

Let’s discuss the issues. – Correct

Order for
When you order something, you order it, you do not order for it.

Examples:

Ordering for Pizza. - Incorrect

Ordering Pizza. – Correct

I’ll order for Pizza. - Incorrect

I’ll order Pizza. – Correct

How to order for Pizza? - Incorrect

How to order Pizza. – Correct

Can be able to
Both can and able to hold the same meaning.

Examples:

I can be able to do it. - Incorrect

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I will be able to do it. – Correct

I can do it. – Correct

You can be able to understand. - Incorrect

You will be able to understand. – Correct

You can understand. – Correct

I can be able to communicate in English with people all over the world. - Incorrect

I am able to communicate in English with people all over the world. – Correct

I will be able to communicate in English with people all over the world. – Correct

Some More

Give an exam, passout, give me a ring, timepass, loving it, what is your good name, etc…

Disclaimer: The material presented in this handout is collated from different sources publicly available on the internet for
the benefit of Participants.