10 classic Indianisms that are just so wrong!

We love twisting the English language. But some words and phrases are so incorrect we suggest you stop using them, starting right about now.

The English language has evolved over the centuries, incorporating word and phrase usages from around the world.

Each year, the Oxford English Dictionary adds new words to keep up with the changing times.

Among these new words have been several 'Indian English' words including that prickly one -- 'prepone'

That being said, we often tend to use certain classic English words so incorrectly that it can leave the listener confounded.

In the pages that follow, we bring you some words and phrases that are so wrong, we suggest you stop using them right away.

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How often have you heard from your college gossip queen that person X had 'proposed' person Y?

When we use the word 'propose' in India, we usually mean 'asking out on a date'.

So if you've told that cutie in your office that you like her and ask her out for coffee, don't go around telling people you've 'proposed' her.

What you have done is, well, just asked her out for coffee! Nothing more :-)

However, when you ask her to marry you formally, you would have finally 'proposed to' her (and not 'proposed' her).

Share with us more such phrases, idioms and words that you'd like us to list.

Post them on Rediff Zarabol -- #Indianisms -- and we will post the most appropriate responses right here on Rediff.com!

So what are you waiting for?

Hurry!

The full form of ATM is Automated Teller Machine.

So the next time you say ATM machine, think of its full form and ask yourself how this sentence would sound:

'I need to withdraw some money from the Automated Teller Machine machine.'

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Just like 'ATM machine', the phrase '7 am in the morning' is wrong because of the redundancy of the word morning.

You are indicating the time of the day when you say 'am' or 'pm', so it is unnecessary to repeat it.

Therefore, the correct sentences would be:

I wake up at 7 am

NOT

I wake up at 7 am in the morning

And

I go to bed at 11 pm

NOT

I go to bed at 11 pm at night.

Talking of repetition, how often have you found yourself being frustrated at having to 'repeat twice' or 'repeat again' something you've said already?

You can imagine the frustration then of the person who will tell you that repeat already suggests something having been done (or said) twice over!

So instead of saying:

'I would like to repeat myself twice.'

Say:

'I would like to repeat myself.'

Unless of course you are about to say the same thing the third time over, in which case you should say it just like it is:

'I am about to say the same thing third time over!' :-)

We could hold up a grammar book to tell you just why it should be 'my friend and I' and not the other way around.

But we won't.

Instead we'd say don't make everything about yourself and put yourself at the end.

Therefore, instead of saying

'Me and my friend went out for a movie.'

Say

'My friend and I went out for a movie.'

That being said, the usage 'Me and my friend' would not be considered incorrect if you are in the US.

In India however, we follow the rules of UK English.

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Wait, wha...?

Where would you want us to 'put' a mail?

And how exactly would you like us to 'put' it?

You get the drift, right?

When you say 'Put a mail', you are most likely (and unconsciously) transliterating from colloquial Hindi -- 'Ek mail daal do'.

Just. Plain. Wrong.

Instead say:

'Please could you write me an email about it?'

OR

'Please could you put that down on email?'

Are you suggesting that a person has two names -- a good one and a bad one?

And that s/he should only be telling you her/his good one?

This is yet another example of thoughtless translation from Hindi -- Aap ka shubh naam kya hai?

Instead say: 'What is your name?'

How often do you tell someone to 'do one thing' and then go on to ask them to four or five instead?

Of course you are again translating from Hindi -- 'Ek kaam kijiye hamara…'

So instead of saying:

'Do one thing... get me a pen, paper, stapler and some glue!'

Say

'Could you please do me a favour and get me a pen, paper, stapler and some glue?

And instead of saying:

'Do one thing... put an email...

Say

'Why don't you please put that down on email?'

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How often have you come across a helpful local who so kindly tells you that the entrance to the place you are looking for is 'from the backside'?

Backside typically refers to a person's buttocks.

So you can imagine how terribly, terribly inappropriate it is to say that, can't you? :-)

Instead of saying:

The entrance to the building is from the backside

Say

The entrance to the building is from the rear.

Remember the time when you 'danced on' the Summer of '69?

Well, you didn't.

Because you dance to a song and not on a song!

You could however dance 'on top' of a bar or a table but it'll always be 'to' a song and not 'on' it! :-)

These are just 10 of the many Indianisms we use every single day without once realising they're wrong?

Share with us more such phrases, idioms and words that you'd like us to list.

Post them on Rediff Zarabol -- #Indianisms -- and we will post the most appropriate responses right here on Rediff.com!

So what are you waiting for?

Hurry!