Common English Mistakes in Investigative Reports by Cantonese Speakers

This page focuses on errors typically made by native Cantonese speakers from Hong Kong when writing a Investigative Report in English.

Mistake Example #1

Overuse of 'very' to emphasize adjectives

The recent investigation into the city's waste management practices has revealed some veryconcerning findings. The report highlights that the recycling facilities are veryinadequate, leading to avery significant amount of waste being improperlydisposed ofal. This situation isvery alarming and calls for immediate action from the authorities to address thevsery pressing environmental issues facing Hong Kong.

Text corrected by:
Jennifer, Detroit, Michigan USA

"I took out "very" because it was redundant, plus I made a few other small tweaks. Nice job!"

The recent investigation into the city's waste management practices has revealed some concerning findings. The report highlights that the recycling facilities are inadequate, leading to a significant amount of waste disposal. This situation is alarming and calls for immediate action from the authorities to address these pressing environmental issues facing Hong Kong.

The recent investigation into the city's waste management practices has revealed some very concerning findings. The report highlights that the recycling facilities are very inadequate, leading to a very significant amount of waste being improperly disposed of. This situation is very alarming and calls for immediate action from the authorities to address the very pressing environmental issues facing Hong Kong.

Mistake Example #2

Overuse of direct translations from Cantonese

The investigative report reveals that the traffic congestion in Hong Kong is like a dragon dance, twisting and turning through the city streets. Many residents feel like ants on a hot pan, waiting for hoursin their cars for hours. The government has promised to add more buses, but the citizens are saying it is like adding flowers to thea brocuquetanddoe,sno't solvinge the root problem.

Text corrected by:
Jennifer, Detroit, Michigan USA

"Very creative language! I just made some changes so the English would sound more natural."

The investigative report reveals that the traffic congestion in Hong Kong is like a dragon dance, twisting and turning through the city streets. Many residents feel like ants on a hot pan, waiting in their cars for hours. The government has promised to add more buses, but the citizens are saying it is like adding flowers to a bouquet and doesn't solve the root problem.

The investigative report reveals that the traffic congestion in Hong Kong is like a dragon dance, twisting and turning through the city streets. Many residents feel like ants on a hot pan, waiting for hours in their cars. The government has promised to add more buses, but the citizens are saying it is like adding flowers to the brocade, not solving the root problem.

Mistake Example #3

Confusion with countable vs. uncountable nouns ('She has much friends')

In recent months, there ihas mucbeen a wealthof evidence suggesting thatthe pollution levels in Hong Kong have increased significantly. Many residents have expressed concerns about theair quality, and there are numerouchs reports indicating a rise in respiratory illnesses. The government has announced several measures to tackle the issue, but there is still much work to be done to ensure the health and safety of the population.

Text corrected by:
Gregg, Los Angeles, CA

"This needed some tweaking for countable vs. uncountable nouns."

In recent months, there has been a wealth of evidence suggesting that pollution levels in Hong Kong have increased significantly. Many residents have expressed concerns about air quality, and there are numerous reports indicating a rise in respiratory illnesses. The government has announced several measures to tackle the issue, but there is still much work to be done to ensure the health and safety of the population.

In recent months, there is much evidence suggesting that the pollution levels in Hong Kong have increased significantly. Many residents have expressed concerns about the air quality, and there are much reports indicating a rise in respiratory illnesses. The government has announced several measures to tackle the issue, but there is still much work to be done to ensure the health and safety of the population.