Common English Mistakes in Court Documents by Cantonese Speakers

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

Mistake Example #1

Overuse of direct translations from Cantonese

To the Honorable Judge,: I am writing to express my opinion on the case of Mr. Chan. He is a good person, and he always helps others, so he should not be punished too hseaverely. In Hong Kong, we say "one hand cannot clap," meaning that Mr. Chan was not alone in this situation, and it is important to consider all sides.

Text corrected by:
Vince, United States

"This was already very well-written – I just made a couple of minor changes to the message :) "

To the Honorable Judge: I am writing to express my opinion on the case of Mr. Chan. He is a good person, and he always helps others, so he should not be punished too severely. In Hong Kong, we say "one hand cannot clap," meaning that Mr. Chan was not alone in this situation, and it is important to consider all sides.

To the Honorable Judge, I am writing to express my opinion on the case of Mr. Chan. He is a good person, and he always helps others, so he should not be punished too heavy. In Hong Kong, we say "one hand cannot clap," meaning that Mr. Chan was not alone in this situation, and it is important to consider all sides.

Mistake Example #2

Overuse of 'very' to emphasize adjectives

The defendant isvery guilty of the charges brought against him, as the evidence is veryclear andvery convincing. The witness testimonies were very detailed, providing a verystrong case for the prosecution. It is veryimportant that the court considers the graverly serious nature of the crimes committed, as they have had a verysignificant impact on the community.

Text corrected by:
Vince, United States

"Just a few minor tweaks to polish the writing :) Nice work! "

The defendant is guilty of the charges brought against him, as the evidence is clear and convincing. The witness testimonies were very detailed, providing a strong case for the prosecution. It is important that the court consider the gravely serious nature of the crimes committed, as they have had a significant impact on the community.

The defendant is very guilty of the charges brought against him, as the evidence is very clear and very convincing. The witness testimonies were very detailed, providing a very strong case for the prosecution. It is very important that the court considers the very serious nature of the crimes committed, as they have had a very significant impact on the community.

Mistake Example #3

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

To the Honorable Judge,I am writing to present evidence regarding the case of Mr. Chan. There is much evidence that supports his innocence, including witness testimonies and documentations. The defendant has provided manyuch information that should be considered by the court. We respectfully request that the court reviews theise evidences thoroughly.

Text corrected by:
Jennifer, Detroit, Michigan USA

"It just needed some minor corrections. Well done!"

To the Honorable Judge, I am writing to present evidence regarding the case of Mr. Chan. There is much evidence that supports his innocence, including witness testimonies and documentations. The defendant has provided much information that should be considered by the court. We respectfully request that the court review this evidence thoroughly.

To the Honorable Judge, I am writing to present evidence regarding the case of Mr. Chan. There is much evidence that supports his innocence, including witness testimonies and documentations. The defendant has provided many information that should be considered by the court. We respectfully request that the court reviews these evidences thoroughly.