Common English Mistakes in Policy Briefs by Spanish Speakers

This page focuses on errors typically made by native Spanish speakers from Mexico when writing a Policy Brief in English.

Mistake Example #1

Overuse of present continuous ('I am going to the school every day' instead of 'I go to school every day')

In recent months, I hamve observinged that the water scarcity issue is becoming more severe in rural areas of Mexico. The government is implementing new policies, but I amthinking that more immediate actions are necessary to effectivelyaddress the crisiseffectively. We are recommending that local authorities areincreasinge their efforts to educate communities about water conservation practices.

Text corrected by:
Michele A., Boston, Massachusetts; United States

"I adjusted the verb tenses to reflect proper English usage. Otherwise, the ideas in this text are clearly expressed."

In recent months, I have observed that the water scarcity issue is becoming more severe in rural areas of Mexico. The government is implementing new policies, but I think that more immediate actions are necessary to effectively address the crisis. We recommend that local authorities increase their efforts to educate communities about water conservation practices.

In recent months, I am observing that the water scarcity issue is becoming more severe in rural areas of Mexico. The government is implementing new policies, but I am thinking that more immediate actions are necessary to address the crisis effectively. We are recommending that local authorities are increasing their efforts to educate communities about water conservation practices.

Mistake Example #2

Direct translation of Spanish expressions ('I have 25 years' instead of 'I am 25 years old')

The recent policy proposal aims to improve the public transportation system in Mexico City. It is important that we consider the needs of all citizens, especially those who have lfesswer resources. We havespent 10 years working on similar projects, and our experience shows that collaboration with local communities is essential for success.

Text corrected by:
Jennifer, Detroit, Michigan USA

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

The recent policy proposal aims to improve the public transportation system in Mexico City. It is important that we consider the needs of all citizens, especially those who have fewer resources. We have spent 10 years working on similar projects, and our experience shows that collaboration with local communities is essential for success.

The recent policy proposal aims to improve the public transportation system in Mexico City. It is important that we consider the needs of all citizens, especially those who have less resources. We have 10 years working on similar projects, and our experience shows that collaboration with local communities is essential for success.

Mistake Example #3

Misuse of prepositions ('Married with' instead of 'Married to')

The recent policy proposal aims to improve the educational system in rural areas by increasing access to technology and resources. It is important to collaborate with local communities and stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of these initiatives. The government is committed witho providingthe necessary support and funding to achieve these goals, and we encourage feedback from all involved parties to enhance the effectiveness of the program.

Text corrected by:
Jennifer, Detroit, Michigan USA

"Great job! I just needed to change a preposition and add a "the"."

The recent policy proposal aims to improve the educational system in rural areas by increasing access to technology and resources. It is important to collaborate with local communities and stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of these initiatives. The government is committed to providing the necessary support and funding to achieve these goals, and we encourage feedback from all involved parties to enhance the effectiveness of the program.

The recent policy proposal aims to improve the educational system in rural areas by increasing access to technology and resources. It is important to collaborate with local communities and stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of these initiatives. The government is committed with providing necessary support and funding to achieve these goals, and we encourage feedback from all involved parties to enhance the effectiveness of the program.