How to double-cross your English

Want to be sure you’ve grasped the meaning and can get the same message across?

Act like a double agent.

Sharpen your English skills by pretending to serve one side while actually serving another.

How?

Do a double translation.

Pick a paragraph from a blog post, article or email in English, translate it into your mother tongue or another language, leave the translation for a bit, then translate it back into English.

Now compare the two English versions:

Is the meaning the same?
Did you hit the right tone?
What words do you lack?
Do the tenses match?
What do you need to improve?

While I don’t recommend translating when writing posts, emails or reports, double translating is a different kettle of fish.

Use it to gauge what you can and can’t say plus stretch your vocabulary and grammar.

Try this powerful yet painless way as part of your 5 a day.

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