Some men jump out of airplanes.
Others hunt sharks.
My hobby is traveling the wolrd and looking for English mistakes on signs.
And last Sunday I found one!
I asked you to try to correct it.
Thank you for your replies!
Now I’m going to tell you what I would have written.
Here we go…
And The Correction Is…
First, the word order could be better.
The Memorial is closed till March 31 due to operational reasons
Second, I don’t know what “operational reasons” is.
We don’t say that in English.
How about…
Closed for repairs… Closed for the winter… It’s none of your business why we’re closed….
But here’s the most important lesson:
Don’t write more than is necessary.
Better: Closed till March 31.
Or even better: Closed!
Correct! I thought so too. Closed until the date of ……
And yes, precious learning: Short and strictly necessary!
Thank you Mr. Vig!
Cheers,
Flora
You’re welcome!
Thanks for the lesson!
right (y)
It should never happen in Ostrava. We use only short sentences:-)
And plase use “Czechia” instead of “Czech republic”. It sounds like banana republic. Thx.
Funny”like banana republic”
HI Ryan !
Thank you for explanations !
Cheers,
Gabriel
Good lesson
To be clear and concise it’s an excellent advice. I also noticed this thing.
It’s clear now! Thanks🙂
Operational reasons hehe, we also love this “bla bla” language in our country XD e.g. “library out of service due to justified absence of an employee”
I think better is: closed till March 31
so we give additional information for future visitors.
Thank you!
Simple solutions have always been the best😊.
We are talking straight to the point. In my profession -motoring is the rule. The chance of failure is bigger in a more complicated car
Very good lesson.
Good evening, Mr. Vig and beautiful group! If I have correctly understood the respective text, to my mind, in life and in all jobs you have to be punctual, honest and a make a good impression! I fully agree with YOU until March 31st.
Best regards Alexandra!
Hi! Thank you for the explanation, Mr Vig. I can accept it. But! „Closed“ is to short, the visitors need moor information, how long, maybe why etc …(Sorry, that is my perspective. I need as visitor more information, I would like to understand.)
Good advice! Useful to remember.
I think îs better to know why îs closed, but not due ,,operațional reasons”
I am totally agree with the most important lesson: “ Don’t write more than NECESSARY.”
Let’s imagine the even better example and that I am in Prague on a three-day trip.
I go to the Vitkov Memorial on the first day, but…Closed!
I go the next day, because I have strong motivation, but…Closed again!
And the third day, at the risk of missing the plane, I run to the Vitkov Memorial and surprise…Cosed again and again!
I don’t want to imagine that there are many Memorials or even two in the area.
I never expect to learn the reasons (or real reasons) for the closure in a notice like this, but everything after due to sounds like an excuse to me. In that sense, I don’t mind the apology being at the beginning.
Otherwise, there are places such as the public restrooms where just a “closed” notice with an exclamation mark is more than enough.
Excuses are not necessary because often the reason for the closing is the visitors themselves.
Also no one cares when the place will be open.
Visitors just don’t have time:)
I’m sorry! I promise not to write so long.
People do have the right to know why they are closed. Just writing “Closed” will ruin their business.
Thank you very much. I´ll remember it. -:)
🙂
Hi Mr. Vig!
I completely agree with you.
There were the same situation at the office yesterday.
I had to write some description and instruction for our product and I asked for something my colleague, she is better in English. The answer was: “As shorter you write, as better! Write shortly and only the necessary.”
Thanks for the very encouraging vitamins. This one is multifaceted.
Perfect, danke dir