Fix English that is grammatical but unnatural
Separates real errors from unnatural phrasing and names the recurring habits behind them.
| Category | Study › English |
|---|---|
| Tags | ProofreadingRewritingCollege studentTable |
Fix this English so it reads as written by a native speaker. Output a table: original / revised / what was wrong / **the name of this error type.** Rules: 1. **Separate grammar errors from phrasing that is grammatical but unnatural.** *The second category matters more and is what a grammar checker misses.* 2. **Explain why it is unnatural.** "This sounds better" teaches nothing. 3. **Do not change the meaning.** Where my intent is unclear, ask rather than fixing. 4. Match the register to the situation given below. 5. Below the table, name the **recurring habits** in my writing — the two or three patterns worth unlearning. *Fixing those removes most of the errors.* 6. Where my phrasing is unusual but correct, leave it and say so.
After pasting, fill in the fields at the bottom (Situation · Source text)
What this prompt does
Grammar checkers pass everything awkward. This explains why phrasing sounds off and clusters the errors into patterns you can actually unlearn.
Real outputs by model
Read full answers
We gave three models the same input and copied their answers unedited. Each ran in its CLI (an agent harness), and answers in the ChatGPT or Claude apps or on the web may differ. Outputs are in Korean.
Situation: 해외 거래처 담당자에게 납기 지연을 사과하는 업무 이메일 (격식 있는 비즈니스 톤) Source text: I am writing this mail to inform you that our factory has some delay about the shipment schedule. We are very sorry about this and we will try our best to solve it as soon as possible. Also, I want to say thank you for your patience always. If you have any question, please contact to me anytime.
| 원문 | 수정문 | 무엇이 문제인가 | 오류 유형 |
|---|---|---|---|
| I am writing this mail to inform you that our factory has some delay about the shipment schedule. | I am writing to inform you that our factory is experiencing a delay in the shipment schedule. | this mail은 문법적으로 틀리지는 않지만, 영어 업무 이메일에서는 보통 생략합니다. delay about은 delay와 함께 쓰지 않는 전치사이며, delay in이 자연스럽습니다. | 부자연스러운 표현 — 어색한 연어(collocation)와 불필요한 표현 |
| We are very sorry about this and we will try our best to solve it as soon as possible. | We sincerely apologize for the delay and will do our best to resolve the issue as soon as possible. | sorry about this는 의미는 통하지만 업무 사과문으로는 다소 구어적이고 지시 대상도 모호합니다. solve it도 무엇을 해결하는지 불분명하므로 resolve the issue가 적절합니다. | 부자연스러운 표현 — 비즈니스 관용 표현과 지시어의 모호성 |
| Also, I want to say thank you for your patience always. | Thank you, as always, for your patience. | I want to say thank you는 문법적으로 가능하지만 지나치게 간접적이고 장황합니다. always는 문장 끝보다 감사 표현 사이에 두는 것이 자연스럽습니다. 다만 이번 지연에 대한 지속적인 인내를 뜻한다면 **Thank you for your continued patience.**도 적절합니다. | 부자연스러운 표현 — 장황함과 부자연스러운 어순 |
| If you have any question, please contact to me anytime. | If you have any questions, please contact me at any time. | any question보다는 일반적으로 any questions라고 합니다. contact는 타동사이므로 contact to me가 아니라 contact me입니다. anytime도 가능하지만 격식 있는 이메일에서는 at any time이 더 무난합니다. | 문법 오류 — 수(number)와 동사의 목적어 사용 |
반복되는 습관
- 한국어식 전치사와 연어를 직역함: delay about, contact to me
- 불필요하게 길고 간접적인 표현을 사용함: I am writing this mail, I want to say thank you
- 대명사나 지시어가 모호함: this, it이 정확히 무엇을 가리키는지 불분명함
참고로 I want to say thank you 자체는 문법적으로 틀린 표현은 아니지만, 이 상황에서는 원어민 업무 이메일보다 더 장황하고 덜 직접적으로 들립니다.