You know your job inside out.
But in English? You sound 10% less senior than you actually are.
It’s not your knowledge. It’s 5 tiny habits.
We hear these every week in our classes in Warsaw. Fix them and you instantly get your seniority back.
1. “I am sending you…” → “I’m sending you…”
Full forms don’t sound professional. They sound like a robot trying to be professional.
Native business English in 2026 is contracted, human, confident.
Fix it:
I am writing to inform you about → I’m writing about…
I will send you the report → I’ll send you the report
We are looking forward to → We’re looking forward to
Exception: Formal legal complaint. Otherwise? Contract it.
2. “Please kindly…” — double polite = not polite
“Please kindly send me the report” is the classic translation giveaway. In English, one is enough. Two sounds desperate.
Fix it:
Please kindly confirm → Could you please confirm?
Please kindly find attached → I’ve attached / Please find attached
Gold standard for polite requests: “Could you…?”
It’s polite, senior, and never fails.
3. “We will discuss about the budget”
The #1 preposition trap.
Discuss, consider, mention — they don’t take “about”.
Fix it:
We will discuss about the budget → We’ll discuss the budget
We need to discuss about the contract → We need to discuss the contract
Want to keep “about”? Say “talk about” / “speak about”.
4. “I am working here since 2020”
The famous “Pracuję tutaj od…” transfer.
If it started in the past and is still true now, English needs Present Perfect.
Fix it:
I am working here since 2020 → I’ve been working here since 2020
I am living in Warsaw for 5 years → I’ve lived in Warsaw for 5 years
Formula: I’ve + [lived/worked] + since/for.
One grammar tweak, instant native speaker points.
5. “Thanks in advance”
In British/American business culture this can sound like: “I assume you’re going to do this, so… thanks.”
A bit pushy. A bit presumptuous.
Swap it for:
- Thanks for your help with this
- I appreciate your time
- Looking forward to hearing from you
- Thanks — let me know if you need anything else from my side
Confident, not demanding.
Want feedback on YOUR real emails?
In our Advanced Business Programme we don’t correct textbook exercises. We correct your actual emails and meeting scripts. That’s why our students progress 3x faster.
Free 15-minute level check: Send us one email you wrote. We’ll show you how a native senior manager would phrase it.
See you next week: How to Lead a Meeting in English When You’re Not the Most Senior Person in the Room.
TTFN,
Alex