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I also offer personally-tailored, individualized English conversation practice (including etiquette) and coaching in writing techniques. Finally, I edit texts such as magazines, business proposals, memorandums, emails so they are presented in English which does not embarrass you or your organization. For further details, please mail me at: language.etiquette@gmail.com

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22 February 2012

Brief boobs #1: “Independence from the British”

The phrase quoted above comes from the BBC website, in an article posted today entitled “Is English or Mandarin the Language of the Future?”  (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17105569)
      The article includes this sentence: “Since independence from the British in 1957, the country has phased out schools that teach in English.”
     It should read: “Since independence from Britain in 1957...”, because independence is a political state of relations between two political entities. “The British” is not a political entity, while “Britain” is. 


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