This is the 3rd in a 4-part series aimed to help you improve your technical writing in English for work as a mining industry professional.
If you’re learning English writing, here’s a warning: don’t try to become an excellent writer by copying most native speakers’ style.
Seriously.
Their writing is often long, fragmented, and sounds just like how they speak – full of asides, tense shifts, and half-finished thoughts.
Without the help of pronunciation, body language, and other non-verbal cues, it’s a hot mess on paper. It just DOESN’T work.
I know because that used to be me.
This is where Global English comes in. A style designed to remove all that clutter and confusion, resulting in clean, simple, and clear writing.
Does writing in Global English make you sound like a toddler? (Many of my students have asked me this question…)
Nope. It makes you sound smart.
You have full permission to go back to simple sentences – subject, verb, object.
No need for compound or complex sentences tangled with side tracks and tense shifts. That’s a non-native speaker’s nightmare.
Sound smarter by keeping it simple.
Global English
Let’s look at an example.
Here’s a paragraph about why the mining industry is key to the future, written in a typical, native-speaker style:
Mining has been a fundamental part of human civilization since the dawn of time, providing the raw materials necessary for advancements in technology, infrastructure, and industry. As society progresses, the importance of mining only grows, underpinning the development of everything from the smallest electronic gadgets to the tallest skyscrapers. Here are several key reasons why mining is so crucial in today’s world, along with some fascinating facts about the industry.
Now here’s the same paragraph rewritten in Global English:
Mining has been important to humans for a very long time. It provides the raw materials we need for technology, buildings, and industry. As society grows, mining becomes even more important. It supports making small devices and tall buildings. Here are some reasons why mining is important today, with interesting facts.
Your turn: Can you spot 5 changes in writing style between the two paragraphs?
Here are five key Global English rules to look for – see if you can find examples of each:
- Use short sentences (no more than 25 words).
- Use simple, common words.
- Avoid idioms, metaphors, and slang.
- Use active voice where possible.
- Keep sentence structure straightforward (subject-verb-object).
Your Turn to write:
Here’s a second “native-speaker style’ paragraph about mining:
Mining extracts valuable minerals and metals from the earth, which are essential for manufacturing a wide array of products. For instance, iron ore is a primary component of steel, used extensively in construction and manufacturing. Copper is vital for electrical wiring due to its high conductivity. Rare earth elements are crucial for producing high-tech gadgets like smartphones, computers, and renewable energy technologies such as wind turbines and electric vehicles.
Rewrite it using the Global English principles above. Keep it simple, clear, and direct.
Technical English – When Global English Isn’t Enough
Global English is fantastic for clear, universal communication. But when it comes to technical writing, especially in industries like mining, it has some limitations.
Why? Because technical writing needs to:
- Use passive voice to focus on the work or process, not the person doing it.
- Use complex sentence structures and flow connectors (like however, therefore, although) to map out logic and reasoning.
- Show contrasts and clearly define certainty or uncertainty to ensure accuracy.
This helps make strong, precise points – essential when safety, compliance, or detailed instructions are involved.
Let’s compare again.
Here’s a third paragraph about mining, written in Global English:
Mining provides minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements. These are needed for batteries, wind turbines, and solar panels. Mining companies are working to reduce waste and use renewable energy. This helps protect the environment.
And here’s the same paragraph rewritten in technical English:
Minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements are extracted through mining to manufacture batteries, wind turbines, and solar panels. Sustainable mining practices are being implemented to reduce waste and increase the use of renewable energy. These measures aim to minimize environmental impact while maintaining production efficiency.
Find 5 key technical writing rules in the paragraph above:
- Use passive voice to emphasize processes and results.
- Use precise terminology.
- Use connectors to link ideas logically.
- Maintain formal tone and avoid contractions.
- Clearly state purpose and outcomes.
Your challenge:
Here’s a fourth paragraph about mining’s role in sustainability:
Mining companies invest in local communities. They support schools and hospitals. They also develop technologies to improve safety and reduce emissions.
Rewrite this paragraph using the technical writing principles above.
Wrapping up
Global English and technical writing serve different but complementary purposes. Global English helps you communicate clearly and simply across cultures. Technical writing helps you present complex, precise information logically and accurately.
If you want to improve your writing, start by mastering Global English – it’s the foundation. Then build your technical writing skills on top of that.
In my next email, I will introduce the most important grammar structures for different purposes, so you can add them to your writing toolkit.
You won’t just sound like a ‘native speaker’, you’ll be better than that!
Watch for part 4 of this 4-part dive into improving technical writing as a mining industry professional next week!