Flag

We stand with Ukraine and our team members from Ukraine. Here are ways you can help

Get exclusive access to thought-provoking articles, bonus podcast content, and cutting-edge whitepapers. Become a member of the UX Magazine community today!

Home ›› Business Value and ROI ›› Writing English for Global Audiences

Writing English for Global Audiences

by Rhiannon Jones
5 min read
Share this post on
Tweet
Share
Post
Share
Email
Print

Save

Global brands have local audiences and need to balance the demands of localization with the need for consistency in their content.

Global brands still have local audiences, so how do we balance the demands of localization with the need for consistency in our content? We look at where and how to localize without losing your brand, your voice, or your customers.

Today, more people speak and read English as a second language than as a first. From Nigeria to South America, English is spoken and understood at work, in casual conversation, and online. And in every context where English is spoken, it develops its own idiosyncrasies and local characteristics.

Writing in The Guardian, Juliane House reflects, “English is already ‘de-nativized’ to a large extent: the global number of non-native speakers is now substantially larger than its native speakers (about 4:1) … we can no longer say that English is one monolithic, ‘hegemonic’ voice, it is a diversity of different voices.”

Together, these voices make up a multi-faceted lingua franca that connects the globe.

Any English-language business with international reach must communicate effectively with non-native English speakers. Your English copy needs to work hard to reach users at every conceivable proficiency level, from word-perfect speakers to people with a few phrases who fill in the blanks using Google Translate.

And that doesn’t just mean being clear and readable (although these points are crucial). It also needs to clear local hurdles like figures of speech, cultural references, taboos, and varying levels of formality. To be really effective, marketers must create English copy for international markets that is on brand, in the right tone of voice and aimed at the right audiences.

It’s a challenge to create consistent, high-quality international copy in the real world. This goes double if your products, positioning, and service levels differ in every territory, or your subject matter is specialist and needs detailed explanation.

Localization: Too Much of a Good Thing?

Localizing content is essential. It helps make our meaning clear, connects us with our audiences, and helps us avoid pitfalls of cultural nuance. (Pepsi’s infamous mistranslation of its slogan “Come alive with Pepsi,” telling Chinese customers that the fizzy pop can bring dead ancestors back, has passed into marketing folklore.) Many businesses tailor their products or services to each local market, reflecting what local competitors offer and the appetites of local consumers. Take McDonalds’ local menus, for example.

Clearly, localization must be part of any global content strategy. But there can be too much of a good thing. You’ve no doubt seen the worst offenders—completely autonomous local sites, each with its own design and IA, one bearing no relation to the next. Too much localization is costly to maintain and, when there’s absolutely no central control, it leaves the core brand open to creative interpretation by local teams.

3 Mobile site in Denmark, Sweden, Italy, and the U.K.

3 Mobile’s desktop homepage the U.K.

3 Mobile site in Denmark, Sweden, Italy, and the U.K.

3 Mobile’s desktop homepage in Italy

3 Mobile site in Denmark, Sweden, Italy, and the U.K.

3 Mobile’s desktop homepage in Denmark

3 Mobile site in Denmark, Sweden, Italy, and the U.K.

3 Mobile’s desktop homepage in Sweden

Above all, an over-localized site is disorientating for users who click through from a different territory. Abrupt shifts in the tone of the copy make users feel seasick, as do the page structures flitting about or changes to the colour palette.

Producing content in global English doesn’t mean giving every country in the world an identical website. But being too militant about globalizing will leave many of your international users alienated, confused, and turned off.

So What Does ‘Global English’ Look Like?

There are many definitions of global English online, but most agree that globally readable English should have:

  • Short, direct sentences
  • Short, commonly-used words: the cat sat on the mat, not the feline perched on the shagpile
  • Gender-neutral copy (they, their) where grammar allows
  • Simple sentence structure (avoid multiple clauses, which can confuse readers)
  • No ambiguity or vagueness
  • One point per paragraph
  • No idioms, slang, metaphors, or complex similes
  • No cultural references from particular territories
  • Consistency of style—once a user with relatively poor English has looked up and understood the meaning of “United States,” you’re asking them to pick up the dictionary again if you start using “USA” or “America” later on

Of course, you should test the same copy in different markets to understand exactly what works for your audiences across the world, but these principles can provide a strong steer in the right direction.

How Can I Write In The Same Tone Of Voice For Every Market?

Like all localization, this is a balancing act. Every kind of English has its own tics and quirks and its own unique tone. It might be important for your brand to talk to local markets in a voice they find friendly and familiar, but even the definition of what sounds friendly and familiar varies around the world.

Writing good localized content is part skill, part judgement, and part experience

You could find that East Asian markets, for example, prefer very polite language, peppered with “please” and “we kindly request…” whereas in the west such phrases sound uncomfortably formal.

The key to navigating this variety is to have a tone of voice that is flexible. If you have defined a tone of voice that incorporates different tonal values (for example “helpful,” “authoritative,” and “inspiring”), you can use them to adapt your tone depending on context. You might put more emphasis on a tonal value like “Transparent” when you’re writing terms and conditions, rather than “Exciting” or “Inspirational.”

It’s also important to interpret each tonal value according to the territory you’re focusing on. What sounds friendly in one culture could be over-familiar or unprofessional in another. For these kinds of cultural variation and tonal nuance, it’s less a matter of translation and more reinterpretation. You need to go back to the spirit of your brand and tone of voice, and express it appropriately for the culture you’re in. That way, while the words you use will differ, the core values of your brand will still ring true. Done well, this will follow on seamlessly from your market-neutral, global copy.

Start With Your Users

Good localization is part skill, part judgement, and part experience. Some of it you can plan, while some requires an adaptive approach to your business, audience, and international reach. However your content localization plan unfolds, one core principle should guide you: start with your users and focus on communicating your proposition to them as clearly as you can.

 

The author thanks Rhiannon Jones for her contributions to the creation of this article.

Image of hands holding up “hello” courtesy Shutterstock.

post authorRhiannon Jones

Rhiannon Jones
Rhiannon Jones is an experienced content strategist, currently head of delivery at Sticky Content. She has a background in content strategy and copywriting for brands including Microsoft.

Tweet
Share
Post
Share
Email
Print

Related Articles

Consistency in UI/UX builds trust and efficiency — without it, users feel lost. Learn how top brands maintain it and how AI can help.

Article by Rodolpho Henrique
Consistency in UI/UX Design: The Key to User Satisfaction
  • The article examines the role of consistency in UI/UX design for user trust and efficiency.
  • It showcases visual, functional, and interaction consistency in creating seamless experiences.
  • The piece warns about the negative effects of inconsistency, including confusion and frustration.
  • It promotes the use of AI and design systems to ensure consistency across digital platforms.
Share:Consistency in UI/UX Design: The Key to User Satisfaction
4 min read

If Mobile-First thinking has revolutionized the UX Design industry, AI-First is promising to be an even more spectacular kick in the pants.

Article by Greg Nudelman
The Rise of AI-First Products
  • The article explores how AI-powered operating systems are changing user interactions.
  • It covers AI-driven personalization, automation, and adaptive interfaces.
  • The piece discusses challenges like privacy, over-reliance on AI, and user control.
  • It highlights opportunities to design more intuitive and human-centered AI experiences.
Share:The Rise of AI-First Products
11 min read

AI is reshaping UX, and Figma may be sinking. As AI-driven systems minimize UI, traditional design roles must evolve — or risk becoming obsolete. Are you ready to adapt?

Article by Greg Nudelman
AI Is Flipping UX Upside Down: How to Keep Your UX Job, and Why Figma is a Titanic (It’s not for the Reasons You Think)
  • The article explores the fundamental shift in UX as AI-first systems minimize the role of UI, rendering traditional design tools like Figma increasingly obsolete.
  • It introduces the “Iceberg UX Model,” illustrating how modern AI-driven interfaces prioritize functionality and automation over visual design.
  • The piece argues that UX professionals must shift their focus from UI aesthetics to AI-driven user experience, emphasizing use case validation, AI model integration, and data-informed decision-making.
  • It warns that designers who remain fixated on pixel-perfect layouts risk becoming obsolete, urging them to adapt by engaging in AI-driven UX strategies.
Share:AI Is Flipping UX Upside Down: How to Keep Your UX Job, and Why Figma is a Titanic (It’s not for the Reasons You Think)
7 min read

Join the UX Magazine community!

Stay informed with exclusive content on the intersection of UX, AI agents, and agentic automation—essential reading for future-focused professionals.

Hello!

You're officially a member of the UX Magazine Community.
We're excited to have you with us!

Thank you!

To begin viewing member content, please verify your email.

Tell us about you. Enroll in the course.

    This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Check our privacy policy and