Work: Today, I had the questionable honor of explaining the difference...

By grammarnazi-forareason - 03/07/2013 06:48 - Sweden - Stockholm

Today, I had the questionable honor of explaining the difference between "your" and "you're" to my boss, and very diplomatically make her see why her poor grasp of language could affect our credibility as a communication agency. I'm Swedish, and English is my third language. She's American. FML

I agree, your life sucks 57 649

You deserved it 3 756

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Same thing different taste

Communication Breakdown

By rosie - 08/03/2021 13:59

Today, I was unable to communicate with a customer who only spoke French. As a result, my boss called me a "monolingual idiot." I speak Spanish, German, and Japanese. FML

I agree, your life sucks 1 131

You deserved it 73

By Claudine - 30/06/2015 06:18 - Belgium - Liège

Today, my boss is on the phone with a Russian customer, who keeps saying, "Speak Russian please!" My boss asks me to translate, as he hired me for my knowledge of Russian. He says something, I translate in Russian, then the customer says, "Speak English please!" FML

I agree, your life sucks 26 364

You deserved it 2 090

By Salaryman - 15/02/2009 06:21 - Philippines

Today, I was instructed by my boss to welcome the 2 new foreign business partners since I am the only one who could speak their language. When they arrived I greeted them in their language. One of them scratched his head and asked his companion in plain and clear English, "What did he say?" FML

I agree, your life sucks 38 737

You deserved it 4 993

By language barriers - 12/02/2009 07:07 - United States

Today, I was at the airport trying to help a man get to the right terminal. When he finished he turned to tell me "Don't worry, your English is pretty good, considering you're not American". English is my only language. FML

I agree, your life sucks 34 237

You deserved it 5 214

Cheating cheater

By anahira6 - 27/09/2013 19:41 - United States - Houston

Today, my boss's son is training to take over my job as head translator, after having convinced his dad that he's fluent in Spanish, and that my skills suck. I soon walked in on him using Google Translate on a legal document. My boss refuses to believe me. FML

I agree, your life sucks 49 706

You deserved it 3 035

By looser - 10/08/2016 00:48

Today, I pronounced FAQ as 'fuck' to my boss. I'm not a native speaker. FML

I agree, your life sucks 14 753

You deserved it 1 517

What word was it?

By BigBall - 09/09/2023 20:00 - United States - Los Angeles

Today, a tourist from an English-as-second-language country taught me a new word. In English. FML

I agree, your life sucks 147

You deserved it 714

Differences

By Anonymous - 17/06/2014 15:28 - United States - Saint Louis

Today, I almost got written up for insubordination by my boss. All I did was explain to him that I couldn't help a tourist out because I speak Japanese, not Korean, and that it's not in fact "the same Asian shit" as he seemed to think. FML

I agree, your life sucks 48 814

You deserved it 3 326

Charming

By lordoftheweird - 31/05/2022 05:00 - Canada - Ladysmith

Today, I realized my coworker can't comprehend English, or any other language. When I mentioned this to a coworker, they accused me of being an ableist. This is the same person who insults him to his face, knowing he can't understand her. FML

I agree, your life sucks 878

You deserved it 106

Smart

By Anonymous - 22/08/2014 16:56 - New Zealand - Auckland

Today, my boss chewed me out for correcting several spelling and grammar mistakes in one of his reports. The words "Think you're so damn smart, don't ya?" were uttered. I'm his secretary, and proofreading his shit is part of my job. FML

I agree, your life sucks 47 652

You deserved it 3 217

Grand_Cookie 21

Wednesday 3 July 2013 12:09

We need a new plague. I vote zombies.

Talientary 8

Wednesday 3 July 2013 12:12

This will probably offend some people, but oh well. I'm an American. Let's just say that I can name a few different versions of "English" that I've heard that you probably wouldn't recognize. I wouldn't expect much from the stereotypical American. #yoloswaql8rlol

Comments

tbenson0628 14

Thursday 4 July 2013 7:32

:: sighs:: I apologize on behalf of all the Americans who cannot spell. Ya know, when your teacher yells at you for reading in class, you're probably at a higher reading level than the rest of your fellow fifth grade peers. Heck I got yelled at in all the way up to my senior year for reading in class too much. Maybe that's a sign that our education, idk, stinks?!

Mightytall 35

Thursday 4 July 2013 8:22

'Murica !!!

Shitbisciut 0

Thursday 4 July 2013 12:25

We're both Swedish

SAgirl 13

Thursday 4 July 2013 14:03

She is American? ... Yip sounds about right.

K_kanaka 26

Thursday 4 July 2013 17:20

'MURICA!!!

thedudeguy1 16

Thursday 4 July 2013 17:20

'Muria!

PaskMustarn 1

Friday 5 July 2013 1:03

Isn't English Sweden's second language?

Eewt 20

Friday 5 July 2013 1:55

I just read this to my brother, and he informed me that "there is no difference between 'your' and 'you're'." What's wrong with Americans?

Karissastillar 7

Friday 5 July 2013 15:14

sweden ppl tend to be smarter then the average American. Swedens schooling is way complex for us americans. Yes we could do it if we tried, but we're to laid back to have our heads in the game completely.