FILIPINISMS and REDUNDANT EXPRESSIONS:

FILIPINISMS is a ‘coined terminology’ for loosely translated English phrases that are used by most Filipinos. It
could be used during an informal conversation but with business-related communication, it can cause
unanticipated misunderstandings.

Most Filipinos are quite proficient in English since it has become a prerequisite in both work and school. It is
used in almost every day, and in different situations. Thus, resulting in most Filipinos to be accustomed to the
language. However, a few grammatical errors here and there cannot be avoided no matter how professional it
sounds.

Unusually, Filipinos have their own way of adding a personal touch to every language. And if there’s American
and British English, the Philippines has also the Philippine English. These terms are commonly used in casual
conversations and have become a huge part of the country’s English-speaking habit. It is not entirely
unrepairable because habits can be changed over time.

In business-related matters, these Filipinisms is intolerable because it can cause miscommunication, especially
to foreign clients. Native English speakers might also find it hard to understand your message.

Filipinisms can be used in a few situations excluding the formal or business-related ones. However,
continuously using it in daily conversations can cause too much familiarity that might not be modified. So, this
loosely translated English phrases called “Filipinisms” should be recognised and corrected earlier.

To further get familiar with the phrases, here are a few Filipinisms and its correct usage:
Here are other examples:

1) Open the light/TV/computer.

This transliteration comes from the Filipino sentence 'Buksan mo yung ilaw/TV/kompyuter.' which when translated to
English is the said filipinism. Buksan means open; thus, the translation 'open'. You can't really open the light, TV or the
computer, so the correct English phrase for this would be:
Turn on/switch on the light/TV/computer.
2) Close the light/TV/computer.
The explanation for this is almost the same for the first one. Since buksan is open, naturally, the opposite is close. The
correct form is:
Turn off/switch off the light/TV/computer.
3) Fill up the form.
The correct form would be:
Fill out the form.
4) No parking on both sides.
In reality, you can't really expect one car to be able to park on two sides, so the correct form is:
No parking on either side.
5) I slept late.
This transliteration came from 'Late ako natulog.' wherein ako is I, and natulog is sleep. When translated to English, it's 'I
slept late', but 'I slept late' actually means 'I slept until late' or 'I woke up late'. What 'Late ako natulog' actually means is
the person went to sleep late, so the correct form would be:
I fell asleep late, or I went to bed late.
6) I'm not coming to the party.
Coming is used when someone from afar is coming to where you are, while going is used when you are going to a far
place. Since in this case, you're invited to a party, you're going to the party, so the correct form is:
I'm not going to the party.
7) Hey! Time first, I need to drink.
This is usually used when playing games, especially those involving running. 'Time' here is supposed to be 'time out', so
the correct form is:
Hey! Time out first, I need to drink. (Or maybe you can omit 'first', but I'm not so sure.)
8) It will be traffic.
Traffic is a noun, so you can't use it as an adjective. It's like saying 'It will be beauty.' or 'It will be easiness.'. It's supposed
to be:
Traffic is bad.
9) This is the long cut, not the shortcut.
Since it's already long, you can't put 'cut' after it. That would be...weird. It's like it's long, then you cut it or something, so
it's supposed to be:
This is the long way, not the shortcut.
10) He salvaged the man.
In some tabloids, 'salvaged' is misused in a way that it's used to say 'killed'.
Ex.: Sinalvage yung tao. (Sinalvage - Salvaged; yung - the; tao - person)
What they mean: The person was killed.
What it really means: The person was saved.
I have no idea how this came to be, but yeah... It's wrong.
There is no correct form as this is just a misuse of the word.
11) It's taken cared of.
It's taken care of.
12) I'll repeat again.
Repeat is already the act of doing something again, so saying 'I'll repeat again' is redundant. It's supposed to be:
I'll repeat.
13) Brown out
Brown out is used to pertain to loss of electricity. I don't know why it's termed 'brown out' here, but I grew up using
'brown out' as well. Anyway, it's supposed to be:
Power outage
14) Malling
Malling... I don't know. Since it contained the word mall, I assumed that it meant they went to the mall. I guess it's
become a Filipino jargon, but the correct form is still:
Window shopping
15) Carnapper
The term 'carnapper' most probably came from the word kidnapper. Since in this case, a car was stolen... Ta-da!
Carnapper. Anyway, the correct term is:
Car thief
16) Ocular inspection
Ocular and inspection are actually synonyms, so the term 'ocular inspection' is redundant.
In this case, since they are synonyms, just use one of the words.
17) Get a free gift!
This statement can usually be seen in malls wherein when you buy something, you can get a 'free gift'. Now, what's
wrong with this statement? Gifts are free, so you can't tell the people to get a free gift when gifts are already free.
There is no correct way of saying this...I think.
18) Guess what?
'Guess what' is actually an imperative sentence where you command someone to guess something, so it's supposed to
be:
Guess what.
19) It is the most unique painting I've seen.
The painting, being unique, will be the only one out there, meaning there's not going to be a more unique painting than
that.
Simply using 'unique' will do.
20) She xeroxed the book.
Xerox, being a famous brand of a photocopy machine, is mistakenly used as the term for photocopying. Another similar
case is for Colgate, a famous brand of toothpaste. You would sometimes hear people say, "Can you please buy me
Colgate that's Close-up?". Anyway, the correct one would be:
She photocopied the book.
21) Cope up
Cope with
22) Next next week
The phrase 'next next week' pertains to the week after the next. It makes sense for me, I mean I use it too, but it's
wrong. The correct way of saying it is:
The week after the next
23) Last September 8, 2005
'Last' is used to pertain to the nearest day (or month or year or others). For example, last September would pertain to
last year's September. Since there are many Septembers, you should use last to clarify which September you're
pertaining to. But since there is only one September 8, 2005, you shouldn't use last anymore.
Last September or simply September 8, 2005
24) Fats, homeworks, stuffs, foods
These words do not have plural forms (except for fats); it's only fat, homework, stuff and food. In the case of fats, it can
be used to replace the word 'oils' in ingredients, but if you're pertaining to having so much fat in your body, it's only 'fat'.
I have so much (fat/homework/stuff/food).
25) With regards to
With regards or with regard to
26) I'm currently in the States now.
Currently and now are synonyms, so just use one.
I'm in the States now, or I'm currently in the States.
27) I'll go ahead.
'I'll go ahead' is used to say 'I'll leave first.', but it actually means 'to proceed'. For example, I'll go ahead and make
dinner. So it's supposed to be:
I'll go ahead and leave.
28) Tell me the real truth.
Okay, the truth is always real. There is no 'real truth'.
Tell me the truth.
29) Due to the fact that/inspite of the fact that/despite the fact that
Sometimes, we think that the longer our sentences are, we are/we sound smarter, but the truth is saying the phrases
mentioned actually make us sound weird. Good writing and speaking should be short and simple.
Due to/inspite of the/despite
30) I can't help but fall in love with you.
I can't help falling in love with you.
REDUNDANCIES IN ENGLISH

Redundancy in the needless repetition of words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs or ideas.

Redundancy is when we use two or more words together that mean the same thing, for example, ‘adequate enough’. We
also say something is redundant when a modifier’s meaning is contained in the word it modifies, for example, ‘merge
together’.

When we write, we should try to be as clear and concise as we can be. If we learn how to get a message across without
adding unnecessary words, readers are more likely to read what we write.

Common redundancies to avoid in business writing:

1. Absolutely certain or sure/essential/guaranteed: Someone who is certain or sure is already without doubt.
Something that is essential is intrinsically absolute. A guarantee is by nature absolute (or should be). Abandon
absolutely in such usage.

2. Actual experience/fact: An experience is something that occurred (unless otherwise indicated). A fact is
something confirmed to have happened. Actual is extraneous in these instances.

3. Add an additional: To add is to provide another of something. Additional is extraneous.

4. Added bonus: A bonus is an extra feature, so added is redundant.

5. Advance notice/planning/reservations/warning: Notices, planning, reservations, and warnings are all, by

their nature, actions that occur before some event, so qualifying such terms with advance is superfluous.

6. As for example: As implies that an example is being provided, so omit for example.

7. Ask a question: To ask is to pose a question, so a questionis redundant.

8. At the present time: At present means “at this time,” so avoid the verbose version.

9. Basic fundamentals/essentials: Fundamentals and essentials are by their nature elementary, so remove basic
from each phrase.

10. (Filled to) capacity: Something filled is done so to capacity, so describing something as filled to capacity is
repetitive.

11. Came at a time when: When provides the necessary temporal reference to the action of coming; at a time is
redundant.

12. Close proximity/scrutiny: Proximity means “close in location,” and scrutiny means “close study,” so avoid
qualifying these terms with close.

13. Collaborate/join/meet/merge together: If you write of a group that collaborates or meets together, you
imply that there’s another way to collect or confer. To speak of joining or merging together is, likewise,
redundant.

14. Completely filled/finished/opposite: Something that is filled or finished is thoroughly so; completely is
redundant. Something that is opposite isn’t necessarily diametrically opposed, especially in qualitative
connotations, but the modifier is still extraneous.

15. Consensus of opinion: A consensus is an agreement but not necessarily one about an opinion, so consensus
of opinion is not purely redundant, but the phrase of opinion is usually unnecessary.

16. During the course of: During means “in or throughout the duration of,” so during the course ofis repetitive.

17. Definite decision: Decisions may not be final, but when they are made, they are unequivocal and therefore
definite, so one should not be described as a definite decision.
18. Difficult dilemma: A dilemma is by nature complicated, so omit difficult as a modifier.

19. Direct confrontation: A confrontation is a head-on conflict. Direct as a qualifier in this case is redundant.

20. End result: A result is something that occurs at the end, so omit end as a modifier of result.

21. Enter in: To enter is to go in, so throw in out.

22. Estimated at about/roughly: An estimate is an approximation. About and roughly are superfluous.

23. False pretence: A pretence is a deception, so false is redundant.

24. Few in number: Few refers to a small number; do not qualify few with the modifier in number.

25. Final outcome: An outcome is a result and is therefore intrinsically final.

26. First began, new beginning: A beginning is when something first occurs, so first and new are superfluous
terms in these cases.

27. For a period/number of days: Days is plural, so a duration is implied; a period of or a number of is
redundant. It’s better to specify the number of days or to generalize with “many.”

28. Foreign imports: Imports are products that originate in another country, so their foreign nature is implicit
and the word foreign is redundant.

29. Forever and ever: Ever is an unnecessary reduplication of forever.

30. Free gift: A gift is by definition free (though cynics will dispute that definition), so free is extraneous.

31. Invited guests: Guests are intrinsically those who have an invitation, so invited is redundant.

32. Major breakthrough: A breakthrough is a significant progress in an effort. Though major is not directly
redundant, the notable nature of the event is implicit.

33. [Number] a.m. in the morning/p.m. in the evening: The abbreviations a.m. and p.m. already identify the
time of day, so omit in the morning or in the evening.

34. Past history/record: A history is by definition a record of past occurrences, and a record is documentation
of what has already happened. In both cases, past is redundant.

35. Plan ahead: To plan is to prepare for the future. Ahead is extraneous.

36. Possibly might: Might indicates probability, so omit the redundant qualifier possibly.

37. Postpone until later: To postpone is to delay. Later is superfluous.

38. Protest against: To protest is to communicate opposition. Against is redundant.

39. Repeat again: To repeat is to reiterate an action, so again is unnecessary.

40. Revert back: Something that reverts returns to an earlier state. Back is superfluous.

41. Same identical: Same and identical are just that (and that). Omit same as a qualifier for identical.

42. Since the time when: Since indicates a time in the past; the time when is superfluous.

43. Spell out in detail: To spell out is to provide details, so in detail is repetitive.

44. Still remains: Something that remains is still in place. Still is redundant.
45. Suddenly exploded: An explosion is an immediate event. It cannot be any more sudden than it is.

46. Therapeutic treatment: Treatment in the sense of medical care is by nature therapeutic, so the adjective is
redundant.

47. Unexpected surprise: No surprise is expected, so the modifier is extraneous.

48. Unintended mistake: A mistake is an inadvertently erroneous action. The lack of intention is implicit.

49. Usual custom: A custom is something routinely and repeatedly done or observed, and usual is redundant.

50. Written down: Something written has been taken down. Down is superfluous.

You can have more examples!