Three ways we fix your Denglisch

If you run a German business that communicates in English, you've probably caught it before: the writing sounds a little off. Not wrong, exactly. Just not quite right. That's Denglisch, and it costs you credibility with the English-speaking clients, partners, and audiences you're trying to win over.

Why Denglisch is costing you opportunities

Denglisch happens when German speakers mix English words into German grammar and phrasing patterns, or when they translate German business language directly into English without adapting it.

To a native English speaker, the result reads as awkward, and awkward reads as untrustworthy. Especially when clients are comparing you to competitors whose English seems flawless.

Cleaning up your English communication isn't cosmetic. Clear, natural English signals professionalism and competence. It removes doubt. When your writing sounds confident and effortless, people assume your business runs the same way.

So how do you fix the Denglisch in your work? It all depends on what you're starting with.

You've got content that needs fixing

Let's start with editing, since it's probably where most people are. Firstly, it’s important to remember that editing isn't just fixing typos. Anyone can run a grammar checker. True editing involves restructuring content so it reads the way a native English speaker would naturally write it.

This often means reorganizing entire sections for better logical flow, not just tweaking individual sentences. German business writing tends to build arguments differently than English writing does. Editing bridges that gap.

You'd use editing when you have English content already written (maybe by your team, maybe by a non-native speaker) that needs to sound professional and clear. Reports, presentations, marketing materials, internal documentation . . . anything where unclear English undermines your message.

When your content is in German

If you're starting in German rather than English, translation moves content from one language to the other. All while preserving meaning and respecting how English-speaking audiences actually think and communicate.

The problem is, bad translation is obvious. Very obvious. It keeps German sentence structures, uses literal word choices that sound strange in English, and misses cultural context. Professional translation adapts the content so it works in English. So the result is not just technically correct, but genuinely readable.

This matters most when you're targeting international markets, working with English-speaking partners, or publishing content that represents your organization globally. The translation needs to sound like it was written in English originally.

Building persuasive content from scratch

Sometimes you don't need content fixed or translated. You need something built from the ground up. Conversion copywriting is about writing new content designed to get a specific response from readers.

This applies to sales pages, landing pages, email campaigns, advertising copy . . . anything where the goal is action, not just information. The writing grabs attention, identifies problems your audience cares about, and presents your solution in terms that resonate.

Good conversion copy understands what motivates your specific audience and uses language strategically. It's less about sounding polished and more about sounding convincing.

Thankfully, Denglisch isn't a dead end. It's very much fixable. And if you'd rather not spend your time dealing with it, that's what we're here for. You stay focused on the work you do best, and we make sure your English does it justice.