Indianism is a term exclusive to Indian English. I could list few terms that we usually use though we should not be using as per Standard English.
Do the needful
Do the needful is very old-fashioned English, It went out of style decades ago, about the time the British left. This term is outdated all over the world except in India.
Examples:
I have done the needful. – Incorrect
I have done what is necessary or needed. – Correct
Please do the needful. - Incorrect
Please do what is necessary or needed. - Correct
Please do the needful to attend the mentioned training. – Incorrect
Please do what is necessary to attend the meeting. - Correct
My computer's broken. Please do the needful. - Incorrect
My computer is broken. Please look into this. - Correct
I have sent you an email. Read it and do the needful. – Incorrect
I have sent you an email. Read the email and do what is necessary. – Correct
I am very hungry. Please do the needful. - Incorrect
I am very hungry. Please make me a sandwich. – Correct
Kindly revert
In Standard English, Revert means to return to a former state.
Examples:
Kindly revert back to me. - Incorrect
Please reply to me. – Correct
Kindly revert back for any clarification. - Incorrect
Please contact us should you need assistance to proceed from here. – Correct
Please feel free to call us for clarifications. – Correct
Please revert at the earliest. - Incorrect
Please reply at the earliest. – Correct
Reply back
The use of reply back is wrong because it contains a redundancy. The word reply means to say something back. The meaning of the word back is already contained in reply, so there is no need to use them together.
Examples:
Please reply back as soon as possible. - Incorrect
Please reply as soon as possible. – Correct
I’ll reply back to the email. - Incorrect
I will reply to the email. – Correct
Prepone
Prepone is one of a few words that we Indians have created for our own convenience. Apparently, this phrase has become so popular that it’s even been added to a few dictionaries!
Examples:
I have preponed the meeting. - Incorrect
I have rescheduled the meeting to. – Correct
Please do XYZ without fail
Here, Please is a request and without fail is an order.
Examples:
Kindly attend the meeting without fail. – Incorrect
Kindly attend the meeting. Please do not fail me in this. – Correct
Please intimate me
To intimate is a rare verb meaning to inform someone privately.
Examples:
Please intimate me. - Incorrect
Please inform me. – Correct
Do one thing
Do one thing is the direct translation of Ek kaam karo and this usage is incorrect. One thing can be ten things, but it is still one thing.
Examples:
Scenario: My computer keeps getting hung.
Indian Usage: Do one thing. Clear your history. Delete your cookies. Defrag your hard drive. Run a virus check. Restart your computer.
Correct Usage: Do the following:
Clear your history.
Delete your cookies.
Defrag your hard drive.
Run a virus check.
Restart your computer.
Do one thing. Take a left turn there. - Incorrect
You can take a left turn there. – Correct
Let’s do one thing, let’s order both veg and non-veg. - Incorrect
Let’s order Vegetarian and Non Vegetarian. – Correct
Do one thing, set the headline in Times New Roman. - Incorrect
You can set the headline in Times New Roman. – Correct
You have carpal tunnel? Do one thing, adjust your chair higher, put something underneath your feet, and put the keyboard on your lap. - Incorrect
You have carpal tunnel? Adjust your chair higher, put something underneath your feet, and put the keyboard on your lap. – Correct
Note: Carpal tunnel means cramp.
Out of Station
Out of Station is widely used in India which is incorrect.
Examples:
If you lose your card or it stops working and you happen to be out of station, then you cannot apply for a new card. - Incorrect
If you lose your card or it stops working and you happen to be out of town, then you cannot apply for a new card. – Correct
He is out of station. - Incorrect
He is out of town. – Correct
Discuss about
The word discuss means to talk about. There is no need to insert the word about after discuss.
Examples:
What shall we discuss about today? - Incorrect
What shall we discuss today? – Correct
Let’s discuss about the issues. - Incorrect
Let’s discuss the issues. – Correct
Order for
When you order something, you order it, you do not order for it.
Examples:
Ordering for Pizza. - Incorrect
Ordering Pizza. – Correct
I’ll order for Pizza. - Incorrect
I’ll order Pizza. – Correct
How to order for Pizza? - Incorrect
How to order Pizza. – Correct
Can be able to
Both can and able to hold the same meaning.
Examples:
I can be able to do it. - Incorrect
I will be able to do it. – Correct
I can do it. – Correct
You can be able to understand. - Incorrect
You will be able to understand. – Correct
You can understand. – Correct
I can be able to communicate in English with people all over the world. - Incorrect
I am able to communicate in English with people all over the world. – Correct
I will be able to communicate in English with people all over the world. – Correct
Do the needful
Do the needful is very old-fashioned English, It went out of style decades ago, about the time the British left. This term is outdated all over the world except in India.
Examples:
I have done the needful. – Incorrect
I have done what is necessary or needed. – Correct
Please do the needful. - Incorrect
Please do what is necessary or needed. - Correct
Please do the needful to attend the mentioned training. – Incorrect
Please do what is necessary to attend the meeting. - Correct
My computer's broken. Please do the needful. - Incorrect
My computer is broken. Please look into this. - Correct
I have sent you an email. Read it and do the needful. – Incorrect
I have sent you an email. Read the email and do what is necessary. – Correct
I am very hungry. Please do the needful. - Incorrect
I am very hungry. Please make me a sandwich. – Correct
Kindly revert
In Standard English, Revert means to return to a former state.
Examples:
Kindly revert back to me. - Incorrect
Please reply to me. – Correct
Kindly revert back for any clarification. - Incorrect
Please contact us should you need assistance to proceed from here. – Correct
Please feel free to call us for clarifications. – Correct
Please revert at the earliest. - Incorrect
Please reply at the earliest. – Correct
Reply back
The use of reply back is wrong because it contains a redundancy. The word reply means to say something back. The meaning of the word back is already contained in reply, so there is no need to use them together.
Examples:
Please reply back as soon as possible. - Incorrect
Please reply as soon as possible. – Correct
I’ll reply back to the email. - Incorrect
I will reply to the email. – Correct
Prepone
Prepone is one of a few words that we Indians have created for our own convenience. Apparently, this phrase has become so popular that it’s even been added to a few dictionaries!
Examples:
I have preponed the meeting. - Incorrect
I have rescheduled the meeting to
Please do XYZ without fail
Here, Please is a request and without fail is an order.
Examples:
Kindly attend the meeting without fail. – Incorrect
Kindly attend the meeting. Please do not fail me in this. – Correct
Please intimate me
To intimate is a rare verb meaning to inform someone privately.
Examples:
Please intimate me. - Incorrect
Please inform me. – Correct
Do one thing
Do one thing is the direct translation of Ek kaam karo and this usage is incorrect. One thing can be ten things, but it is still one thing.
Examples:
Scenario: My computer keeps getting hung.
Indian Usage: Do one thing. Clear your history. Delete your cookies. Defrag your hard drive. Run a virus check. Restart your computer.
Correct Usage: Do the following:
Clear your history.
Delete your cookies.
Defrag your hard drive.
Run a virus check.
Restart your computer.
Do one thing. Take a left turn there. - Incorrect
You can take a left turn there. – Correct
Let’s do one thing, let’s order both veg and non-veg. - Incorrect
Let’s order Vegetarian and Non Vegetarian. – Correct
Do one thing, set the headline in Times New Roman. - Incorrect
You can set the headline in Times New Roman. – Correct
You have carpal tunnel? Do one thing, adjust your chair higher, put something underneath your feet, and put the keyboard on your lap. - Incorrect
You have carpal tunnel? Adjust your chair higher, put something underneath your feet, and put the keyboard on your lap. – Correct
Note: Carpal tunnel means cramp.
Out of Station
Out of Station is widely used in India which is incorrect.
Examples:
If you lose your card or it stops working and you happen to be out of station, then you cannot apply for a new card. - Incorrect
If you lose your card or it stops working and you happen to be out of town, then you cannot apply for a new card. – Correct
He is out of station. - Incorrect
He is out of town. – Correct
Discuss about
The word discuss means to talk about. There is no need to insert the word about after discuss.
Examples:
What shall we discuss about today? - Incorrect
What shall we discuss today? – Correct
Let’s discuss about the issues. - Incorrect
Let’s discuss the issues. – Correct
Order for
When you order something, you order it, you do not order for it.
Examples:
Ordering for Pizza. - Incorrect
Ordering Pizza. – Correct
I’ll order for Pizza. - Incorrect
I’ll order Pizza. – Correct
How to order for Pizza? - Incorrect
How to order Pizza. – Correct
Can be able to
Both can and able to hold the same meaning.
Examples:
I can be able to do it. - Incorrect
I will be able to do it. – Correct
I can do it. – Correct
You can be able to understand. - Incorrect
You will be able to understand. – Correct
You can understand. – Correct
I can be able to communicate in English with people all over the world. - Incorrect
I am able to communicate in English with people all over the world. – Correct
I will be able to communicate in English with people all over the world. – Correct
