Goodness gracious me! #Indianisms that stump the rest of the world!

Love it or hate it, you simply cannot ignore apna #Indianisms, can you?

We've been running a list of classic Indianisms in spoken and written English here on Rediff.com.

(Missed em? See this, this and also this!)

Here are more quirks from that wonderful language we call Indian English (and what you should say instead)!

1. She has done her graduation from...

Completing one's graduation is a great achievement and that is exactly what you should be saying:

She has completed her graduation from...

OR

She has graduated from

2. I am in service...

Great! And how often do you get yourself serviced?

Being 'in service' is the (incorrect) Indian English equivalent of being 'employed'.

Instead say: I am employed.

3. I want to remove money from the ATM

This one's a classic... not to mention a literal translation from Hindi: "Mujhe ATM se paise nikalne hain."

Instead say: I want to withdraw money from the ATM.

4. I've put my phone for charge

Yet again a literal translation from Hindi: “Maine phone charge karne ke liye rakha hai.”

Instead say: My phone is being charged.

5. My school got a cent per cent result this year

Cent per cent is another vintage Indianism.

This usage is understandable since the meaning of per cent is per 100. And though it has been used by some English authors,
'cent per cent' has generally fallen out of use.

And imagine the confusion if you are speaking to an American colleague -- cent is the smallest denomination in the American currency!

Instead say it as it is: 100 per cent!

6. I am taking lunch

Right... and how are you 'taking' your lunch?

This one's another Indianism that can be totally avoided.

Instead say: I am having lunch.

7. I love my native place

'Native place' usually refers to the city or town or village one hails from.

It's the place we visit during our holidays and usually the place we call home.

The closest correct equivalent of this somewhat awkward Indian usage is 'home town'.

Eg: Pune is my home town

OR

Kolkata is my home town.

However, if you don't hail from a city or a town, use 'ancestral village' instead.

So, rather than saying: I love my native place

Consider: I love my home town

OR

I love my ancestral village.