The Problem with ‘Write Like a Native Speaker’
The issue with asking for a “native English speaker” lies in the wrong stereotypes it creates and how it views language as flat and dull instead of focusing in the more important aspects of writing effective content.
In a recent job interview, the question “Can you write like a native English speaker?” came up again—this time asked by an experienced copywriter. Throughout my career, I’ve faced this question from clients, bosses, and now this manager. But why does it keep coming up?
If they ask whether I can replicate a client’s tone and mimic certain language conventions, yes, I can. But that’s not really what they’re asking.
What they made clear is the expectation that I should hide the fact that I’m Latin-American—even though this manager works for a supposedly progressive, large company. So, let’s break down what’s wrong with that idea.
By using the term “native English speaker” we’re creating an inevitable “non-native” counterpart, filled with stereotypes and biases. This idea reinforces a hierarchy where English is “owned” by those born speaking it. As English Language Teachers often point out:
“In a multilingual and multicultural world, these labels do not reflect language identity, use, and understanding. However, they reinforce the notion that the more distant a speaker is from this ‘inner circle,’ the less valid, prestigious, and desired their English becomes.”
Let’s dig deeper into this with more practical thinking.
If we follow this logic, any native speaker should be able to do my job. But my job is more than just shortening sentences or pretending to be a native speaker. It’s about crafting effective messages and helping people get from point A to point B—with the added bonus of hitting key KPIs. So, are we trying to deliver a precise message, or are we pretending that humans speak only one kind of English?
Of course, there’s no denying the advantages of knowing a language inside out. It might help you express ideas concisely and sometimes engage more effectively. But even this can be misleading..
Writing isn’t about showing off your vocabulary. It’s about understanding your audience, the science behind how people read (I’m still amazed that some content writers don’t know this), capturing attention to present a value proposition, and, most importantly, helping people reach their goals by understanding their problems.
This brings me to my next point: writing with purpose. Language evolves just as society does. You might write like a native speaker, but do you understand how your content impacts people’s lives? It’s not just about contributing to a better society—it’s also smart business.
““Our language shapes how we see the world. So, our language choices and considerations matter. Always.””
Using plain language is one of the hardest things to do, and it’s even more challenging to confront our biases and move away from demeaning language. So, why doesn’t everyone write this way? Because it’s damn hard. Let’s stop pretending that writing is just about mimicking words and stringing them together in a so-called "native" manner.
Language isn’t flat or uncreative. Not everyone conveys an idea in the same way, and with the internet broadening our audiences, writing for everyone is a must. Remember, writing is far more than being a “native speaker.” Writing is about skill, research, knowledge, and empathy —and that’s what you should be looking for in a content writer.
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Irecommend listening to the podcast “Content Design with Friends” where they have an episode related to this subject, also follow Candi Williams, oh oh, and finally please, if you haven't read the book “Content Design” by Sarah Winters, just do it.