A lot of multilingual professionals focus on using clean grammar, having a solid vocabulary, and figuring out whether a sentence makes sense. But what they say still doesn’t land the way they want.
Persuasion isn’t built on correctness. It’s built on how language functions in real time. Aristotle mapped this out a long time ago with ethos (credibility), pathos (connection), and logos (logic). People are generally trained to focus on the last one—their point has to make sense. However, being persuasive requires all three to work together.
The linguistic philosopher J. L. Austin argued that language doesn’t just describe ideas. It performs actions. Every sentence is doing something: asserting, softening, pushing, or inviting. If that action doesn’t match the moment, the sentence fails—even if it’s correct.
Take something simple like:
“I think we should reconsider this.”
“We need to reconsider this.”
“Can we revisit this?”
These all communicate the same idea but with different force. One sounds unsure, one sounds direct, and one sounds collaborative. The difference isn’t grammar—it’s how the sentence acts.
Relevance Theory adds another layer: people aren’t just processing what you say—they’re deciding if it’s worth their attention. Over-explain, and you lose them. Say too little, and they miss your point. Persuasion sits in that balance. This is exactly what I’ll be breaking down in my next workshop, How to Be Persuasive in English, on July 7. (RSVP link below!)
AI struggles here too. It can produce logical sentences. It can even mimic tone. But it doesn’t actually choose what the sentence is doing. It generates language—it doesn’t position it.
That’s why persuasive English isn’t about bigger words. It’s about choosing the version of your idea that fits the moment.
This is the space most people don’t get help with and where most of my work sits: helping people make those choices land clearly, not just correctly.
A quick note on working together
I run small, free workshops for advanced English users who are past grammar but still want their English to feel natural and precise.
Upcoming workshops
How to be Persuasive in English — July 7, 2026 Tomorrow! ✨
How Native Speakers Break the Rules — August 4, 2026
Why Humor Is So Hard in English (and How to Get It Right) — September 1, 2026
More info: https://one-s-jes.com/workshops/
I also take on a small number of editing and coaching clients. If you want direct, specific feedback on your English, feel free to reach out!
A closing thought
In any role (content, sales, account management, or leadership) being persuasive in English directly impacts whether your ideas move forward. What’s a time you explained something clearly in English but still didn’t get buy-in? Those high-stakes situations are what I want to hear about!