“What size you want? See here. Please don’t take out.”  Essentially, this series of non-standard English phrases is targeted at customers rummaging through the neatly packed shelves to look for clothes that fit them.

It is understandable that the sales assistant is exasperated. After all, it is the sales assistant that will later need to fold up the clothes and stack them neatly on the shelves again.

However, the string of non-standard English phrases is vague. Not every customer will understand what he/she is expected to do.

Watch Out For Common Mistakes

What does “see here”  mean? Why should the customer look only at the place you’re asking him/her to look?

“Please don’t take out?”  is also grammatically incorrect and it sounds very rude. “Please do not take them out from the shelves. There are samples on display on the rack”  is a better option.

To help the customer along, try saying, “We have all the sizes displayed on this rack. Feel free to browse around and let me know if you need any help.”

Source: Edited from the Singapore Retailers Association's Speak Good English pamphlet.