What is business English? and how is it different than literary English?

Business English is English language especially related to international trade. It is a part of English for Specific Purposes and can be considered a specialism within English language learning and teaching.

Literary English is a register of English used for literary writing or literary criticism and analysis on a literary work. In the ancient times, literary English was often placed at an elevated position clearly distinct from the colloquial English , but at modern times, there is not much of a difference between the literary and colloquial versions of English.

The difference between the two:

• Business English is a formal register and literary English is even more formal.

• Business English is used to communicate effectively in the business world where literary English is used to write a literary work.

• Business English is free from ironies and ambiguities as it is designed for effective communication while literary English is quite rich with ironies and ambiguities.

• Business English is precise and succinct while literacy English is rather indirect and descriptive.

• Business English focuses on both written and spoken purposes while literary English only appears in written form.

• Literary English uses a high level of grammar while business English is more focused on discourse: correct and comprehensive grammar, appropriate tone, etc.

Reviewing these differences, it is obvious that business English and literary English differ from each other in their functions, structures and backgrounds used.