Both sides of the American-Canadian border deal with instructions slightly differently. That’s not to say one is better than the other, but rather, that people don’t give directions in the same way.
Here are ten contrasts in how Canadians and Americans give instructions. Which of these differences have you noticed yourself before?
Tag questions
You might feel like the instructions are checking in with you whenever you read a set of Canadian ones. They tend to use a lot of tag questions like “okay?” or “sounds good?” They might use “eh?” at the end of sentences when speaking.
But American instructions tend to cut these tag questions off. They usually deliver steps more cleanly and without the softening of tag questions.
Conditional phrasing
A lot of Canadian instructions leave breathing room for the reader by using phrases like “you may need to” or “if possible.” It doesn’t matter that the task isn’t actually optional because many Canadian people tend to soften their instructions.
Most Americans don’t do the same, though. They’ll usually avoid conditional phrasing in their instructions unless there’s an actual choice for the reader to make, as they prefer being more direct.
Imperatives
A similar thing that Canadians do is the use of imperatives. They’ll dress down commands with small softeners like “please” or “we ask that you…” instead of direct instructions.
American style guides usually rely on using straight imperatives. You’ll find that many American instructions are written with short & direct sentences, the goal being to allow the action to stand independently. They tend to avoid adding extra cushioning.
Apologies
It’s no secret that Canadians like to apologize. They’ll even do so during instructions, and these apologies sometimes appear right next to required actions.
Many Americans leave their apologies for the times that actually need them. They often treat them as separate messages, rather than things that are part of the directions themselves.
Why before what
The order of how Canadians & Americans give instructions is also different. The majority of instructions in public services & educational settings in America will put the action first, and then the explanation later.
It’s the opposite for Canadian instructional writing. You’ll usually get the reason before the action, and they’ll have a sentence explaining the situation before instructions on what you should actually do.
Longer instruction sentences
American instruction standards usually suggest splitting ideas apart in sentences. It’s unlikely that you’ll see many American instructions that include lots of conditions or clauses in one step, as they prefer allowing for readers to scan quickly & move on.
The same can’t be said for Canadians. They don’t usually mind bundling many clauses into single sentences, unlike Americans.
Indirect refusals
Instructions sometimes include telling someone that something can’t be done. Canadian instructions usually reveal that fact more gently by using phrases such as “we’re unable to accept,” or “this option isn’t available.”
The goal is to soften the refusal. But American materials usually state the point more plainly by using direct negatives like “do not submit.” They lack the extra framing that we Canadians do.
The inclusive “we”
You’ll see “we” and “our” in many Canadian instructions, even in formal settings. They’re trying to make the organization visible, and it’s something present in government pages & school notices alike.
Instructions in the United States usually remove the speaker entirely. Their instructions focus almost entirely on the task so that the reader deals with steps, as they care a little less about who’s giving them.
Softening corrections
There are times when you might need to deliver a correction within an instruction. It’s different across the border because Canadians cushion the correction through phrases like “you might want to double-check” or “just a reminder to.” These are placed right inside the step.
American instructions present the corrections in a much more practical way. They’ll often state what’s wrong & what needs to change, no reassurance included.
Absolute language
Absolute words aren’t as common in Canadian instructions as they are in American instructions. Even the firmest of Canadian rules may avoid words like “always” or “never” by sticking to softer phrases instead.
Such a tone leaves a little space for rare exceptions, should they appear. Yet American instructions are more comfortable with using absolute terms. They want to make it absolutely clear that there’s no wiggle room to be had.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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