If you’ve read any of my articles before, you’ve probably noticed that English is not my native language. I make mistakes—more than I’d like—but with every article I write, I get a little better. Despite the challenges, blogging in English has too many advantages for me to stick to my native language instead.
Writing in a Non-English Language
I’ve run several websites in the past, most of them in German. Writing in my native language had its benefits: I could express myself more precisely and made fewer mistakes. It also felt easier and took less time.
But I quickly discovered the limitations of blogging in German. Back then, I ran a niche site that built a small but dedicated community. Still, compared to similar English-language sites, the reach was modest. Over time, it felt like I had already reached the maximum possible audience. In short: I peaked early.
Part of that was due to the niche I was targeting, but it was also because writing in German limited my potential audience.
Now, I’m in this for the long run. I plan to create content online for the rest of my life. My basic needs are covered, my bills are paid, I’m debt-free, and I even have a bit of “fuck you” money saved up. That gives me the freedom to think long-term. And long-term, the audience for English-language content is hundreds—if not thousands—of times larger than for German content.
Writing in English as a Non-Native Speaker
Making mistakes doesn’t look great. I understand that hiring a native speaker to polish my writing would seem more professional. But there are also benefits to making mistakes.
Learning – You can’t improve without making mistakes. Of course, mistakes alone don’t guarantee progress, but if you never act out of fear of getting it wrong, you’ll never move forward.
Personality – One of the best things about blogs is the personality behind them. Big corporations may deliver flawless content, but readers know there’s a faceless entity behind it. Blogs are different—they’re personal. A one-person show creates a direct connection between the writer and the reader. Mistakes can actually enhance that authenticity. They reflect honesty and vulnerability.
AI – In the near future, the only way to tell if content is written by a human might be the presence of small mistakes. AI will produce perfect output. We may end up in a kind of reverse Turing Test, where imperfection becomes proof of humanity.
The Trap of Perfection – Striving for perfection can paralyze you. As a hobby fiction writer, I get stuck in endless revision cycles. Even after five rounds of editing, I still want to tweak sentences. But perfection isn’t the best goal when publishing content. Getting your thoughts out of your head and onto the page matters more—even if it means making a few mistakes along the way.
Will English Always Dominate the Internet?
The Western world is going through a period of change. The Arab world and China are gaining influence, while America’s dominance appears to be waning. It’s possible that one day, Arabic or Chinese could rival English as the dominant language online.
But for now, English remains the global standard. Most people in the Western world learn English in school, at least to a basic level. Any significant shift in language dominance—where Arabic or Chinese are taught globally—will likely take decades. And who knows? The West could still experience a renaissance that boosts its global influence even further.
For the foreseeable future, English will remain the language of the internet.
So if you want to grow online—write in English.