English can be complicated, and while there are many videos, texts, and tools, you may sometimes want to ask a question directly to a native speaker.
That's why we have Expert Answers. It's your opportunity to ask any question in English and get a personalized reply. You can use Expert Answers to ask questions about English vocabulary, grammar, and usage; to clarify doubts you may have about something you saw on Plain English or elsewhere; or to get advice on how to communicate your ideas in the right tone.
With Expert Answers, you can send your question in a private video and receive a private, personalized video reply. You can also send a written question if you prefer.
✅ Expert Answers is available at the Plus+ level.
How it works
With Expert Answers, you can get answers to any question in English.
To get an Expert Answer, click this link: Expert Answers or choose "Expert Answers" from the menu bar that says "Get involved":
Then, decide whether you want to submit a question via video or via text.
Submit a video question
You can record yourself asking the question and submit the video in a private channel.
To submit a video question, select the tab "Video" on the Expert Answers page. Watch the introductory video. When you are ready, click the blue button that says, "Record your question":
Nervous? Don't be. If you make a mistake, you'll have the opportunity to re-record the video. You can preview your entry before submitting it.
The video you record is private and will only be seen by the Plain English team. Therefore, don't worry about being perfect; just as your question in a natural way.
After you submit your video question, you'll get a personalized video response with the answer to your question. The response is private and just for you.
Submit a text question
Not ready to record a video? That's okay. You can submit any question via a text form. From the Expert Answers page, just select the tab called "Text":
Then, type your question in the box and click the blue button that says "Send your question." You'll get a written reply via email.
What happens next
After you submit your question, watch your email during approximately the next 24-48 hours. You'll receive a personalized, private response.
If you submitted a question via video, you'll get a private video reply just for you. The reply may simply be a "talking head" video or it may be an on-screen demonstration.
If you submitted a question via text, you'll get an email reply.
In all cases, both your question and the reply are private and will not be shared with anyone outside the Plain English team.
What you can ask
Expert Answers is available to help you with questions in English. The resource is intended to help you understand difficult concepts in English, to resolve any confusion you might have about English-related topics, or to dive deeper on any topics you may have learned in Plain English.
Here are some potential things you may ask in Expert Answers:
"I saw [this] in a book and didn't understand it. What does it mean?"
"I'm trying to use [this] in English, but I'm not sure if I'm doing it right. Can you tell me if I'm doing it correctly?"
"I'm writing an email to an English-speaking brand and I want to request a refund. Is this message okay?"
"I'd like to express [this concept] but I'm not sure how to say it. Do you have any suggestions?"
"I saw this video on Plain English / YouTube / from my teacher and I don't understand [this part]. What does it mean?"
"If I say [this word] in English, is it considered formal or informal? Could it be considered offensive?"
"Can you tell me if I'm pronouncing [this] correctly?"
Use Expert Answers to ask questions that you would normally ask an English teacher. Get creative and send your questions today!
What you cannot ask
While we would like to help in all situations, there are certain things we can’t answer in this format. For example, we cannot:
Proofread or edit documents
Give advice on highly technical terms
Tell you what to do in a situation
Answer highly general or broad questions (“teach me how to use the past tense”)