Written Japanese has its own rules that differ from spoken Japanese. English speakers often carry speech patterns into writing — or apply English punctuation logic. This guide covers the most common writing mistakes.
| Mistake | Description |
|---|---|
| Using casual forms in formal writing | Using 〜だ where 〜です/〜である is needed |
| Wrong quotation marks | Using “…” instead of 「…」 |
| Forgetting 。and 、 | Using . and , instead of Japanese punctuation |
| Mixing scripts inconsistently | Writing foreign words in hiragana instead of katakana |
| Kanji level mismatch | Using too casual kanji (or none) in formal documents |
Mistake 1: Using Casual Forms in Formal Writing
Yukaメールや論文では「だ体」じゃなくて「です・ます体」か「である体」を使おう。
(In emails or essays, use です/ます or である style, not だ style.)
ReiSNSと論文では文体が全然違うね！
(The register of SNS vs. an essay is completely different!)
| Context | Style | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Formal essay / report | 〜である体 | 〜と考えられる。/ 〜である。 |
| Business email | 〜ます/です体 | 〜と存じます。/ よろしくお願いいたします。 |
| Casual blog / SNS | 〜だ体 | 〜だと思う。/ 〜だよね。 |
Mistake 2: Punctuation Errors
Yuka日本語では「。」と「、」を使う！ピリオドやコンマは使わない。
(Use 。and 、in Japanese! Not periods and commas.)
| English | Japanese Equivalent | When Used |
|---|---|---|
| Period (.) | 。(句点) | End of sentence |
| Comma (,) | 、(読点) | Natural breath pause within sentence |
| Quotation “” | 「」(かぎかっこ) | Direct speech, titles, emphasis |
| Nested quotation | 『』(二重かぎかっこ) | Quote within a quote, book titles |
Mistake 3: Katakana vs Hiragana for Foreign Words
Yuka外来語はカタカナ！「こーひー」じゃなくて「コーヒー」。
(Foreign loanwords use katakana! Not こーひー but コーヒー.)
| Wrong | Correct | Word |
|---|---|---|
| てれび | テレビ | Television |
| すまーとふぉん | スマートフォン | Smartphone |
| いんたーねっと | インターネット | Internet |
| ぱそこん | パソコン | Personal computer |
Mistake 4: Inconsistent Kanji Use
Different writing contexts have different kanji expectations. Using hiragana for common kanji in formal writing looks immature; using rare kanji in casual text looks stiff.
| Context | Expected Level | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Children’s books / N5 | Hiragana preferred or furigana added | わたし、いく、たべる |
| N3–N2 learner | Standard daily kanji | 私、行く、食べる |
| Formal/business | Include formal variants | 参ります、申し上げます |
| News / academic | Full kanji, no furigana | 当該事案について |
Quick Quiz
1. Formal essay sentence ender: 〜だ → _____
→ 〜である / 〜です
2. How to write “coffee” in Japanese: _____
→ コーヒー (katakana)
3. End punctuation in Japanese: _____
→ 。(句点)
Made this mistake before? Tell us in the comments — it helps other learners know they’re not alone! 💬
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