ESL vs ENL: pros and cons of hiring a native English speaking writer

There are multiple opinions on the topic of writers that are native speakers versus people who have English as their second language. Many businesses looking to hire a freelance writer won’t even consider anyone if they aren’t a native speaker, because they usually have better grammar, spelling and command of the language. This isn’t always true though, because some students of the English language from other countries have studied it enough that they know it better than some of the natives do. Also, not all native speakers are good at writing or spelling.

Keep reading for some pros and cons. We’ll talk about both native and non-native speakers, because both come with their own set of pros, cons and things to consider before hiring. As long as you have the vision in mind for your business and know what you want, you’ll be able to make the decision that’s right for you. You’ll probably end up hiring a variety of people for various jobs, just to see how they work.

Pros and Cons: Native English Speaking Writers

Most of the time, this is what you’ll want for your business; there are however, some things to keep in mind. This includes English speakers from the USA, Canada, UK, Australia and native speakers living abroad.

• Native English speakers usually charge more for their services
• There are plenty of native speakers who aren’t good at writing
• Some native speakers will go beyond your job requirements because they love writing and want you to hire them again

Pros and Cons: English as Second Language Writers

There are many concerns about hiring someone from the Philippines, India, China, or other countries where their writing skills and English might not be up to par. If you’re looking for basic skills and have a low budget, then this might be just right for you. You’ll have to decide your priorities and test the waters to see if you can find a decent writer who isn’t a native speaker.

• Most of the time, ESL writers will accept lower pay, especially because American money is worth more in their countries
• There are many writers who are not native speakers who can write very well; it’s just hard to tell which ones do and which don’t
• Some ESL writers can be lazy or barely do the minimum of the job so they can move onto the next one