Should I avoid mixing German-English sentences?

When you're communicating online, mixing is actually totally normal and nobody's gonna call you out for it - so don't worry about it.

The real issue is more whether you're getting your thoughts across more clearly or not. Some words just work better in English because there's no good equivalent in German or the English version is just shorter. Like, if you say "that's a totally weird vibe" instead of "that's a strange atmosphere," it works and sounds natural. It's the same for me - I sometimes write "the pipes are totally fucked up" instead of squeezing everything into German, because it's just faster. Nobody cares about that online, seriously. Most people do it exactly the same way.

Where you should be careful though: if you're writing something important where clarity matters (like a complaint, instructions, or something official), then you should probably stick to one language. But in a discussion or a casual question here? Don't sweat it. It just comes down to who you're reaching and how you express yourself best.

Don't make the mistake of censoring yourself just because you think code-switching seems uncool 😄 The others are right that it's totally normal online, but I'd say: it depends on *why* you're mixing. If you just use the English word because the German one doesn't come to mind or sounds awkward (like with tech terms), that's no problem. But if you're throwing whole sentences around in a mix just because you can't be bothered to translate, that can actually get annoying to read. My tip: write naturally, however it comes out - readers notice that stuff anyway and won't hold it against you.

For me personally, it's less about "normal or not normal" and more about whether you're cool with it yourself - I always double-check my sentences when I write mixed language stuff, because I'm unsure whether the English word really fits better or if I'm just too lazy to use the German one. For me it's more of a problem professionally, because I have to communicate with customers in writing too, and mixed German-English just comes across as unprofessional. Online in a private context? Sure, write however it comes out, but being mindful about it never hurts.