Common English Mistakes and How to Correct Them

English learners, regardless of their proficiency level, often make the same common mistakes. In this blog, we’ll walk you through some of these errors and provide clear explanations and examples to help you communicate more confidently and accurately. Let’s get started!

• Actually means “in fact.”Example: “Have you graduated yet?” “Well, actually, I haven’t.”

• Currently is used to refer to the present time.Example: “I’m currently studying marketing at university.”

2. Do you know London?

In English, the phrase “Do you know London?” implies familiarity, but it’s not the best way to ask if someone has visited. The correct phrase is:“Have you ever visited London?”

3. “I have 18 years old.”

In English, we don’t use have when talking about age. The correct structure is:“I am 18 years old.”

4. “I’m constipated” (when talking about a cold or flu)

Constipation refers to a digestive issue, not a cold or flu. A better way to express congestion or stuffiness is:“I’m congested.”

5. Fun vs. Funny

• Fun refers to enjoyment and is often used as both a noun and an adjective.Example: “The party was a lot of fun.”

• Funny means amusing or causing laughter.Example: “That comedian is really funny.”

6. Bored vs. Boring

• Bored describes how a person feels.Example: “I’m bored. Let’s do something fun.”

• Boring describes something that lacks interest.Example: “The movie was boring.”

As a rule, a person can be bored, but something can be boring.

7. “This doesn’t have sense.”

The correct phrase is “This doesn’t make sense.” We use make sense for situations or statements.Example: “That makes sense to me.”

On the other hand, “have sense” can describe a person being sensible.Example: “He has sense.”

8. Pronouncing Words Beginning with ‘S’

Many Spanish speakers tend to add an ‘e’ sound before words starting with S. To overcome this, practice and focus on the proper pronunciation of S without the additional sound.

9. Career vs. Degree

• Career refers to a person’s profession or occupation.Example: “She has had a successful career in medicine.”

• Degree refers to the qualification you receive after completing a course of study.Example: “He earned his degree in economics.”

10. Afternoon?

In English, afternoon starts right after 12:00 PM (noon). Noon is specifically 12:00 PM, and the afternoon follows it.Example: “Let’s meet in the afternoon.”

11. Nothing vs. Anything

• Nothing means not a single thing. It is used as the subject of a sentence.Example: “It has nothing to do with me.”

• Anything refers to any thing, and is often used in questions or negative statements.Example: “I don’t have anything to eat.”

12. Take a Coffee

In English, when speaking about consuming food or drinks, we use the verb to have.Example: “Would you like to have a coffee?”

When ordering or receiving something, we use take.Example: “I’ll take a coffee, please.”

13. In My House vs. At Home

• House refers to the physical building.Example: “There are three bedrooms in my house.”

• Home refers to where someone lives, but in a more personal sense.Example: “I’m having dinner at home.”

14. “I’m agree with…”

In English, the verb agree does not require the verb to be. The correct form is:“I agree with you.”Alternatively, you can say:“I’m in agreement with you.”

15. Say vs. Tell

• Tell is used to inform or instruct.Example: “Can you tell me what happened?”

• Say is used for direct quotes or when the recipient isn’t specified.Example: “Good morning,” said the teacher.

16. Remember Me vs. Remind Me

• Remember refers to keeping someone or something in your mind.Example: “I will always remember you.”

• Remind refers to something causing you to think of someone or something.Example: “That song reminds me of summer camp.”

17. Explain Me

Instead of saying “Explain me,” you should say:“Explain this to me.”Explanation requires to when referring to a person or situation.

18. “Next time I will invite you for a coffee.”

In English, an invitation for coffee does not imply that you will pay for it. To express that you will pay for the coffee, use:“Next time it’s on me.”or“Next time it’s my treat.”

19. Make vs. Do

• Make is used when creating or building something.Example: “I am making my lunch.”

• Do is used for general activities or tasks.Example: “I’m doing my homework.”

20. "I will arrive to the airport"

In English, the verb arrive is not followed by to. The correct phrase is:“I will arrive at the airport.”

Example: “I will arrive at the airport by 6 PM.”

This is a common error among English learners, but it’s easy to remember once you know that we use arrive at for specific locations.