10 Common English Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Even advanced English learners make these common mistakes. Understanding and fixing these errors will dramatically improve your English fluency and help you communicate more effectively.
1. Using "Good" Instead of "Well"
"I speak English good."
"She did good on the test."
"I speak English well."
"She did well on the test."
Rule: "Good" is an adjective (describes nouns), "well" is an adverb (describes verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs).
2. Confusing "Its" and "It's"
"The dog wagged it's tail."
"Its a beautiful day."
"The dog wagged its tail."
"It's a beautiful day."
Rule: "Its" shows possession (like his/her), "it's" means "it is" or "it has".
3. Incorrect Use of "There," "Their," and "They're"
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| There | Location or existence | "There are many books on the shelf." |
| Their | Possessive (belonging to them) | "Their house is beautiful." |
| They're | Contraction of "they are" | "They're coming to the party." |
4. Misusing "Affect" and "Effect"
"The rain will effect our plans."
"What was the affect of the medicine?"
"The rain will affect our plans."
"What was the effect of the medicine?"
Memory Tip: Affect is an Action (verb), Effect is an End result (noun).
5. Using "Less" Instead of "Fewer"
"There are less people today."
"I have less books than you."
"There are fewer people today."
"I have fewer books than you."
Rule: Use "fewer" for countable items, "less" for uncountable quantities.
6. Dangling Modifiers
"Walking to the store, the rain started."
"After studying all night, the test was easy."
"While I was walking to the store, the rain started."
"After studying all night, I found the test easy."
Rule: Make sure modifying phrases clearly refer to the correct subject.
7. Incorrect Subject-Verb Agreement
"The team are playing well."
"Each of the students have a book."
"The team is playing well."
"Each of the students has a book."
Rule: Collective nouns (team, group, family) are usually singular. "Each" is always singular.
8. Misplaced Apostrophes in Plurals
"I bought three apple's."
"The 1990's were great."
"I bought three apples."
"The 1990s were great."
Rule: Don't use apostrophes for plural nouns. Use apostrophes only for possession or contractions.
9. Using "Who" Instead of "Whom"
"Who did you give the book to?"
"The person who I spoke to was helpful."
"Whom did you give the book to?"
"The person whom I spoke to was helpful."
Tip: If you can replace it with "him/her," use "whom." If you can replace it with "he/she," use "who."
10. Ending Sentences with Prepositions
"What are you looking for?"
"Where are you from?"
"For what are you looking?"
"From where are you?"
Modern Rule: It's generally acceptable to end sentences with prepositions in modern English, especially in casual conversation.
How to Avoid These Mistakes
Read Regularly
Reading good English helps you internalize correct patterns.
Practice Writing
Regular writing practice helps identify and correct your common mistakes.
Get Feedback
Have native speakers or teachers review your writing and speaking.
Check Your Vocabulary Level
Use our CEFR Word Level Lookup tool to ensure you're using words at the appropriate difficulty level.
Check Word LevelsPractice Exercises
Quick Self-Check:
- She speaks English very _____ (good/well)
- The cat licked _____ paws (its/it's)
- _____ going to the store (Their/They're/There)
- The weather will _____ our plans (affect/effect)
- I have _____ friends than before (less/fewer)
Answers: 1. well, 2. its, 3. They're, 4. affect, 5. fewer
Conclusion
Mastering these common mistakes will significantly improve your English communication. Remember that even native speakers sometimes make these errors, so don't be discouraged. Focus on understanding the rules and practicing them consistently.
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