These mistakes are made by non-native speakers. You may not notice these errors immediately, but trained ears will.
Mistake 1: Overuse of the Present Continuous
Incorrect: We sell all kinds of shoes.
Correct: We sell all kinds of shoes.
We sell would mean that you are selling right now. Correct would be to say, “Today we sell this, tomorrow we sell that”. However, since you have only sold this one thing so far and will continue to do so in the future, it is “We sell”.
Mistake 2: Tonight
Incorrect: Let us do it tonight.
Correct: Let us do it tonight.
This probably comes from the Hindi “Aaj Raat”, which literally means “Tonight”.
Mistake 3: Introduction with myself
Incorrect: Myself, Amit.
Correct: Hi, I am Amit.
Well, you already know that. But it’s so common that your tongue is already trained to use it.
Mistake 4: Asking for the good name
Incorrect: What is your good name?
Correct: I did not catch your name/ Could I get your name?
This literal translation, which comes from the Hindi “Shubh Naam,” is also incorrect. In English, “good name” means “deserved” and means that someone has become famous for good reasons. Example: “You have made a good name for yourself in the jewellery business”.
Mistake 5: Using “obvious” when nothing is that obvious.
Incorrect: India will win, obviously.
Correct: I bet India will win.
Wrong: Obviously, I will vote red (if there is nothing obvious, you could vote red or white).
No, using “obvious” does not make you look smart. If it’s not obvious (e.g., 90% sure), you should not say it.
Mistake 6: Cousin brothers and cousin sisters
Well, a cousin is a cousin and the word is gender neutral. So how do you indicate whether it’s a male or female cousin? Just use the pronoun to indicate the gender (he or she).
Incorrect: Madhu is my cousin brother.
Correct: Madhu is my cousin
If you need to indicate that Madhu is a man (since it is not obvious from the name, Madhu could be a man or a girl), you need to find a way to indicate this, for example
Correct : Ah Madhu, he is my cousin / Madhu is my cousin. he plays football.
Mistake 7: Best with superlative, or Best with More.
This mistake is also very common
Incorrect: It will be more better
Correct: It will be much better / it will be better
Incorrect: A is better than B
Correct: A is better than B
Incorrect: A is better than B
Correct: A is better / A is THE best
Error 8: Did with past tense of the verb
Incorrect: He did not even try.
Correct: He did not even try.
Incorrect: I did not meet him.
Correct: I did not hit him.
For non-native speakers, it is difficult to train your tongue for both the past tense and did+ past tense. This is easily corrected by training your tongue for did + first form.
Error 9: Incorrect use of A and An – especially for words that are spelled with vowels but pronounced differently.
Wrong: It is not just a university
Correct: Its not just a university (pronounced like yuuniversity)
Incorrect: an user
Correct: a user (pronounced yooser)
Incorrect: an hour
Correct: one hour One hour (pronounced with silent H)
Incorrect: A European
Correct: A European (pronounced Yoropean)
If you do not let your tongue decide whether to use a or an, you will keep making mistakes like this. Many non-native speakers picture the word in their head (with spelling) before putting an article in front of it, and that’s where the problems start.
Mistake 10: Going back
Wrong: I will return
Correct: I will come back / I will return
This phrase is used so often in corporate emails that it has almost become a catch phrase. Revert means to return, so a ‘back’ after revert is redundant.
