Common English Mistakes Explained With Examples : Over 300 Mistakes

The river is ten feet deep. (Don’t say: The river is deep ten feet).

Numbers must go before adjectives.

I'll need ten large pizzas for my birthday party. (Don’t say: I'll need large ten pizzas for my birthday party).

May I have five small pieces of paper? (Don’t say: May I have small five pieces of paper?).

"First", "next" and "last" usually go before "one", "two", "three", "four" etc.

I want to rent the house for the first two weeks in May. (Don’t say: I want to rent the house for the two first weeks in May).

Tom will be staying with his relatives in New York for the next three weeks. (Don’t say: Tom will be staying with his relatives in New York for the three next weeks).

She was sick for the last five days, but now she feels well. (Don’t say: She was sick for the five last days, but now she feels well).

We use adverb + verb + object, (NOT verb + adverb + object).

I often eat vegetarian food. (Don’t say: I eat often vegetarian food).

I usually play football on Wednesday evenings. (Don’t say: I play usually football on Wednesday evenings).

We use verb + object + adverb, (NOT verb + adverb + object).

She plays the piano well. (Don’t say: She plays well the piano).

He speaks Japanese well. (Don’t say: He speaks well Japanese).

Adverbs of place usually go before adverbs of time.

He performed excellently at the interview yesterday. (Don’t say: He performed excellently yesterday at the interview).

I worked hard at the office today. (Don’t say: I worked hard today at the office).

We use be + always/usually/often/sometimes, etc., (NOT always/usually/often/sometimes + be).

He is always busy. (Don’t say: He always is busy).

He is usually straightforward and sincere. (Don’t say: He usually is straightforward and sincere).

She is often very talkative. (Don’t say: She often is very talkative).

He is sometimes absent from school. (Don’t say: He sometimes is absent from school).

Probably, certainly, definitely, clearly, obviously usually go before auxiliary verbs.

She probably thinks you're crazy! (Don’t say: She thinks probably you're crazy!).

She certainly misses her children. (Don’t say: She misses certainly her children).

He clearly heard the sound of bells. (Don’t say: He heard clearly the sound of bells).

I definitely agree with you. (Don’t say: I agree definitely with you).

I will definitely come late today. (Don’t say: I will come definitely late today).

He obviously lied. (Don’t say: He lied obviously).

She obviously missed something. (Don’t say: She missed obviously something).

We use adverb + adjective, (NOT adjective + adjective).

It’s extremely hot today. (Don’t say: It’s extreme hot today).

It's definitely wrong to stop him from seeing his parents. (Don’t say: It's definite wrong to stop him from seeing his parents).

We use after all, (NOT finally) to say that something is contrary to what was expected.

It didn't rain after all. (Don’t say: It didn't rain finally).

At first Peter said he would come to the party, but he's not going to come after all. (Don’t say: At first Peter said he would come to the party, but he's not going to come finally).

We say she is twenty years old/of age. (NOT …twenty years).

He is 19 years old. (Don’t say: He is 19 years).

She is 21 years of age. (Don’t say: She is 21 years).

We say be the same age as. (NOT …be at the same age as…).

Tom is the same age as Mary. (Don’t say: Tom is at the same age as Mary).

She's the same age as my sister. (Don’t say: She's at the same age as my sister).

We say at the age of, (NOT … in the age of …).

He died at the age of 80. (Don’t say: He died in the age of 80).

I graduated from college at the age of 22. (Don’t say: I graduated from college in the age of 22).

We use like before a noun, (NOT alike).

He is like his father. (Don’t say: He is alike his father).

She is like her mom. (Don’t say: She is alike her mom).

We say all students, (NOT all of students).

All students are being taught in the classroom. (Don’t say: All of students are being taught in the classroom).

All people are having dinner at the restaurant. (Don’t say: All of people are having dinner at the restaurant).

We use not all + plural noun + plural verb, (NOT not all + plural noun + singular verb).

Not all students are lazy. (Don’t say: Not all students is lazy).

Not all women are mothers. (Don’t say: Not all women is mothers).

We say …not only…, but...as well. Or…not only…, but....also…. (NOT …not only…; but….either).

He not only sings, but he plays the guitar as well. (Don’t say: He not only sings, but he plays the guitar either).

He not only sings, but he also plays the guitar. (Don’t say: He not only sings, but he also plays the guitar either).

We use though/although + clause, (NOT despite/in spite of + clause).

Although she doesn't like flying, he goes abroad on holiday. (Don’t say: despite/in spite of she doesn't like flying, he goes abroad on holiday).

Although Mary is rich, she dresses quite simply. (Don’t say: despite/in spite of Mary is rich, she dresses quite simply).

Although he smiled, he was angry. (Don’t say: despite/in spite of he smiled, he was angry).

When we join two or more grammatically similar expressions, we usually put “and” before the last.