Common English Mistakes Explained With Examples : Over 300 Mistakes

He likes tea, coffee and hot chocolate. (Don’t say: He likes tea, coffee, hot chocolate).

We talked, played games and drank late until the night. (Don’t say: We talked, played games, drank late until the night).

At night we talked, played chess and made a fire. (Don’t say: At night we talked, played chess, made a fire).

We use fixed order bread and butter, (NOT butter and bread).

I ate nothing but bread and butter. (Don’t say: I ate nothing but butter and bread).

She likes bread and butter. (Don’t say: She likes butter and bread).

We use fixed order young and pretty, (NOT pretty and young).

She is young and pretty. (Don’t say: She is pretty and young).

Mary is young and pretty and warm-hearted. (Don’t say: Mary is pretty and young and warm-hearted).

We use fixed order black and white, (NOT white and black).

He has a dog that is black and white. (Don’t say: He has a dog that is white and black).

The most colorful thing in the world is black and white. (Don’t say: The most colorful thing in the world is white and black).

We use fixed order knife and fork, (NOT fork and knife).

What are some foods you usually eat with a knife and fork? (Don’t say: What are some foods you usually eat with a fork and knife).

She doesn’t know how to use knives and forks. (Don’t say: She doesn’t know how to use forks and knives).

He sat down and ate his dinner with a knife and fork. (Don’t say: He sat down and ate his dinner with a fork and knife).

We say come and have a drink, (NOT go and have a drink).

Come and have a drink with us. (Don’t say: Go and have a drink with us).

I'll come and have a drink with you but I must let Mary know. (Don’t say: He I'll go and have a drink with you but I must let Mary know).

You’re very welcome to come and have a drink at our bar and enjoy an extra show. (Don’t say: You’re very welcome to go and have a drink at our bar and enjoy an extra show).

Why don't you come and have dinner with us? (Don’t say: Why don't you go and have dinner with us?).

We use another + singular countable nouns, (NOT another + plural countable nouns).

He's bought another house. (Don’t say: He's bought another houses).

Will you have another cup of tea? (Don’t say: Will you have another cups of tea?).

May I have another piece of cake? (Don’t say: May I have another pieces of cake?).

We use “no” to begin a sentence.

No cigarette is harmless. (Don’t say: Not any cigarette is harmless).

No cigarette is allowed in the reading room. (Don’t say: Not cigarette is allowed in the reading room).

No food is perfect. (Don’t say: Not food is perfect).

No food is allowed to leave the cafeteria. (Don’t say: Not food is allowed to leave the cafeteria).

We say an elephant, an apple, an orange, etc., (NOT a elephant, a apple, a orange).

We saw an elephant at the zoo. (Don’t say: We saw a elephant at the zoo).

She wants an apple. (Don’t say: She wants a apple).

I eat an apple every day. (Don’t say: I eat a apple every day).

He gave his mother an orange in exchange for a piece of cake. (Don’t say: He gave his mother a orange in exchange for a piece of cake).

We say an hour, (NOT a hour).

Give me an hour. (Don’t say: Give me a hour).

I'll be back in an hour. (Don’t say: I'll be back in a hour).

We say progress, (NOT a progress). Progress is uncountable.

He has made very good progress. (Don’t say: He has made a very good progress).

We say weather, (NOT a weather). Weather is uncountable.

Did you have good weather on your trip? (Don’t say: Did you have a good weather on your trip?).

If the weather is bad, I won't go out for a walk. (Don’t say: If a weather is bad, I won't go out for a walk).

It is terrible weather today. (Don’t say: It is a terrible weather today).

We use “the” with the names of musical instruments.

We say the guitar, the piano, the violin, (NOT guitar, piano, violin).

Tom played the guitar and Mary played the piano. (Don’t say: Tom played the guitar and Mary played the piano).

He likes to play the guitar. (Don’t say: He likes to play guitar).

Are you sure that Peter plays the violin well? (Don’t say: Are you sure that Peter plays violin well?).

I can play the piano, the guitar and the violin. (Don’t say: I can play piano, guitar and violin).

We say “Do you like apples?”, (NOT Do you like apple?).

She likes butterflies because they are pretty. (Don’t say: She likes butterfly because they are pretty).

I like cats. (Don’t say: I like cat).

We say what + a/an + adj + singular countable nouns, (NOT what + adj + singular countable nouns).

What a lovely house! (Don’t say: What lovely house!).

What a big dog! (Don’t say: What big dog!).

What a stupid man he is! (Don’t say: What stupid man he is!).

We say as long as I have, (NOT as long as I will have).

I will learn English as long as I have time. (Don’t say: I will learn English as long as I will have time).

I will study Japanese as long as I live in Japan. (Don’t say: I will study Japanese as long as I will live in Japan).

I will go to London on holidays as long as I get the money. (Don’t say: I will go to London on holidays as long as I will get the money).