Most Common Mistakes In English

We prepared for you the list of most common mistakes in English that can help you to speak like a native and to improve your language skills day by day.

Misplaced apostrophes: Your/you’re

The difference between these two is:

“Your” means something belonging to you

while

“You’re” means “you are”

Similarly Its/it’s

Commas

The missing or misplaced comma can change the meaning of the sentence.

Let’s eat, Grandpa – asks Grandpa to join the speaker in having a meal

Let’s eat Grandpa – suggests that it’s time to eat Grandpa

A woman, without her man, is nothing. – this sentence suggests that a woman is nothing without her man.

A woman: without her, man is nothing.  – while this sentence claims the exact opposite, that a man is nothing without his woman.

Two negatives

Double negatives are seldom used in English, in contrast to some other languages. A sentence doesn’t exactly make a positive statement if two negatives are used in it, but it is considered incorrect.

I don’t want nothing from you.  (in old English this could emphasize the negative, while in current English it can be taken to indicate a positive meaning. Any which way, it is an incorrect statement).

I don’t want anything from you.

Exchanging similar sounding words

 Affect / Effect

The lightning affected the tree.

The effect of the lightning was that the tree burned down.

Accept / Except

Accept – to receive, to include

Except – to exclude

We accept everybody, except you.

Whether / Weather

Whether – if

Weather – referring to atmospheric conditions

Whether you like it or not, the weather will be like this.

Then/than

Then – next, later, after

Than – for comparing

Between / Among

The word ‘between’ normally refers to two items or people, while the word ‘among’ refers to multiple items or people, as, for example:  ‘At the party, I sat down between two good friends’ or ‘At the party, I enjoyed being among many interesting people

Between

Learn more about teaching English abroad, you can read our article here.

Photos: Shutterstock / Graphic Design for the purpose of this article: Martina Advaney