Avoid These Common English Mistakes Forever ✍️

Advanced Level | November 8, 2025

Read the article aloud on your own or repeat each paragraph after your tutor.

Even advanced learners make small mistakes that can leave a big impression. Whether it’s mixing up prepositions, using the wrong verb tense, or adding an unnecessary article, these slips can make your English sound less polished. The good news? Once you recognize them, they’re easy to fix—and once you fix them, your English instantly sounds smoother and more professional.

Today, we’ll look at some of the most common English mistakes made by advanced learners and even native speakers—and how you can avoid them forever.

Mistake 1: Mixing Up Prepositions in Common English Mistakes

Prepositions are small but powerful. Even one wrong preposition can change the meaning of a sentence. For example:

❌ I’m waiting on the bus.
✅ I’m waiting for the bus.

In English, wait for means to expect someone or something, while wait on means to serve someone (like a waiter at a restaurant). Another common one:

❌ He’s good in English.
✅ He’s good at English.

Each preposition has a unique use. Pay attention to how native speakers use them and make note of common patterns instead of memorizing long lists.

Tip:

If you’re unsure, try searching a phrase online using quotation marks (for example, “good at English”) to see how often it appears compared to other versions.

Mistake 2: Confusing Verb Tenses

Even fluent speakers sometimes misuse verb tenses, especially when describing experiences. For example:

❌ I have visited Japan last year.
✅ I visited Japan last year.

When a time expression like last year or yesterday is used, you should use the past simple tense, not the present perfect. On the other hand:

❌ I went to Japan before.
✅ I have been to Japan before.

Here, the present perfect is correct because there’s no specific time—it’s an experience in your life.

Mistake 3: Article Confusion (a, an, the)

Articles cause endless frustration. The key is to remember that “a” and “an” introduce something new or general, while “the” refers to something specific.

❌ I saw a movie. The movie was great. I want to see the movie again tomorrow. ✅ Perfect!

But:

❌ I went to the work yesterday.
✅ I went to work yesterday.

Some common phrases (like go to school, go home, go to work) don’t need an article at all.

Mistake 4: Overusing Fancy Words

Advanced learners sometimes try to sound professional by using long or complex words—but this can make sentences sound awkward or unnatural.

❌ We must endeavor to facilitate interdepartmental communication.
✅ We should work to improve communication between departments.

Simple, direct language often sounds more confident and natural. Clear English shows professionalism better than overly complicated phrases. Fixing these kinds of common English mistakes helps your message sound clear and confident.

Mistake 5: Missing Subject-Verb Agreement

Even experienced speakers occasionally forget to match the subject and verb correctly.

❌ The data shows that people likes simple communication.
✅ The data show that people like simple communication.

Remember: singular subjects need singular verbs, and plural subjects need plural verbs. Some words like data, media, and criteria look singular but are plural.

Vocabulary List

Preposition (noun) — A word that shows the relationship between two things.
Example: The cat is on the table.
Tense (noun) — The form of a verb that shows time.
Example: English has past, present, and future tenses.
Article (noun) — A small word (a, an, the) used before nouns.
Example: We say a car but the car when it’s specific.
Polished (adjective) — Refined or professional in appearance or style.
Example: Her polished English impressed the client.
Endeavor (verb) — To try hard to do something.
Example: We endeavor to meet every deadline.
Facilitate (verb) — To make an action or process easier.
Example: The manager facilitated the discussion.
Plural (adjective) — Referring to more than one.
Example: “Dogs” is a plural noun.
Specific (adjective) — Clearly defined or identified.
Example: Please give a specific example.
Awkward (adjective) — Uncomfortable or unnatural.
Example: The long sentence sounded awkward.
Confidence (noun) — The feeling of being sure about yourself.
Example: Clear grammar helps you speak with confidence.

5 Questions About the Article

What’s the difference between “wait for” and “wait on”?
When should you use the present perfect tense?
What’s the main difference between “a/an” and “the”?
Why can using fancy words be a mistake?
What’s an example of a plural noun that looks singular?

5 Open-Ended Discussion Questions

Which English mistake do you make most often?
How do you usually check if your grammar is correct?
Why do you think articles are so difficult for English learners?
What’s an example of a mistake you’ve noticed native speakers make?
How can simplifying your language make communication more effective?

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