Avoid These 3 Common English Mistakes (And Sound More Professional!)
Intermediate Level | July 29, 2025
Read the article aloud on your own or repeat each paragraph after your tutor.
Even advanced English learners can make small mistakes that hurt their confidence or sound less professional at work. Today, we’ll fix three of the most common English mistakes that busy professionals often make. These are the kinds of mistakes that don’t just affect test scores—they affect your message, your confidence, and your relationships. Let’s fix them!
1. Common English Mistakes: “Affect” and “Effect”
The Fast Rule:
“Affect” is usually a verb (an action), and “effect” is usually a noun (a thing).
Examples:
- Stress affects your performance. (verb)
- The effect of stress on performance is clear. (noun)
Business Tip:
Say: “This change may affect our timeline.”
Not: “This change may effect our timeline.”
2. Mixing Up “Compliment” and “Complement”
The Fast Rule:
“Compliment” is when you say something nice. “Complement” is when two things go well together.
Examples:
- She complimented my presentation. (said something nice)
- Her design complements the brand. (fits well with it)
Business Tip:
Say: “Your new logo really complements your website.”
Not: “Your new logo really compliments your website.”
3. Lay vs. Lie
The Fast Rule:
“Lay” needs an object (you lay something* down). “Lie” does not (you lie down yourself).*
Examples:
- I lay my phone on the desk. (lay + object)
- I need to lie down after that meeting. (no object)
Business Tip:
Say: “Let me lay this out for you.” or “He had to lie down—he was feeling sick.”
Keep Practicing!
These common English mistakes may look similar, but with a little practice, they’ll stop tripping you up. Read this article aloud and try making your own examples for each word pair.
Vocabulary List
- Affect (verb) — To influence or change something.
Example: Lack of sleep can affect your decision-making. - Effect (noun) — The result or outcome of something.
Example: The new policy had a positive effect on productivity. - Compliment (noun/verb) — A polite or nice thing you say about someone.
Example: He gave her a compliment on her report. - Complement (verb) — To go well with or complete something.
Example: The red tie complements his suit. - Lay (verb) — To place something down.
Example: Please lay your documents on the table. - Lie (verb) — To rest in a flat position.
Example: I need to lie down for a bit. - Professional (adjective) — Relating to work or a career.
Example: She always sounds professional in meetings. - Mistake (noun) — An error or something done wrong.
Example: It’s a common mistake to confuse “their” and “there.” - Presentation (noun) — A talk or display to share information.
Example: He gave a great presentation on marketing. - Confidence (noun) — A feeling of self-assurance.
Example: Her confidence grew with every client meeting.
5 Questions About the Article
- What is the difference between “affect” and “effect”?
- When should you use “compliment” versus “complement”?
- What is the grammar rule for “lay” and “lie”?
- Why is it important to fix these common English mistakes?
- Can you make one sentence for each confusing word?
5 Open-Ended Discussion Questions
- Which of these mistakes have you made before?
- Why do you think some grammar mistakes are harder to fix?
- Have you ever been corrected at work for a small grammar error?
- How do you usually check your writing before sending it?
- What helps you feel more confident when using English at work?
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