34 Common English Mistakes You Should Not Make

1. Don't start a sentence with a number

Incorrect: 10 people have resigned this year.

Correct: Ten people have resigned this year.

2. Who is the subject?

Incorrect: A good source of information are newspapers.

Correct: A good source of information is newspapers.

3. Singular / Plural Words

Incorrect: Management have decided to reject the offer.

Correct: Management has decided to reject the offer.

4. "Less" and "Fewer"

Incorrect: They only deal with small sized companies, typically 20 employees or less.

Correct: They only deal with small sized companies, typically 20 employees or fewer.

5. "More Than" and "Over"

Incorrect: I have over five years of experience.

Correct: I have more than five years of experience.

6. "Who" vs. "Whom"

Incorrect: Who did you speak to?

Correct: Whom did you speak to?

7. "Were" and "Was"

Incorrect: If I was the manager, I would cancel the whole project.

Correct: If I were the manager, I would cancel the whole project.

Incorrect: John led the meeting as if he was the team leader.

Correct: John led the meeting as if he were the team leader.

8. Plural for Wishes

Incorrect: The manager demanded that she pays for the damage.

Correct: The manager demanded that she pay for the damage.

Incorrect: I wish he was able to give me a raise.

Correct: I wish he were able to give me a raise.

9. "That" vs. "Which"

Incorrect: I canceled the meeting which was scheduled tomorrow.

Correct: I canceled the meeting that was scheduled tomorrow.

Incorrect: I canceled tomorrow's meeting that wasn't important anyway.

Correct: I canceled tomorrow's meeting, which wasn't important anyway.

10. "Sometime" vs "Some time"

Incorrect: Call him for an appointment; I'm sure he has sometime for you.

Correct: Call him for an appointment; I'm sure he has some time for you.

Incorrect: I am busy now. We can meet some time later.

Correct: I am busy now. We can meet sometime later.

11. "be" vs. "is"

Incorrect: The supplier demanded that the payment is complete.

Correct: The supplier demanded that the payment be complete.

12. Verb Tense Agreement

Incorrect: He called me yesterday and he agrees to the contract terms.

Correct: He called me yesterday and he agreed to the contract terms.

13. "Good" vs. "Well"

Incorrect: The team played good.

Correct: The team played well.

14. "May" vs "Might"

Incorrect: I might miss the bus if I'm too late.

Correct: I may miss the bus if I'm too late.

Incorrect: I may miss the bus if I stay here a little more.

Correct: I might miss the bus if I stay here a little more.

15. Quantities are singular

Incorrect: Thirty minutes have passed since the beginning of the meeting.

Correct: Thirty minutes has passed since the beginning of the meeting.

Incorrect: Ten dollars are all that I have.

Correct: Ten dollars is all that I have.

16. "Any more" vs. "Anymore"

Incorrect: I can't wait for them any more.

Correct: I can't wait for them anymore.

Incorrect: Are there anymore vacancies left in your department?

Correct: Are there any more vacancies left in your department?

17. "Anyway" vs. "Any way"

Incorrect: We can start with this project anyway you want.

Correct: We can start with this project any way you want.

Incorrect: They are going to outsource it any way.

Correct: They are going to outsource it anyway.

18. Question Marks

Incorrect: She asked me if I had taken any accounting courses?

Correct: She asked me if I had taken any accounting courses.

Incorrect: Could you please send me that report?

Correct: Could you please send me that report.

19. "It's" vs. ""Its"

Incorrect: I have sent you the report and it's summary.

Correct: I have sent you the report and its summary.

Incorrect: I postponed the meeting. Its way too late.

Correct: I postponed the meeting. It's way too late.

20. "Everyday" vs. "Every day"

Incorrect: He travels to New York everyday.

Correct: He travels to New York every day.

Incorrect: Signing memos is part of his every day routine.

Correct: Signing memos is part of his everyday routine.

21. Mix of Subjects

Incorrect: Not only my colleagues but also my manager thinks that I should take a break.

Correct: Not only my colleagues but also my manager think that I should take a break.

Even Better: Not only my manager but also my colleagues think that I should take a break.

22. "I" vs. "Me"

Incorrect: He invited John and I to the meeting.

Correct: He invited John and me to the meeting.

Incorrect: John and me will attend the meeting.

Correct: John and I will attend the meeting.

Incorrect: Me and John will attend the meeting.

Correct: John and I will attend the meeting.

Incorrect: Between you and I, I think he is doing a terrible job.

Correct: Between you and me, I think he is doing a terrible job.

Incorrect: Stacy and her will write the report.

Correct: Stacy and she will write the report.

23. "Myself" and "I"

Incorrect: John and myself will tell him the result.

Correct: John and I will tell him the result.

Correct: I will write the report then John and myself will tell him the result.

24. "All together" vs. "Altogether"

Incorrect: We went altogether to the conference.

Correct: We went all together to the conference.

Incorrect: The project all together was ruined.

Correct: The project altogether was ruined.

25. "Maybe" vs. "May be"

Incorrect: He maybe coming late. You will have to wait.

Correct: He may be coming late. You will have to wait.

Incorrect: May be I will invite everyone.

Correct: Maybe I will invite everyone.

26. "Therefore" and "However"

Incorrect: I am not happy with my position, therefore I am going to resign.

Correct: I am not happy with my position; therefore, I am going to resign.

Incorrect: I am not happy with my position, however the pay is really good.

Correct: I am not happy with my position; however, the pay is really good.

27. Single quotes and double quotes

Incorrect: I requested for an 'up-sized' delivery.

Correct: I requested for an "up-sized" delivery.

Correct: John told me: "I requested for an 'up-sized' delivery."

28. "Who's" vs. "Whose"

Incorrect: That is our new partner who's contribution will be integral to our success.

Correct: That is our new partner whose contribution will be integral to our success.

Incorrect: That is our new partner whose a major contributor in our next project.

Correct: That is our new partner who's a major contributor in our next project.

29. "In addition" and "Along with"

Incorrect: John in addition to Stacy have resigned.

Correct: John in addition to Stacy has resigned.

Incorrect: John together with Stacy have resigned.

Correct: John together with Stacy has resigned.

Incorrect: John along with Stacy have resigned.

Correct: John along with Stacy has resigned.

Incorrect: John as well as Stacy have resigned.

Correct: John as well as Stacy has resigned.

30. "Past tense" vs. "Past perfect" vs. "Present perfect"

Incorrect: I took a taxi before they arrived.

Correct: I had taken a taxi before they arrived.

Weak: I had travelled to New York last year.

Strong: I travelled to New York last year.

Incorrect: I rented this apartment last month.

Correct: I have rented this apartment last month.

31. "Gone" vs. "Went"

Incorrect: They had went to the meeting before I arrived.

Correct: They had gone to the meeting before I arrived.

Incorrect: They have went to the meeting and I am still waiting got them to come back.

Correct: They have gone to the meeting and I am still waiting got them to come back.

32. The present and past perfect

Incorrect: They had came here before you.

Correct: They had come here before you.

Incorrect: They have came here many times before.

Correct: They have come here many times before.

33. Past Perfect

Incorrect: I had arrived to the meeting but it already ended.

Correct: I arrived to the meeting but it had already ended.

34. "Lie" vs. "Lie" vs. "Lay"

Incorrect: I like to lay down for a rest after every meeting.

Correct: I like to lie down for a rest after every meeting.

Incorrect: I lied down for rest yesterday.

Correct: I lay down for a rest yesterday.