Top 9 English Speaking Errors and How to Fix Them

The quickest path to mastering English speaking skills is to embrace mistakes—lots of them! Mistakes are invaluable to language learners, as long as you recognize what went wrong and adjust your approach for next time. Remember, you can only learn from your errors if you’re aware of them!

That’s why we’ve gathered insights from university professors, English tutors, and popular YouTube educators to highlight nine common speaking mistakes that English learners often make.

While perfection in English isn’t the goal, this article will help you navigate some of the most challenging aspects of the language, allowing you to sound more natural. Plus, any errors you do make will be uniquely yours! Continue reading to enhance your skills, or check out LingualNeeds for beginner-friendly online English lessons.

Common English mistakes (and how to avoid them) 

Many English errors arise when non-native speakers attempt to translate phrases directly from their native language. The specific mistakes you might make often relate to the differences in grammar and structure between your first language and English. Here are some of the most frequent pitfalls to watch out for:

1. Mixing up “lend” and “borrow” 

Professor Paul Brians from Washington State University has developed a unique encyclopedia highlighting common English language mistakes. One notable example he shares is the frequent confusion between the words “borrow,” “loan,” and “lend.” For instance, a non-native speaker might mistakenly say:

• Can you borrow me an eraser? 

When what they mean to say is: 

• Can you loan me a eraser? 

In standard English, “to borrow” refers to the act of taking something from someone with the intention of returning it later. Conversely, “to lend” or “to loan” involves giving something to someone else temporarily.

How to avoid this mistake 

Ask yourself “Which direction is this object moving?” 

← lend ←  [me] ← borrow ←

• If an object is moving away from you, you’re lending it
• If an object is moving towards you, you’re borrowing it

You can identify the correct word by looking at the prepositions that accompany it. For instance, we say we lend something **to** someone, while we borrow something **from** someone.

2. Confusing “me too” and “me either”

Moujahid B., a tutor at LingualNeeds, has observed that many of his students struggle to grasp the distinction between “me too” and “me either.”

The distinction between “me too” and “me either” lies in their positivity and negativity. “Me too” expresses agreement, as in when someone says, “I like traveling,” you can respond with “me too” to indicate you share that sentiment. In contrast, “me either” conveys disagreement or a negative response, highlighting a different context in conversation.

Conversely, if you express that you don’t enjoy extreme sports, I might respond with “me either,” indicating that I share your sentiment. This phrase effectively conveys that I also dislike extreme sports. Remember, “either” is the correct choice here, not “too.”

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How to avoid this mistake 

In English classes, a fundamental lesson is how to express agreement. When someone makes a positive statement, you can simply say, “me too.” However, if you’re responding to a negative statement, the correct phrase is “me neither.” To help you remember this distinction, focus on key trigger words that signal negative statements, such as:

• I don’t like…
• I hate…
• I can’t stand…

3. Saying “congratulations” on someone’s birthday

ESL expert LinguaMarina notes that many English learners often find themselves making awkward comments when wishing their friends a happy birthday.

When celebrating a birthday, it’s common to say “happy birthday” and send warm wishes, but it’s important to note that saying “congratulations” isn’t appropriate in English. The term “congratulations” is reserved for recognizing someone’s accomplishments. Since a birthday is a personal milestone rather than an achievement, it doesn’t warrant that kind of praise. This confusion often arises when people translate from their native language into English.

How to avoid this mistake 

When celebrating someone’s birthday, it’s best to use phrases like “happy birthday!” or “I hope you have a wonderful day!” rather than saying “congratulations.” Reserve “congratulations” for significant achievements in your friends’ lives, such as a wedding, a job promotion, or purchasing a new home—these moments mark exciting new beginnings!

LinguaMarina emphasizes that you can easily avoid such mistakes by focusing on “thinking in English” instead of translating directly from your native language. This approach can help you communicate more naturally and effectively.

4. Mixing up “since” and “for” 

Vanessa, the creative mind behind the YouTube channel English with Vanessa, points out that even seasoned English speakers often struggle to distinguish between “since” and “for.”

Many people say, “I have been living here since three years,” but this phrase contains a common mistake. While starting with “I have been living here” is an elegant way to express your experience, the correct way to finish the sentence is “for three years.” So, the complete, accurate sentence should read, “I have been living here for three years.”

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How to avoid this mistake 

Unfortunately, there’s no magic hack with this one! You just have to learn the two use cases of since and for. 

For = the length or the duration of time something has been happening.

• I have been a doctor for five years 

Since = point when something started happening, which is still happening today. 

•  I have been a doctor since 2016.  

If you’re having trouble grasping the difference, consider listening to “Since You’ve Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson while following along with the lyrics. You’ll see that the word “since” refers to an event that began in the past—specifically, Kelly’s breakup with her unreliable boyfriend—that continues to impact her life today. It might not be your favorite tune, but if it helps you remember, it’s worth a shot!

5. Saying “eat” rather than “take” for medicine 

Max from Learn English with Max, an expert in Australian English, points out that many non-native English speakers often confuse their verb usage when discussing medicine and drugs. For example, they may mistakenly say:

• I have a headache, so I eat some painkillers

But the correct verb to use is:

• I have a headache, so I took some painkillers 

She explains:

In English, the verb “take” specifically refers to the consumption of medicine, pills, tablets, vitamins, and even illegal drugs. However, when it comes to food and beverages, we don’t use “take”; instead, we reserve this term solely for medicinal contexts.

How to avoid this mistake 

Practice makes perfect! The next time you’re feeling under the weather, try saying this phrase out loud in English: “I am going to take some medication.” For an enjoyable way to improve your language skills, consider watching an English-language TV series set in a hospital, like *Scrubs* or *Grey’s Anatomy*. This will immerse you in the correct terminology related to medicine, helping you reinforce your learning through engaging content!

6. Mixing up “lay” and “lie” 

According to LingualNeeds tutor Leonah, many English students get confused about the difference between “lay” and “lie”.  

“Lay and lie—these two three-letter words have puzzled both native and non-native English speakers for more than 700 years! If you find them confusing, you’re certainly not alone. The key to mastering their usage lies in understanding the distinction between transitive and intransitive verbs.”

Check out Leonah’s full explanation of the difference between lay and lie here:

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How to avoid this mistake 

Understanding the distinction between “laying” and “lying” can be quite perplexing! If you’re still uncertain, check out the detailed explanation on LingualNeeds’s Ask a Tutor forum. As tutor Leonah explains,

“Lay” means to place something down flat, it is transitive and requires an object to act upon. As in:

• He lay down his sword. 

The term “lie” refers to the act of resting flat against a surface. As an intransitive verb, it doesn’t need a direct object to function. Essentially, “lie” conveys the idea of something either settling into position or remaining there on its own.

• I decided to lie down. 

Once you understand these definitions and want to make them stick long-term, you can use this mnemonic (memory tool): 

• LAY —> pLAce
• LIE —>  recLIne
  

7. Using “nobody” when they mean “anybody” 

Hridhaan, a presenter from Learn English with Let’s Talk, highlights a frequent mistake among non-native English speakers: saying “I didn’t meet nobody.” This phrase is incorrect due to a double negative. He clarifies:

Many people might say, “I didn’t meet nobody,” but that’s actually incorrect. The right phrase is “I didn’t meet anybody.” Why is this important? Because “nobody” shouldn’t be used alongside “not” in a sentence that’s already negative. In English, we avoid using double negatives, so instead of adding another negative, you simply say, “I didn’t meet anybody.”

How to avoid this mistake 

Explore the concept of “double negatives” in English and understand why they are viewed as incorrect. This insight will also assist you in avoiding mistake #2: the mix-up between “me too” and “me either.”

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8. Using “the” when making general statements 

Absolutely! We could easily fill this entire list with articles. These seemingly insignificant words can pose a challenge for non-native English speakers. As Dan from BBC Learning English points out, many of them tend to use the definite article “the” when making general statements, which can lead to confusion.

This classic language challenge continues to perplex even advanced learners! A common mistake is using the definite article “the” with plural or uncountable nouns. In English, when we refer to a category as a whole, we typically omit “the.” For instance, the phrase “life is beautiful” is a perfect example of this rule in action.

If you read this article, you might be interested in our article titled Simplified Guide to Conjugating Italian Verbs Easily.

Using “the” indicates specificity, meaning we are referring to a particular item or individual. For instance, in the sentence, “I’m reading about the life of Michael Jackson,” the use of “the” shows that we’re talking about one specific person.

How to avoid this mistake 

Keep in mind that using a definite article requires referring to something specific! To help you grasp this concept, try memorizing some clear examples of general statements, such as:

• Life is beautiful
• War is horrible
• Something that makes me anxious is climate change   

9. Using incorrect grammar in positive statements 

English teacher Aly notes that many of his students tend to say phrases like “I like so much X” and “I very like X” when expressing their enjoyment. It’s understandable that enthusiasm can sometimes lead to grammar slips! Here’s his insight on the matter:

Many of my students enthusiastically say, “I like so much dogs!” While I share their love for dogs, this phrase is incorrect. Another common mistake, especially among Russian speakers, is saying, “I very like dogs.” How can we correct these errors? If you want to use “so much,” it should come after the object, resulting in the correct phrase: “I like dogs so much!” Alternatively, instead of “very,” use a more suitable modifier: “I really like dogs!”

How to avoid this mistake 

Keep in mind that direct translations from your native language to English are seldom effective. Even if you’re an advanced learner, having a few template sentences at your fingertips can be incredibly useful. For example:

• I really like pancakes.
• I absolutely love pancakes.
• I think pancakes are great.

How can I speak English correctly?

Mastering English is all about passion and a keen eye for detail. Embrace the intricacies of grammar and the nuanced meanings of words, and don’t shy away from feedback—learning from your mistakes is key to improvement!

Fortunately, there is a wealth of enthusiastic experts available online who can motivate you to refine your English skills. Engaging in conversational lessons with an online tutor offers you the opportunity to receive real-time feedback, helping you enhance your speaking abilities and express yourself more naturally.

No one, not even native speakers, uses English perfectly all the time! However, by exploring lists of common mistakes like this one, you’re taking a significant step toward enhancing your accuracy in the language. Keep up the great work on your journey to mastering English!

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