6 Most Common Mistakes in English as a Second

Language (ESL)
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Too many mistakes in English as a Second Language? Here are easy and quick tips to avoid common errors in English
adjectives, articles, nouns, prepositions, subjects, and verbs.
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Non-native users of English as a Second Language almost always struggle with all aspects of
English speaking, reading, writing, and listening.
Many also commit errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

This is because there are aspects of English as a Second Language that make it very confusing and
utterly difficult for non-native English learners.
Some of these aspects that have become the sources of the most common mistakes in English as a
Second Language include:
1. Wrong Ordering of Adjectives in a Sentence
2. Incorrect Usage and Missing Articles
3. Mistakes in Count and Non-Count Nouns
4. Mistakes in Prepositions
5. Redundant Subjects
6. Mistakes in Verb Tenses and Forms
Below is a discussion of the most common errors in English as a Second Language and suggestions
on how to fix them easily and quickly.

1. Wrong Ordering of Adjectives in an English Sentence

In their study of English, English as a Second Language students learn that several adjectives can
be used to describe a subject in a single sentence.
In this case, English as a Second Language users must be very careful in placing the adjectives in
correct order in the sentence.
This is because there is such thing as wrong ordering of adjectives.
To be guided, people trying to learn English as a Second Language well must remember the
accepted order of adjectives.
Correct Order of Adjectives in an English Sentence
1. Articles = a, an, the
2. Judgment = magnificent, plain, impressive, dull
3. Size = enormous, minute, humongous, tiny
4. Shape = octagonal, elongated, triangular, short
5. Age = old, outdated, modern, current
6. Color = olive green, mustard, brownish, off-white
7. Nationality = Filipino, Spanish, Russian, Chinese
8. Material = concrete, wooden, watery, volcanic

Examples:
Wrong: Have you bought the blue Chinese antique vase?
Right: Have you bought the antique blue Chinese vase?

2. Incorrect or Missing Articles in an English Sentence

As simple as they look, articles are actually sources of many mistakes of English as a Second
Language learners.
This is because many learners of English as a Second Language are unaware that there are rules to
follow when deciding which article is most appropriate to use in an English sentence.
Rules for Choosing the Correct Articles in an English Sentence

A, An = used for a non-specific, singular, count noun

a dog, a song, an elephant, an announcement

The = used for specific, singular or plural nouns

the champion dog, the award-winning song, the largest elephant, the final announcement

Note that some non-count nouns require no articles at all

Example:
Wrong: I saw rainbow after the rain.
Right: I saw a rainbow after the rain.

3. Wrong Count and Non-Count Nouns in an English Sentence

Some students of English as a Second Language frequently commit mistakes when forming the
plural forms of English nouns.
It could be because these English as a Second Language users are confused about count and noncount nouns.
Count and Non-Count Nouns in English

Count Nouns = nouns that can be counted and transformed into plurals

one grandchild, five grandchildren, only child, several children

Non-count Nouns = nouns that cannot be or very difficult to count

beach sand, intelligence, hope, learning

Example:
Wrong: There is no allotted budget for brand-new office equipments.

Right: There is no allotted budget for brand-new office equipment.

4. Incorrect Prepositions Used in an English Sentence

Many people learning and speaking English as a Second Language commonly commit mistakes in
prepositions.
This could be due to the fact that there are so many prepositions that English as a Second
Language students must keep in mind.
To avoid prepositional mistakes, it would be best for learners of English as a Second Language to
learn more and more English expressions that make use of correct prepositions.
Example:
Wrong: On January each year, Chinese people celebrate the Spring Festival.
Right: In January each year, Chinese people celebrate the Spring Festival.

5. Repeating Subject in an English Sentence

Many users of English as a Second Language tend to repeat the subject in a sentence.
These English as a Second Language users commit this mistake by using a noun and its pronoun in
the same sentence.
Example:
Wrong: My homecountry it is very beautiful.
Right: My homecountry is very beautiful.

6. Erroneous Verb Tenses and Forms in an English Sentence

Many learners of English as a Second Language tend to commit many errors in verbs.
For one, many English as a Second Language learners commit mistakes in verb tenses.
To avoid these mistakes, they must think about which tense of the verb past, present, future, etc.
would be most appropriate in a sentence.
Example:
Wrong:Last week, I go to the hot springs resort and eat seaweeds.
Right:Last week, I went to a hot springs resort and ate seaweed.
Moreover, many English as a Second Language users use verbs ending in ing in the wrong way.
They also use infinitives to + base form of the verb in improper ways.
Example:

Wrong:We enjoy to swim in the river near our hometown.

Right:We enjoy swimming in the river near our hometown.
Copyright 2011 Kerlyn Bautista
All Rights Reserved

Useful and Helpful Hubs on Common Mistakes in the English Language

5 Common Grammar Errors in English as a Second Language and How to Correct Them

10 Commonly Misspelled Words that ESL Students Must Stop Misspelling Now

How to Correct the 5 Most Common Writing Mistakes in English as a Second Language

6 Common Punctuation Errors that Embarrass English as a Second Language Learners

5 Common Grammar Errors in English as a Second

Language and How to Correct Them

Know the most common grammatical mistakes in English as a Second Language and learn how to correct them easily and
quickly.
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Quick Fixes for Grammar Mistakes in ESL

English as a Second Language can be very tricky for non-native English users.
This is because non-native English users must keep in mind several English grammar rules in order
to use English as a Second Language effectively.
Below are some useful tips on how to avoid the common grammatical errors in English as a Second
Language.

By following these tips, non-native English speakers can dramatically improve the quality of their
writing, make their sentences concise, and their written messages clear.
Also, the following tips can help non-native English users easily and quickly spot grammatical errors,
reducing their dependence on grammar checkers.

1. Run-on Sentences
Learners of English as a Second Language must avoid writing run-on sentences.
A run-on sentence is composed of two sentences that are wrongfully combined in one sentence.
To combine two sentences in one sentence correctly, English as a Second Language students must
make use of commas, semi-colons, or connecting words.
People trying to study English as a Second Language can correct run-on sentences in four ways:

Separate the run-on sentence into two different sentences with the use of period.

Separate the two independent clauses in the run-on sentence using a semi-colon.

Separate the two independent clauses in the run-on sentence using a semi-colon and words
like therefore, thus, however, consequently, furthermore, also, and nevertheless.

Separate the run-on sentence into two different sentences with the use of comma and
connecting words like for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so.

Fix Run-on Sentences:

Example:
Incorrect:Tamara enjoys travelling she does not want to stay at home during vacations.
Correct:Tamara enjoys travelling. She does not want to stay at home during vacations.
Correct:Tamara enjoys travelling; she does not want to stay at home during vacations.
Correct: Tamara enjoys travelling, for she does not want to stay at home during vacations.
Correct:Tamara enjoys travelling; thus, she does not want to stay at home during vacations.

2. Incorrect Pronouns
People using English as a Second Language must be very careful in selecting the pronoun that they
use in their English sentence.
This is because many students of English as a Second Language commit mistakes in pronouns.
In English, the pronoun must agree in number with the nouns to which they refer.
Thus, students of English as a Second Language ought to remember that a singular pronoun must
refer to a singular noun.

A plural pronoun must refer to a plural noun.

Use the Correct Pronoun:
Example:
Incorrect: Everybody was asked to pay their bills on time.
Correct:Everybody was asked to pay his or her bills on time.

3. Wrong Use of Apostrophes

Some students of English as a Second Language make the unfortunate mistake of using
apostrophes in possessive pronouns.
The result of this action is an embarrassing grammatical mistake on the part of English as a Second
Language learner.
It is quite important for English as a Second Language learners to remember that apostrophes are
used to show possession.
Thus, apostrophes are not supposed to be used in possessive pronouns like hers, his, mine, my, our,
ours, their, or theirs.
Delete Apostrophes in Possessive Pronouns:
Example:
Incorrect:Our familys hotel room is next to theirs hotel room.
Correct:Our familys hotel room is next to their hotel room.
Correct:Our familys hotel room is next to theirs.

4. Unfitting Subject-Verb Agreement

English as a Second Language learners must always strive to make the subject in an English
sentence agree with its verb.
The reason for this is that some English as a Second Language learners often fail to use a singular
verb with a singular noun.
They also forget to use a plural verb with a plural subject.
Use Suitable Verb for Each Subject:
Example:
Incorrect:The tours is for first-time travelers.
Correct:The tours are for first-time travelers.

5. Out-of-Place Modifiers
English as a Second Language learners must place a modifier as close as possible to the word that
it modifies.
This is because some English as a Second Language learners make the mistake of placing a
modifier near a word that it does not modify.
Such mistake changes the meaning of an English sentence.
Place the Modifiers in their Right Places:
Example:
Incorrect: At young age, my pre-school teacher taught me how to be a confident English speaker.
Correct: At a young age, I learned from my pre-school teacher how to be a confident English
speaker.
Copyright 2011 Kerlyn Bautista
All Rights Reserved

10 Commonly Misspelled Words that ESL Students

Must Stop Misspelling Now
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ESL students should try to avoid misspellings in the English language. Misspellings can be embarrassing and upsetting.
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ESL or English as a Second Language students often commit mistakes in spelling English words.
These spelling mistakes may be caused by confusion, as some ESL students learn that many
English words have similar pronunciations but different spellings and meanings.
They may also be due to carelessness. Some ESL students do not bother to check their writing for
errors.
Whatever the reason might be, ESL students must avoid misspellings in their writing as much as
possible.
Misspellings, to put it bluntly, can make ESL students appear dim-witted or thoughtless.
This is especially true if the correct spelling of the misspelled word is actually very simple.
Below are 10 common spelling errors that ESL students must learn to stop misspelling beginning
today.

1. Accept / Except

I accept the blame for the troubles that happened during the picnic, except for one thing. I did not
bring home the lobsters!
Simply put, accept means receive willingly. It is a verb and therefore shows action.
Except is a preposition that has a different meaning from accept. It means exclude or leave out.
Example:
Wrong: Please except my apologies. I really thought you placed the live lobsters in your shorts.
Right: Please accept my apologies. I really thought you placed the live lobsters in your shorts.

2. Advice / Advise
He advised me to use mouthwash so my officemates would speak with me more often. Amazingly,
his advice worked!
Advice is a noun. It is used either as a subject or an object in a sentence. It means recommendation
or instruction.
Advise, on the other hand, is a verb. As an action word, advise means recommend or instruct.
Example:
Wrong: He gave you a bad advise. He should have told you to visit the dentist instead.
Right: He gave you a bad advice. He should have told you to visit the dentist instead.

3. All Right / Alright

Its not all right. Do not write alright ever again, my ESL teacher unsmilingly told me.
All right has many uses in English.
It can be an interjection that means no problem or so.
It can be an adjective that means good enough or feeling okay.
It can also be an adverb that means satisfactorily.
No matter how it is used, all right must always be spelled with two words all and right.
Alright, on the other hand, is a figment of people who casually misspell words and prefer to use
informal language in their writing.
Thus, ESL students must never write alright and should just stick with all right in formal writing.
Example:
Wrong: I hope you now feel alright. You should not take your teachers comments personally.

Right: I hope you now feel all right. You should not take your teachers comments personally.

4. Effect / Affect
To effect change in others, she must first positively affect her own ways.
Effect in English can be used either as a noun or as a verb.
As a noun, effect can mean result or appearance.
As a verb, effect can mean achieve or cause
Affect, for its part, is a verb.
It means to have an effect on or disturb.
Example:
Wrong: Her personal victory had a positive affect on womens rights.
Right: Her personal victory had a positive effect on womens rights.

5. Every Day / Everyday

It happens everyday. Every day, hed raid the refrigerator for my black chocolates!
Confusing as they may seem, every day and everyday have two very similar but still different uses.
Everyday can either be an adverb or an adjective that means daily or on a daily basis
Every day refers to each day.
Example:
Wrong: Everyday is an opportunity for him to stop pocketing my chocolates.
Right: Every day is an opportunity for him to stop pocketing my chocolates.

ESL students must be careful in spelling English words. Misspellings are embarrassing and can make ESL students look
dim-witted.
Source: graur razvan ionut

6. Its / Its
Its not fair that I should eat fish each day. Its taste is nothing like popcorns!
Its is a contraction for two words, which are either It is or It has.
Its is a pronoun that shows possession. It means belonging to it or of it.
To know when to use Its in a sentence, check if you can replace it with either It is or It has and still
keep the sentence grammatically correct.
If the sentence would be incorrect, then probably the correct word to use is Its.
Example:
Wrong: Its strange that you should be complaining about eating fish, which is very healthy.
Right: Its strange that you should be complaining about eating fish, which is very healthy.

7. Lose / Loose
Will there ever be a time when she can lose weight and stop wearing loose shirts?
Lose is a verb that can have several definitions.
It can mean misplace as in "She will lose her luggage if she leaves it unattended."
It can mean be defeated as in "She will lose the bet if she does not get to the airport early."
It can also mean leave behind as in "Lose the extra baggage so you can travel comfortably."
Finally, it can mean waste as in "She loses a lot of money when she plays in the casino."
Loose, in contrast, is an adjective.
It can mean baggy as in "She wore loose pants so she could feel comfy."
It can mean unfastened as in "Her shoe buckle went loose as she walked the ramp."
It can also mean lax as in "She is loose and will not scold you for misplacing her shoe."
Finally, it can also mean assorted as in "Her shoe is now a loose item and does not have a match."
Example:
Wrong: Loose the big bag. You wont need it for short travels.
Right: Lose the big bag. You wont need it for short travels.

8. Their / Theyre
Theyre packing but cannot fit their belongings for the 2-day vacation in 15 trunks!

Their is an adjective that shows possession. It shows that a particular noun belongs to them.
Theyre is a contraction of the words they and are. It is used as a subject with verb in a sentence.
To check whether or not these words are correctly used in a sentence, it helps to do the following:

Try replacing the word their with our. If the sentence still makes sense, then theyre is the
correct word to use.

Try replacing the word theyre with they are. If the sentence still makes sense, then there is
indeed the correct word to use.

Example:
Wrong: Their travelling light.
Right: Theyre travelling light.

9. Whos / Whose
Whos footing the bill? Whose credit card debt is the smallest?
Whos is a contraction of the two words who and is. It is used as a subject with a verb in a
sentence.
Whose, for its part, is used as an adjective that shows the possessive form of the word who.
Example:
Wrong: Whose willing to pick up the tab? Im afraid I lost my purse.
Right: Whos willing to pick up the tab? Im afraid I lost my purse.

10. Your / Youre

Youre doing the laundry today. Your soiled clothes stink!
Your is an adjective that shows possession of the word you.
Youre is the contraction of the words you and are. This word is often used as a subject with a
verb in a sentence.
Example:
Wrong: I dont feel like doing the laundry today. Your not mad, are you?
Right: I dont feel like doing the laundry today. Youre not mad, are you?
Copyright 2011 Kerlyn Bautista
All Rights Reserved

How to Correct the 5 Most Common Writing Mistakes

in English as a Second Language
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All common writing mistakes in English as a Second Language can be corrected and avoided.
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Writing in English as a Second Language can be very difficult for non-native English speakers.
This is because English has its own set of rules in terms of constructing sentences and paragraphs.
These rules in English are oftentimes different from those of the mother tongue of non-native English
speakers who are trying to learn English as a Second Language.
Now, writing mistakes in English as a Second Language commonly happen when non-native English
speakers use the rules of their mother tongue rather than those of English when writing.
These mistakes may have several negative effects:

They distract readers from what is actually being said in the sentences or paragraphs.

They annoy readers and make them skip reading the written output of non-native English
speakers.

They lead to mix-up or falling-out.

They give the impression that non-native English speakers are a little careless for not bothering
to check their writing for errors.

Below are some of the most common writing mistakes in English as a Second Language and
suggestions of how to avoid them.

1. Sentence Fragmentation
Users of English as a Second Language often commit the writing mistake of fragmenting their
sentences.
A sentence fragment is simply a group of words that cannot stand as a sentence and therefore does
not have a complete meaning.
It cannot stand as a sentence because it does not have an independent clause, which is a group of
words that can either be part of a sentence or stand by itself as one sentence.
It is either a phrase or a dependent clause.
To avoid fragmenting sentences, learners of English as a Second Language must connect a
sentence fragment with an independent clause.
Example:
Wrong: Because they did not have a child.
Correct:Because they did not have a child, they adopted three stray kittens.
Note: There are cases when sentence fragments are stylistically effective in writing informal
sentences.

2. Capitalization
Capitalization baffles users of English as a Second Language.
To avoid mistakes in capitalization, non-native English speakers must remember the 15 instances in
which to capitalize words:

first word of the beginning of a sentence

first word in a quoted sentence

proper nouns or specific names of people, places, or events

proper names of family relationships

names of God, religious figures, or holy books

titles that come before the names

names of directions that have become proper names

days of the week, months of the year, holidays

major words in titles

seasons used in titles

countries, languages, and nationalities

members of established organizations

era and events

trademarks

abbreviations of proper names

Example:
Wrong:My mother in the US said, move to southwest and take care of your aunt Betty.
Right:My mother in the US said, Move to Southwest and take care of your Aunt Betty.

3. Misspellings
There are plenty of English words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings.
These words frequently puzzle students of English as a Second Language, who then commit
misspellings.
To avoid misspellings, students of English as a Second Language must know the definitions of
words and must use appropriate words in sentences.
Example:
Wrong:He wore lose shirts when he was overweight.
Right:He wore loose shirts when he was overweight.

4. The vs. A
As simple as they seem, the articles The and A are actually sources of common mistakes among
writers using English as a Second Language.
They are repeatedly interchanged.
To avoid mistakes in these articles, it is best for English as a Second Language writers to keep the
following in mind:
The: used to refer to a definite noun or phrase

A: used to refer to an indefinites noun or phrase

Example:
Wrong: A man who delivered this box said that it is for you.
Right: The man who delivered this box said that it is for you.

5. A vs. An
There are many instances when English as a Second Language learners also use the
articles Aand An improperly.
In general, A and An are used to refer to singular indefinite nouns.
However, there are rules to follow on which one to use:

A + singular noun starting with a consonant = a crocodile

An + singular noun starting with a vowel = an albatross

A + singular noun starting with a consonant sound = a unicorn

An + singular noun starting with silent h = an honest man

A + singular noun starting with enunciated h = a horse

Example:
Wrong: We boarded the plane after waiting for a hour.
Right: We boarded the plane after waiting for an hour.
Copyright 2011 Kerlyn Bautista
All Rights Reserved

6 Common Punctuation Errors that Embarrass

English as a Second Language Learners
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Punctuation errors can be embarrassing for learners of English as a Second Language but they are something that can be
easily avoided.
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Punctuation errors are very subtle mistakes that users of English as a Second Language often make.
While English as a Second Language students use up much time checking for mistakes in grammar
and vocabulary when writing, they often overlook punctuation.
Yet punctuation errors can dent their reputation as much as grammatical and vocabulary lapses
could.
To put it bluntly, poor grasp of basic punctuation rules can make them look sloppy or careless.
Below is a list of common punctuation errors that often bedevil students of English as a Second
Language and ways to fix these errors easily and quickly.

1. Comma Splice
Many users of English as a Second Language try to use comma to link two independent clauses,
making them commit the common punctuation error called comma splice.

An independent clause can stand as a sentence because its idea is complete. It can be punctuated
with an end-stop punctuation like period, exclamation mark, question mark, or even a semi-colon.
To connect two independent clauses in one sentence, do this:
Use any of the correlative conjunctions called the FANBOYS: f = for, a = and, n = nor, b = but, y =
yet, so = so.
To separate the two independent clauses into two separate sentences, simply use the appropriate
end-stop punctuation.
Example:
Wrong:
He had planned to confess that he ate all the chocolates, he ate more to feel brave.
Right:
He had planned to confess that he ate all the chocolates, so he ate more to feel brave.
He had planned to confess that he ate all the chocolates. He ate more to feel brave.
He had planned to confess that he ate all the chocolates; he ate more to feel brave.

2. No Comma after Introductory Element

Learners of English as a Second Language often forget to use a comma after theintroductory
element that brings in the main part of their sentence, pushing them to commit yet another
punctuation error.
To fix this problem, it is important to always use a comma after the introductory element and before
the main part of the sentence.
Example:
Wrong:
Honestly her chicken curry is the spiciest in the whole continent.
Right:
Honestly, her chicken curry is the spiciest in the whole continent.

3. Comma in Restrictive Element

Still another punctuation error that English as a Second Language learners frequently make is the
use of comma with a restrictive element in a sentence.

A restrictive element can be a clause, phrase, or word that modifies a word in a sentence and alters
the meaning of a sentence when deleted.
A quick fix to this mistake is to simply avoid using a comma in restrictive elements.
Example:
Wrong:
He bought the engagement ring, that she badly wanted, at the black market.
Right:
He bought the engagement ring that she badly wanted at the black market.
He bought the engagement ring, which she badly wanted, at the black market.

4. Apostrophe to Form Plurals

Learners of English as a Second Language make the grave mistake of using apostrophes to form
the plural form of a word, making them commit a very common punctuation error.
Apostrophes are used to show possession (Dales bike) or contraction (Dales coming up with a new
book about the history of bicycles). They are not used to form plurals.
To form plurals, simply add s, es, or words that show plural form.
Example:
Wrong:
Its going to be a fun day! The dogs are going to the beach.
Right:
Its going to be a fun day! The dogs are going to the beach.

5. Too Many Punctuation Marks and Ellipsis

To express strong emotions like surprise, shock or disbelief, people who are learning English as a
Second Language use several punctuation marks at the end of their sentence.
This causes them to make a mistake in punctuations.
To avoid this error, limit punctuation marks to only one.
Moreover, avoid using exclamation marks in formal writing or writing for business, academe, or other
professions.
Example:

Wrong:
When are you going to deliver the box of vinegar I ordered?!#!!??
Right:
When are you going to deliver the box of vinegar I ordered?
Please let me know when I can expect the box of vinegar I ordered.
The same rule applies with ellipsis, which should only have three dots.
Example:
Wrong:
Minty, our monkey, is sleeping
Right:
Minty, our monkey, is sleeping.

6. Quoting for Stress

Just like native English speakers, English as a Second Language learners would like to stress
certain important words in their sentence.
Unfortunately, they do this by using quotation marks, which is not exactly the correct thing to do.
To highlight certain words in a sentence, use boldface type, capitalize all the letters, or even change
the fonts color.
Better yet, use adjectives or adverbs to draw attention to certain words.
Using quotation marks to highlight words can result in confusion or even doubt.
Yes, this is because quotation marks are often used to denote irony.
Quotation marks are also used for quoting words, sentences, or reported speech.
Example:
Wrong:
This is the best wedding of the year!
Right:
This is the best wedding of the year!
Copyright 2011 Kerlyn Bautista

All Rights Reserved