Common English Language Mistakes

Common English Language Mistakes
-part 1-
Prof. Elena Ramona Marinescu
This article focuses on the common mistakes made by English learners. When we are learning
a language, we tend to get confused between some words or phrases and are unsure about
their correct usage.
Because English is such a complex language, it is fraught with traps that we all frequently fall
into. With this list I hope to clear up at least a few of the confusing words we use every day.
This is a list of some of the more common errors people make with English.
1. Practice vs. Practise
In US English, practice is used as either a verb (doing word), or noun (naming word). Hence,
a doctor has a practice, and a person practices the violin. In UK English, practice is a noun,
and practise is a verb. A doctor has a practice, but his daughter practises the piano.
2. Bought vs. Brought
Bought relates to buying something. Brought relates to bringing something. For example, I
bought a bottle of wine which had been brought over from France. The easy way to remember
which is which is that bring start with ‘br’ and brought also does. Buy and bought start with
‘b’ only. This is one of those difficult ones that a spelling checker won’t catch.
3. Your vs. You’re
Your means “belonging to you”. You’re means “you are”. The simplest way to work out the
correct one to use is to read out your sentence. For example, if you say “you’re jeans look
nice” expand the apostrophe. The expanded sentence would read “you are jeans look nice” –
obviously nonsensical. Remember, in English, the apostrophe often denotes an abbreviation.
4. Its vs. It’s
As in the case above, the apostrophe denotes an abbreviation: it’s = it is. Its means “belongs
to it”. The confusion arises here because we also use an apostrophe in English to denote
possession – except in this case; if you want to say “the cat’s bag” you say “its bag” not “it’s
bag”. “It’s” always means “it is” or “it has”. “It’s a hot day.” “It’s been fun seeing you.”
5. Two / To / Too
With a ‘w’ it means the number 2. With one ‘o’ it refers to direction: ‘to France’. With two
‘o’s it means “also” or refers to quantity – for example: “There is too much money”. A good
way to remember this one is that too has two ‘o’s – i.e., it has more ‘o’s than ‘to’ – therefore it
refers to quantity.
6. Desert vs. Dessert

This is a confusing one because in English an ‘s’ on its own is frequently pronounced like a
‘z’ and two ‘s’s are usually pronounced as a n ‘s’ (for example: prise, prissy). In this case,
desert follow the rule – it means a large stretch of sand. However, dessert is pronounced “dez-
urt” with the emphasis on the second syllable – ie, something we eat as part of our meal. To
make matters worse, when a person leaves the army without permission, it is spelt desert. So,
let’s sum up:
desert (pronounced dez’-it): dry land

desert (pronounced dez-urt’): abandon
dessert (pronounced dez-urt’): yum yum! – remember, two ‘s’s because you want second
helpings!
7. Dryer vs. Drier
If your clothes are wet, put them in a clothes dryer. That will make them drier. A hair dryer
also makes hair drier.
8. Chose vs. Choose
This is actually quite an easy one to remember – in English we generally pronounce ‘oo’ as it
is written – such as “moo”. The same rule applies here: choose is pronounced as it is written
(with a ‘z’ sound for the ‘s’) – and chose is said like “nose”. Therefore, if you had to choose
to visit Timbuktu, chances are you chose to fly there. Chose is the past tense, choose is the
present tense.
9. Lose vs. Loose
This one is confusing. In this case, contrary to normal rules of English, the single ‘s’ in loose
is pronounced like an ‘s’ – as in wearing trousers that are too loose. Lose on the other hand,
relates to loss – for example: “I hope we don’t lose this game”. A good way to remember this
is that in the word “lose” you have lost the second ‘o’ from loose. If you can’t remember a
rule that simple, you are a loser!
Bibliography:
https://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/
http://litreactor.com/columns/20-common-grammar-mistakes-that-almost-everyone-gets-
wrong?page=1
http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/language/english-usage-errors.htm

Common English Language Mistakes

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Common English Language Mistakes

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Common English Language Mistakes

1. Practice vs. Practise

2. Bought vs. Brought

3. Your vs. You’re

4. Its vs. It’s

6. Desert vs. Dessert

desert (pronounced dez’-it): dry land

7. Dryer vs. Drier

8. Chose vs. Choose

9. Lose vs. Loose

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