Avoiding Common Mistakes in English Speaking: A Guide for ESL Learners

There’s no such thing as perfect English. No one talks flawlessly all the time—not even native speakers. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t strive to speak more accurately, though. Once your English is at a level where you can communicate without effort, the best way to improve your English speaking skills is to learn from your mistakes. The key is to understand what went wrong and make a different choice next time.

However, you can only learn from your mistakes if you are aware of them. That’s why I compiled a list of some of the most frequent speaking errors made by English learners. Hopefully, this list will help you deal with some of the trickiest parts of the language with more confidence and naturalness. This way, any errors you do make will be uniquely your own and less frequent!

Vocabulary common mistakes in English

There are some typical errors that people make all the time. Luckily, all you have to do is to get familiar with them, learn the correct phrases, and practice them for a while.

Here are some frequent vocabulary issues ESL learners often face, along with tips on how to remember specific words and phrases to avoid these mix-ups.

Their, there, and they’re—confusing homophones

Confusing homophones like “their,” “there,” and “they’re” can lead to misunderstandings about what you mean. “Their” indicates possession, “there” refers to a place, and “they’re” is a contraction of “they are.” Using these incorrectly can confuse the listener about what you’re referring to. To avoid this, make sentences using each word in context and try the Word Trainer feature in the LiveXP app to memorize new words and phrases more effectively.

Angry vs. upset—mixing up synonyms with different connotations

Mixing up synonyms such as angry and upset can change how your feelings are understood. Angry implies a stronger emotion than upset. Overstating your feelings by using the wrong words can lead to misunderstandings. Collect similar words by their intensity and practice using them in sentences to grasp their subtle differences.

False friends

False friends, words that look similar in two languages but have different meanings, can cause confusion. For example, “actual” in English means “real,” while in Spanish, “actual” means “current.” Misinterpreting these can muddle timelines or facts. Make a list of false friends with their meanings in both languages and review them regularly to avoid these errors.

Accept vs. except—similar-sounding words

Confusing words that sound similar, like “accept” and “except,” can completely change the meaning of a sentence. Saying “I except the offer” instead of “I accept the offer” alters the intended message. Practice pronunciation and use flashcards with definitions and examples to differentiate these words.

Misusing phrasal verbs

Misusing phrasal verbs like look up (to search) instead of look after (to care for) can change the meaning of a sentence. For example, “look up the baby” instead of “look after the baby” gives a completely different meaning. Study phrasal verbs in groups and practice them in various contexts to understand their meanings and uses.

Incorrect collocations

Incorrect collocations, such as “do a decision” instead of “make a decision,” sound unnatural and can distract from your intended message. Collocations are words that naturally go together. Learning these as chunks and practicing using them in sentences can help. Resources like collocation dictionaries are very useful for this.

Incorrect use of idiomatic expressions

Using idiomatic expressions incorrectly, like saying “drop the beans” instead of “spill the beans,” can confuse listeners and disrupt communication. Idioms don’t always make sense literally, so learning them in context is important. Practice using idioms in conversations, and watch movies or read books where idioms are used naturally to understand their correct usage.

Advise vs. advice—misunderstanding word forms

Misunderstanding word forms, such as using “advise” (verb) instead of “advice” (noun), makes sentences grammatically incorrect and unclear. Studying word families and practicing using different forms in sentences can help you understand the correct usage. Pay attention to how these words are used in reading materials.

Fewer vs. less

Confusing “fewer” and “less” can lead to incorrect sentences. “Fewer” is used with countable nouns (e.g., fewer apples), while “less” is used with uncountable nouns (e.g., less water). Using them interchangeably can sound awkward and unclear. Practice using “fewer” and “less” correctly in different contexts to get comfortable with their usage.

Borrow vs. lend—confusing verbs with similar meanings

Confusing verbs with similar meanings, like borrow and lend, can lead to misunderstandings. “Borrow” means to take something temporarily, while “lend” means to give something temporarily. Using them incorrectly can cause confusion about who is giving and who is receiving. Create example sentences for each verb to understand their proper usage.

To avoid these common mistakes, try using mnemonics to create memorable associations for tricky words. Flashcards are also great for regular review, and the Word Trainer feature in the LiveXP app is invaluable when it comes to memorizing vocabulary. At the same time, you can learn vocabulary in context by reading and listening to native speakers. Regular practice, like using new words in conversations and writing, helps a lot. Record yourself using new vocabulary and listen to catch any errors. To make everything easier, study with a language tutor for feedback. If you talk to a tutor regularly, they’ll let you know which specific mistakes you make during conversations, and they’ll help you stop making them.

How to speak English without mistakes

Many English errors occur when non-native speakers try to translate phrases from their native language directly. The specific errors you might make often depend on how your first language’s grammar and structure differ from English.

Some of the errors we make while speaking may surprise us. Sometimes, we make mistakes even though we’re fully aware of the rules we break and might even do well on a test. My own grammar knowledge sometimes seems inactive as I speak, which is incredibly frustrating. The same happens with vocabulary. I noticed a few years ago that, despite a wealth of synonyms I’m well aware of and use regularly in writing, I used to sound as if my vocabulary was incredibly narrow.

If you have the same problem I used to have, memorizing more words and grammar rules won’t help. Working with an English tutor is the only way to activate your entire knowledge and start using it as you speak.

For the fastest results, LiveXP developed the Personalized Learning Path. It is an AI-powered system that generates custom learning programs for you to thrive.

You can try it for free. Do a test to assess your current English proficiency and get a personalized plan. Then, pick a tutor, get a subscription, and study and practice in an extremely supportive environment. Once you’re ready, pass the exams that check your progress toward the goals you’ve set at the beginning.

Most importantly, following a Personalized Learning Path will help you gain active knowledge. If you practice and talk with a tutor, you simply won’t make the mistakes I’m about to list. Now, let’s see the most common errors in spoken English that most of us (used to) make.

Common grammar errors in spoken English with explanations

Here are some of the most common stumbling blocks:

Verb tense errors

Verb tense errors are one of the most frequent mistakes ESL learners make. These errors occur when the wrong tense is used, leading to confusion about when an action takes place. For example, saying “I go to the store yesterday” instead of “I went to the store yesterday” mixes present tense with a past time reference, creating a confusing timeline.

To avoid making verb tense errors as you speak, practice forming sentences in different tenses. For instance, for the verb “to go,” in the present tense, say, “I go to the store,” in the past tense, say, “I went to the store,” and in the future tense, say, “I will go to the store.” You certainly know this, but if you still make this error—try practicing with an English tutor on LiveXP.

Subject-verb agreement

Subject-verb agreement errors occur when the subject of a sentence does not match the verb in number or person. For instance, saying “He go to school” instead of “He goes to school” is incorrect because the subject “He” is singular, and the verb should be “goes,” not “go.”

Always ensure that the verb matches the subject in both number and person. For example, “She runs” (singular subject) versus “They run” (plural subject). Practicing with different subjects and verbs can help. Try writing sentences and checking if the subject and verb agree. Additionally, reading aloud can help you hear if something sounds off, which can be a cue that the subject and verb do not agree.

Preposition mistakes

Prepositions can be tricky for ESL learners because their use often doesn’t follow a clear rule and can vary between languages. A common mistake is using the wrong preposition, such as saying “I am good in English” instead of “I am good at English.”

First, familiarize yourself with common prepositional phrases and their correct uses. For example, “interested in,” “good at,” and “afraid of.” Creating flashcards with common prepositional phrases and their correct usage can be very helpful, but not as much as live tuition.

Article errors

ESL learners often misuse articles (a, an, the) or omit them entirely. For example, saying “She is teacher” instead of “She is a teacher.” Articles are important because they define whether something is specific or general.

To begin with, remember that “a” and “an” are used for non-specific items, while “the” is used for specific items. “A” is used before consonant sounds (e.g., “a cat’), and “an” is used before vowel sounds (e.g., “an apple”). Practice using articles by describing everyday objects around you. For example, “I have a book” (any book, non-specific) versus “I have the book” (a specific book known to the listener).

Word order

English has a specific order for words in a sentence, typically Subject-Verb-Object (SVO). Saying “She can very well sing” instead of “She can sing very well” is an example of incorrect word order.

To get the word order right, think about the basic structure: who is doing the action (subject), what they are doing (verb), and what they are doing to (object). For instance, “She (subject) can sing (verb) very well (adverb).” Practice forming sentences with this structure and check if they sound natural. Reading English books or articles can help you see how native speakers naturally order their words.

Double negatives

Double negatives occur when two negative words are used in the same sentence, which can make the meaning unclear or incorrect. For example, “I don’t need no help” should be “I don’t need any help” or “I need no help.”

This is fairly easy to avoid: just use only one negative word per sentence. If you start with a negative word like “don’t,” use positive words afterward. Practice rephrasing sentences with double negatives into correct forms. For example, change “I can’t find nothing” to “I can’t find anything.”

Mixing up adjectives and adverbs

ESL learners often mix up adjectives and adverbs. Adjectives describe nouns, while adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Saying “She sings beautiful” instead of “She sings beautifully” is a common mistake.

Adjectives and adverbs are very similar, but most often, an adverb has the form of adjective + “ly” (“quick” and “quickly,” “slow” and “slowly,” “gentle” and gently”). Just keep in mind that some adjectives, like “lovely” also end with “-ly.” Practice by turning adjectives into adverbs and using them in sentences. For example, “She is a quick runner” (adjective) versus “She runs quickly” (adverb). If that’s too challenging, let a tutor help you with it.

Inconsistent pronunciation

Inconsistent pronunciation can make it hard for others to understand you. Pronouncing words differently each time can confuse listeners. For example, saying “read” as /riːd/ one time and /rɛd/ another time in the same context.

To improve pronunciation, practice consistently. Use online dictionaries that have audio pronunciations to hear how words should sound. Record yourself speaking and compare your pronunciation to native speakers. Focus on difficult sounds and practice them until they feel natural.

Stop making common mistakes when speaking English

These were just some of the most frequent mistakes that people make in spoken English. To make the list more comprehensive, I need to mention others, such as using the base form of a verb, omission of a subject, incorrect intonation, incorrect comparatives and superlatives, gender mistakes, literal translations, trouble with possessive forms, gerunds, infinitives, passive voice, and much more.

If you recognize some of these, there are two steps that you should take now. (If you already know all the rules, but you still don’t speak correctly, you can jump to step two).

1. Learn the rules. Take a good reference book, and try to understand everything. Then practice—either on your own or with an English tutor. (Just a hint—a tutor will make your life easier at this phase.) Just make sure to know everything you should know at your target level of proficiency.
2. Apply the rules as you speak. Practice, practice, and practice some more. Talk to someone frequently and apply what you have learned. If you don’t have a friendly and supportive English speaker near you, just go to the LiveXP homepage and pick any tutor who looks like they could help you (no issues if you two don’t “click”—you can change the tutor anytime), and start practicing regularly. You’ll never regret it.