130 Common Grammar Mistakes in English

Common Mistakes English Eduhyme 130

Mistakes and students go together. Otherwise, pupils would be teachers. English – a language of few infallible rules – is fertile land for blunders, which we have been listening to and committing for years.

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1. Accused of

Correct – The man was accused of the murder.
Incorrect – The man was accused with the murder.

2. Administrative

Correct – This is just an administrative problem.
Incorrect – I work as an administrative at a co-operative.

3. Agree

Correct – Greta agrees with you.
Incorrect – Greta is agree with you.

4. Alive & live

Correct – Only three people were alive after the accident.
Incorrect – Only three people were live after the accident.

5. Alternate & alternative

Correct – We’ll meet on alternate Mondays. Today, on the 11th and on the 25th.
Incorrect – We’ll meet on alternative Mondays. Today, on the 11th and on the 25th.

6. Alternative & alternate

Correct – Is this the only solution? Isn’t there an alternative option?
Incorrect – Is this the only solution? Isn’t there an alternate option?

7. Among & between

Correct – The three boys divided the cake among themselves.
Incorrect – The three boys divided the cake between themselves.

8. Angry & hungry

Correct – He’s angry because he had an accident.
Incorrect – He’s hungry because he had an accident.

9. Anything & nothing

Correct – She can’t see anything.
Incorrect – She can’t see nothing.

10. As & like

Correct – He’s an engineer but works as a driver.
Incorrect – He’s an engineer but works like a driver.

11. Attempt & intend

Correct – She tried to climb Mount Kilimanjaro last year but failed. This year she’ll attempt it again.
Incorrect – She tried to climb Mount Kilimanjaro last year but failed. This year she’ll intend it again.

12. Axis & axle

Correct – Shall I write the figure on axis X or axis Y?
Incorrect – Shall I write the figure on axle X or axle Y?

13. Axle & axis

Correct – My car wheels are held together by the axle.
Incorrect – My car wheels are held together by the axis.

14. Bad & badly

Correct – He reacts in a bad way.
Incorrect – He reacts in a badly way.

15. Badly & bad

Correct – He reacts badly.
Incorrect – He reacts bad.

16. Be fifteen years old

Correct – We are both fifteen years old.
Incorrect – We have both fifteen years.

17. Believe

Correct – I don’t believe anything she ever says.
Incorrect – I’m not believing anything she ever says.

18. Between & among

Correct – France lies between Spain and Germany.
Incorrect – France lies among Spain and Germany.

19. Billion

Correct – A billion is a thousand million in the USA.
Incorrect – A billion is a million million in the USA.

20. Boring

Correct – I find the economics class boring.
Incorrect – I’m boring at the economics class.

21. Can

Correct – I can speak Swahili.
Incorrect – I can to speak Swahili.

22. Can’t & mustn’t

Correct – It can’t be Silvia. It’s too early!
Incorrect – It mustn’t be Silvia. It’s too early!

23. Casual

Correct – We were expected to wear casual clothes so I didn’t bring a tie.
Incorrect – It was a casual meeting. We met by chance.

24. Certainly & surely

Correct – Unemployment is certainly rising. Look at these figures!
Incorrect – Unemployment is surely rising. Look at these figures!

25. Charge

Correct – They charge the laptop on the mains.
Incorrect – They charge the elephant onto the lorry.

26. Comprehensible & comprehensive

Correct – The book is written in a comprehensible style. It is easy to understand.
Incorrect – The book is written in a comprehensive style. It is easy to understand.

27. Comprehensive & comprehensible

Correct – That was a comprehensive research paper. It covered the history of mankind.
Incorrect – That was a comprehensible research paper. It covered the history of mankind.

28. Constipated

Correct – I’m constipated. I should take a laxative.
Incorrect – I’m constipated. I think I have a cold.

29. Continually & continuously

Correct – She’s continually taking days off. She missed Monday, Wednesday and Friday last week.
Incorrect – She’s continuously taking days off. She missed Monday, Wednesday and Friday last week.

30. Continuously & continually

Correct – The bell rang continuously and didn’t stop for even a second.
Incorrect – The bell rang continually and didn’t stop for even a second.

31. Crash into

Correct – He crashed into a wall.
Incorrect – He crashed a wall.

32. Current & actual

Correct – I always check news online because I like to be informed about current affairs.
Incorrect – I always check news online because I like to be informed about actual affairs.

33. Dairy

Correct – He works on a dairy farm.
Incorrect – She writes on her dairy every night.

34. Deduce & deduct

Correct – She deduced he was the murderer.
Incorrect – She deducted he was the murderer.

35. Deduct & deduce

Correct – We can either deduct taxes from your salary now or next year.
Incorrect – We can either deduce taxes from your salary now or next year.

36. Depend from

Correct – In a hierarchical organization employees depend from one boss.
Incorrect – In a hierarchical organization employees depend on one boss.

37. Depend on

Correct – My decision will depend on the information I have.
Incorrect – My decision will depend of the information I have.

38. Desert & dessert

Correct – The Gobi desert is cold at night and warm during the day.
Incorrect – The Gobi dessert is cold at night and warm during the day.

39. Dessert & desert

Correct – Would you like apple pie for dessert?
Incorrect – Would you like apple pie for desert?

40. Diary

Correct – He keeps a private diary.
Incorrect – These are diary cows. They produce milk.

41. Dislike

Correct – Mark dislikes modern architecture.
Incorrect – Mark is disliking modern architecture.

42. Doctor

Correct – My brother is a doctor.
Incorrect – My brother is doctor.

43. Download & upload

Correct – We must download the page from the server to our laptop.
Incorrect – We must upload the page from the server to our laptop.

44. Enjoy

Correct – I enjoy the cinema.
Incorrect – I am enjoy the cinema.

45. Enjoy

Correct – I enjoy my children.
Incorrect – I enjoy with my children.

46. Everywhere

Correct – He looked for the keys everywhere.
Incorrect – He looked for the keys every place.

47. Except

Correct – We’ll finance all the new projects except for Joe’s, which will be discontinued.
Incorrect – We’ll finance all the new projects except Joe’s, which will be discontinued.

48. Explain

Correct – Please explain your theory to me.
Incorrect – Please explain me your theory.

49. Familiar

Correct – I can’t remember her face but her name does sound familiar.
Incorrect – We have a large family so I invited several familiars to the wedding.

50. Few & little

Correct – We need a few dollars to meet our savings goal.
Incorrect – We need a little dollars to meet our savings goal.

51. Flour & flower

Correct – You need flour to bake a pizza.
Incorrect – You need flower to bake a pizza.

52. Flower & flour

Correct – Most flowers bloom in spring.
Incorrect – Most flours bloom in spring

53. Folder & carpet

Correct – I use a folder to keep papers.
Incorrect – I use a carpet to keep papers.

54. For & since

Correct – I’ve waited for three hours already.
Incorrect – I’ve waited since three hours already.

55. Good & well

Correct – This is a good book.
Incorrect – This is a well book.

56. Had better

Correct – You had better visit the client tomorrow.
Incorrect – You had better to visit the client tomorrow.

57. Hate

Correct – I hate her because she is mean.
Incorrect – I’m hating her because she is mean.

58. Intend & attempt

Correct – I intend to attend university when I finish school
Incorrect – I attempt to attend university when I finish school.

59. It’s & its

Correct – It’s going to snow.
Incorrect – Its going to snow.

60. Its & it’s

Correct – The company pays its employees once a month.
Incorrect – The company pays it’s employees once a month.

61. Job & work

Correct – I’m the company manager. It is my job to solve problems.
Incorrect – I’m the company manager. It is my work to solve problems.

62. Ladder & stairs

Correct – Shall I move the ladder under the chandelier so you can change the bulb?
Incorrect – Shall I move the stairs under the chandelier so you can change the bulb?

63. Large enough

Correct – This boat isn’t large enough for all our family.
Incorrect – This boat isn’t enough large for all our family.

64. Lay & lie

Correct – You must lay the table before they arrive.
Incorrect – You must lie the table before they arrive.

65. Lie & lay

Correct – He always lies down for a nap.
Incorrect – He always lays down for a nap.

66. Like

Correct – I like Picasso because he’s a Cubist painter.
Incorrect – I’m liking Picasso because he’s a Cubist painter.

67. Like & as

Correct – That product is very much like the one we developed.
Incorrect – That product is very much as the one we developed.

68. Listen

Correct – I always listen to my boss.
Incorrect – I always listen my boss.

69. Live & alive

Correct – NBC will broadcast the match live.
Incorrect – NBC will broadcast the match alive.

70. Load

Correct – They’ll load the elephant onto the lorry.
Incorrect – They’ll load the computer on the mains.

71. Look forward to

Correct – We look forward to meeting your partner.
Incorrect – We look forward to meet your partner.

72. Love

Correct – I love him more and more every day.
Incorrect – I’m loving him more and more every day.

73. Make a mistake

Correct – Andrew wrote this list so he would make fewer mistakes.
Incorrect – Andrew wrote this list so he would do fewer mistakes.

74. Many & much

Correct – Many people came today.
Incorrect – Much people came today.

75. Media & medium

Correct – Most of the media live from advertising revenue.
Incorrect – Most of the medium live from advertising revenue.

76. Medium & media

Correct – I think you should try another medium.
Incorrect – I think you should try another media.

77. Most

Correct – Most managers have arrived.
Incorrect – Most of managers have arrived.

78. Motorway

Correct – We drove through the motorway.
Incorrect – We drove through the autoway.

79. Much & many

Correct – Having much money is always better than having little money.
Incorrect – Having many money is always better than having little money.

80. Must

Correct – We must increase prices.
Incorrect – We must to increase prices.

81. Nothing

Correct – She understood nothing.
Incorrect – She didn’t understand nothing.

82. Now & actually

Correct – He used to be a secretary. He’s a manager now.
Incorrect – He used to be a secretary. He’s a manager actually.

83. Officer & official

Correct – Could you please call a police officer?
Incorrect – Could you please call a police official?

84. Official & officer

Correct – This is an official statement.
Incorrect – This is an officer statement.

85. Parents-in-law

Correct – She loves her parents-in-law.
Incorrect – She loves her fathers-in-law.

86. Parking

Correct – I rarely leave my car at a parking lot because it’s too expensive.
Incorrect – I rarely leave my car at a parking because it’s too expensive.

87. People

Correct – Most people are interested in their health.
Incorrect – Most people is interested in their health.

88. Personal & personnel

Correct – I have a personal trainer.
Incorrect – I have a personnel trainer.

89. Personnel & personal

Correct – Where’s the personnel department?
Incorrect – Where’s the personal department?

90. Price & prize

Correct – The price of this shirt is twelve dollars.
Incorrect – The prize of this shirt is twelve dollars.

91. Prize & price

Correct – She’s an excellent student and won the first prize.
Incorrect – She’s an excellent student and won the first price.

92. Professor

Correct – Anthony is a university professor. He teaches Physics.
Incorrect – Richard is a kindergarten professor. He teaches children.

93. Raise & rise

Correct – Farmers raise cattle.
Incorrect – Farmers rise cattle.

94. Recipe

Correct – Do you have the recipe for Yorkshire pudding?
Incorrect – The doctor gave me a recipe for more antibiotics.

95. Rise & raise

Correct – Prices rise because of inflation.
Incorrect – Prices raise because of inflation.

96. Rob & steal

Correct – He robbed me.
Incorrect – He stole me.

97. Safe & secure

Correct – Is your neighbourhood safe? There are many robberies in mine.
Incorrect – Is your neighbourhood secure? There are many robberies in mine.

98. Salary & wage

Correct – The manager collects her salary monthly.
Incorrect – The manager collects her wage monthly.

99. Say & tell

Correct – He always says that India is a powerful country.
Incorrect – He always tells that India is a powerful country.

100. Secure & safe

Correct – Is the rope secure? If it loosens the cargo might move.
Incorrect – Is the rope safe? If it loosens the cargo might move.

101. Sensible & sensitive

Correct – She’s a sensible woman so I trust she’ll make the right decision.
Incorrect – She’s a sensitive woman so I trust she’ll make the right decision.

102. Sensitive & sensible

Correct – She’s a very sensitive child and will cry if you shout at her.
Incorrect – She’s a very sensible child and will cry if you shout at her.

103. Series

Correct – 2, 4, 6 and 8 make a series of even numbers.
Incorrect – 2, 4, 6 and 8 make a serie of even numbers.

104. Sew & sow

Correct – They need to sew at least ten shirts a day.
Incorrect – They need to sow at least ten shirts a day.

105. Since & from

Correct – I’ve been waiting here since eleven this morning.
Incorrect – I’ve been waiting here for eleven this morning.

106. Sow & sew

Correct – We will sow corn in our farm.
Incorrect – We will sew corn in our farm.

107. Stairs & ladder

Correct – Walk up the marble stairs to reach the hotel lobby.
Incorrect – Walk up the marble ladder to reach the hotel lobby.

108. Stake & steak

Correct – Our company owns a stake in Citibank.
Incorrect – Our company owns a steak in Citibank.

109. Stationary & stationery

Correct – Stationary satellites remain at the same relative position.
Incorrect – Stationery satellites remain at the same relative position.

110. Stationery & stationary

Correct – We need to purchase more stationery.
Incorrect – We need to purchase more stationary.

111. Steak & stake

Correct – I always order my steaks well-done.
Incorrect – I always order my stakes well-done.

112. Steal & rob

Correct – He stole the wallet from my bag and I never realized!
Incorrect – He robbed the wallet from my bag and I never realized!

113. Story & history

Correct – Can you tell me the Cinderella story tonight?
Incorrect – Can you tell me the Cinderella history tonight?

114. Straight & strait

Correct – Look straight ahead and you’ll see the factory.
Incorrect – Look strait ahead and you’ll se the factory.

115. Strait & straight

Correct – The ship crossed the Strait of Gibraltar.
Incorrect – The ship crossed the Straight of Gibraltar.

116. Suit & suite

Correct – All lawyers must wear suits at this office.
Incorrect – All lawyers must wear suites at this office.

117. Suite & suit

Correct – She stayed at her suite all day.
Incorrect – She stayed at her suit all day.

118. Tell & say

Correct – She never tells me the truth.
Incorrect – She never says me the truth.

119. The reason why

Correct – She couldn’t explain the reason why she was here.
Incorrect – She couldn’t explain the reason because she was here.

120. Think of

Correct – I’m thinking of moving to Australia.
Incorrect – I’m thinking to move to Australia.

121. Times & per

Correct – Two times three equals six.
Incorrect – Two per three equals six.

122. Two pounds’ worth

Correct – I’d like two pounds’ worth of sweets.
Incorrect – I’d like two pounds worth of sweets.

123. Upload & download

Correct – We must upload the page from our laptop to the server.
Incorrect – We must download the page from our laptop to the server.

124. Used to

Correct – We used to run a small company. Now it’s grown rather large!
Incorrect – We used run a small company. Now it’s grown rather large!

125. Wage & salary

Correct – Their wages are between five and six dollar an hour though they should be much higher.
Incorrect – Their salaries are between five and six dollars an hour though they should be much higher.

126. Want to

Correct – I want you to contact the production supervisor immediately.
Incorrect – I want that you contact the production supervisor immediately.

127. Well & good

Correct – She dances, sings and draws quite well.
Incorrect – She dances, sings and draws quite good.

128. Who & whom

Correct – Who is responsible for collections at this office?
Incorrect – Whom is responsible for collections at this office?

129. Whom & who

Correct – I’ll send this note to whom it may concern.
Incorrect – I’ll send this note to who it may concern.

130. Work & job

Correct – Writing the budget is hard work. I wish I didn’t have to do it every year!
Incorrect – Writing the budget is hard job. I wish I didn’t have to do it every year!

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