10 Common Writing Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Writing in a foreign language can be challenging, even for advanced learners. Over years of teaching and examining CEFR writing tasks, I've noticed that certain mistakes appear repeatedly—regardless of the student's native language. The good news? Once you recognize these patterns, they're relatively easy to fix.

1. Article Errors (a, an, the)

The Problem

Article usage confuses many learners, especially those whose native language doesn't use articles.

Common Errors:

• ❌ "I am student" → ✅ "I am a student"
• ❌ "The life is beautiful" → ✅ "Life is beautiful"
• ❌ "I went to school by the bus" → ✅ "I went to school by bus"

The Fix

Rules to Remember:

• Use "a/an" for singular countable nouns mentioned for the first time
• Use "the" for specific things both speaker and listener know about
• Use no article for generalizations and abstract concepts
• No article with most transport methods (by bus, by car, on foot)

Practice Tip: Read extensively and notice article patterns. Keep a notebook of phrases you encounter regularly.

2. Subject-Verb Agreement

The Problem

Forgetting to match subjects with verbs, especially with third-person singular.

Common Errors:

• ❌ "She go to work" → ✅ "She goes to work"
• ❌ "The team are winning" (US) → ✅ "The team is winning"
• ❌ "Everyone were happy" → ✅ "Everyone was happy"

The Fix

Golden Rules:

• Third person singular (he, she, it) adds -s or -es
• Collective nouns (team, family, government) are usually singular in American English
• Indefinite pronouns (everyone, somebody, nobody) are singular

3. Preposition Problems

The Problem

Prepositions often don't translate directly between languages, leading to errors.

Common Errors:

• ❌ "Interested about" → ✅ "Interested in"
• ❌ "Depend of" → ✅ "Depend on"
• ❌ "Married with" → ✅ "Married to"

The Fix

Strategies:

• Learn verb + preposition combinations as chunks (e.g., "rely on," "believe in")
• Keep a preposition journal organized by verb
• Note differences between British and American English

4. Overusing the Word "Get"

The Problem

Relying too heavily on "get" in formal writing.

Common Errors:

• ❌ "I got a letter" → ✅ "I received a letter"
• ❌ "We got to the station" → ✅ "We arrived at the station"
• ❌ "She got angry" → ✅ "She became angry"

The Fix

Alternatives to Get:

• Get + object = receive, obtain, acquire
• Get + place = arrive, reach
• Get + adjective = become, grow

Exception: "Get" is fine in informal writing and dialogue.

Conclusion

Mistakes are a natural part of language learning—they show you're pushing your boundaries. The key is recognizing patterns in your errors and actively working to correct them.

Start by focusing on 2-3 of these common mistakes at a time. As they become automatic, move to the next set. Keep a personal "error log" where you record mistakes from your writing practice. Review it weekly to identify your most frequent errors.

Remember: even native speakers make some of these mistakes. The goal isn't perfection—it's clear, effective communication and steady improvement.

Happy writing!