A Big List of Common Errors in English

Spotting Errors
Common Errors with Nouns and Noun-Phrases

Incorrect  - Correct
1. I have bought new furnitures. I have bought new furniture.
2. The wages of sin are death. The wages of sin is death.
3. She told these news to her mother. She told her mother this news.
4. He took troubles to do his work. He took trouble (or pains) over his work.
5. The cattles were grazing. The cattle were grazing.
6. He showered many abuses on me. He showered much abuse on me.
7. I spent the holidays with my family members. I spent the holidays with my family.
8. There is no place in this compartment. There is no room in this compartment.
9. Write this new poetry in your copy. Write this new poem in your note-book.
10. He took insult at this. He took offence at this.
11. Put your sign here. Put your signatures here.
12. She is my cousin sister. She is my cousin.
13. Sunil's my neighbour's house was burgled. Sunil my neighbour's house was burgled.
14. I lost a ten-rupees note. I lost a ten-rupee note.
15. Road closed for repair. Road closed for repairs.
16. His house is out of repairs. His house is out of repair.
17. What is the reason of an earthquake? What is the cause of an earthquake?
18. This building is made of stones. This building is made of stone.
19. I disapprove of these kinds of games. I disapprove of this kind of games.
20. Veena's and Sheela's father is ill. Veena and Sheela's father is ill.
21. His son-in-laws are doctors. His sons-in-law are doctors.
22. Alms is given to the poor. Alms are given to the poor.
23. He always keeps his words. He always keeps his word.
24. I carried the luggages. I carried the luggage.
25. Two-third of the work is left. Two-thirds of the work is left.

Common Errors with Pronouns
Incorrect  - Correct
1. Both did not go. Neither went.
2. We all did not go. None of us went.
3. Each of these boys play. Each of these boys plays.
4. Whoever does best he will get a prize. Whoever does best will get a prize.
5. One should not waste his time. A man should not waste his time.
6. I and she are sisters. She and I are sisters.
7. He is wiser than me. He is wiser than I.
8. Between you and I, Anil is not to be trusted. Between you and me, Anil is not to be trusted.
9. Nobody was there but I. Nobody was there but me.
10. Who is there ? It is me. Who is there ? It is I.
11. Only he and me can use this card. Only he and I can use this card.
12. Let you and I go now. Let you and me go now.
13. Everyone got one's pay. Everyone got his pay.
14. Everyone is frightened when they see a tiger. Everyone is frightened when he sees a tiger.
15. These two friends are fond of one another. These two friends are fond of each other.
16. I did not like him coming at that hour. I did not like his coming at that hour.
17. Who do you think I met? Whom do you think I met?
18. You should avail this opportunity. You should avail yourself this opportunity.
19. When you have read these books, please return the When you have read the books, please return them to same to me.
20. They that are humble need fear no fall. Those that are humble need fear no fall.

Common Errors with Adjectives
Incorrect  - Correct
1. These all oranges are good. All these oranges are good.
2. He held the book in the both hands. He held the book in both hands.
3. Both men have not come. Neither man has come.
4. That man should do some or other work. That man should do some work or other.
5. He is elder than I. He is older than I.
6. Shakespeare is greater than any other poets. Shakespeare is greater than any other poet.
7. He is a coward man. He is a cowardly man.
8. Many villagers cannot write his own name. Many villagers cannot write their own name.
9. Each of us loves our home. Each of us loves his home.
10. Much efforts bring their reward. Much effort brings its reward.
11. He found hundred rupees. He found a hundred rupees.
12. He had leave of four days. He had four days leave.
13. This is a worth seeing sight. This is a sight worth seeing.
14. He will spend his future life here. He will spend the rest of his life here.
15. There is a best teacher in that class. There is a very good teacher in that class.
16. Of the two plans this is the best. Of the two plans this is the better.
17. He is becoming strong every day. He is becoming stronger every day.
18. He is worst than I. He is worse than I.
19. Jaipur is hot than Delhi. Jaipur is hotter than Delhi.
20. In our library the number of books is less. In our library the number of books is small.

Common Errors with Verbs
Incorrect  - Correct
1. He asked had we taken our luggage. He asked if we had taken our luggage.
2. She asked what are you doing. She asked what we were doing.
3. Rama asked to Anil why he is angry. Rama asked Anil why he was angry.
4. He does not care for his money. He does not take care of his money.
5. He does not care for his work. He takes no care over his work.
6. No one cared for him after his mother died. No one took care of him after his mother died.
7. He got angry before I said a word. He got angry before I had said a word.
8. I met a man who was my tutor 20 years ago. I met a man who had been my tutor twenty years ago.
9. I had been for walking yesterday. I went for a walk yesterday.
10. If I shall do this I shall be wrong. If I do this I shall be wrong.
11. I have left trekking. I have given up trekking.
12. I came to know as to how he did this. I learnt how he did this.
13. I came to know why he was sad. I found out why he was sad.
14. He knows to swim. He knows how to swim.
15. The criminal's head was cut. The criminal's head was cut off.
16. I said to him to go. I told him to go.
17. I told the teacher to excuse me. I asked the teacher to excuse me.
18. He is troubling me. He is giving me trouble.
19. I have got a hurt on my leg. I have hurt my leg.
20. She gave a speech. She made a speech.

Common Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement
Incorrect  - Correct
1. T he ow ners of this factory is very rich. The owners of this factory are very rich.
2. The pleasures of nature that one can experience at The pleasures of nature that one can experience Shimla is beyond description. at Shimla are beyond description.
3. There is no street lights in our colony. There are no street lights in our colony.
4. He and I am entrusted with the job. He and I are entrusted with the job.
5. Rice and curry are his favourite dish. Rice and curry is his favourite dish.
6. The honour and glory of our country are at stake. The honour and glory of our country is at stake.
7. Time and tide waits for none. Time and tide wait for none.
8. All the passengers with the driver was killed. All the passengers, with the driver, were killed.
9. The teacher, with her students, were going out. The teacher, with her students, was going out.
10. I as well as they am tired. I as well as they are tired.
11. Not only the soldiers but their captain also were capturedNot only the soldiers but their captain also was captured.
12. Neither you nor I were selected. Neither you nor I was selected.
13. Either of these two applicants are fit for the job but neither want to accept it but neither wants to accept it. Either of these two applicants is fit for the job job but neither want to accept it but neither wants to accept it.
14. One of these students are sure to stand first. One of these students is sure to stand first.
15. Everyone of these workers want a raise. Everyone of these workers wants a raise.
16. None of these letters has been answered so far. None of these letters have been answered so far.
17. None of the girls were present at the party. None of the girls was present at the party.
18. Many a battle were fought on Indian soil. Many a battle was fought on Indian soil.
19. A lot of work remain to be done. A lot of work remains to be done.
20. The majority of these girls likes music. The majority of these girls like music.

Common Errors in the Use of Modals/Auxiliary Verbs
Incorrect  - Correct
1. When I shall see him I shall tell him this. When I see him, I shall tell him this.
2. If I should do wrong, he would punish me. If I did wrong, he would punish me.
3. Until he will have confessed his fault, he will be kept in prison Until he has confessed his fault, he will be kept in kept in prison.
4. She will obey me. She shall obey me.
5. You would work hard. You should work hard.
6. You shall find him in the garden. You will find him in the garden.
7. He must have died of exposure, but we cannot be certain.He might have died of exposure, but we cannot be certain.
8. You might not show disrespect to your elders. You must not show disrespect to your elders.
9. You may take exercise in order to maintain good health. You must take exercise in order to maintain good health.
10. He must be a crook for all we know. He may be a crook for all we know.

Common Errors in the Use of Adverbs
Incorrect  - Correct
1. He is very much angry. He is very angry.
2. She was very good enough to help me. She was good enough to help me.
3. She runs much fast. She runs very fast.
4. She runs very faster than Seema. She runs much faster than Seema.
5. It is bitter cold today. It is bitterly cold today.
6. He is a much learned man. He is a very learned man.
7. She is thinking very hardly. She is thinking very hard.
8. To tell in brief the film was boring. In short the film was boring.
9. He told the story in details. He told the story in detail.
10. I did it anyhow. I managed to do it somehow.
11. Aeroplanes reach Europe soon. Aeroplanes reach Europe quickly.
12. Before long there were dinosaurs on the earth. Long ago, there were dinosaurs on the earth.
13. This book is too interesting. This book is very interesting.
14. He lives miserly. He lives in a miserly way.
15. Just I had gone when she came. I had just gone when she came.
16. He sings good. He sings well.
17. He sings good than I. He sings better than I.
18. Really speaking it is cold. As a matter of fact it is cold.
19. He is enough tall to reach the ceiling. He is tall enough to reach the ceiling.
20. He went directly to his college. He went direct to his college.

Common Errors in the Use of Conjunctions
Incorrect  - Correct
1. As he is fat so he runs slowly. As he is fat he runs slowly.
2. If he is fat then he will run slowly. If he is fat, he will run slowly.
3. Though he is fat still he runs fast. Though he is fat, he runs fast.
4. As I pulled the trigger at the sametime he shook my arm.As I pulled the trigger, he shook my arm.
5. No sooner I had spoken than he left. No sooner had I spoken than he left.
6. Not only he will go, but also he will stay there. Not only will he go, but he will also stay there.
7. Neither he comes nor he writes. Neither does he come nor does he write.
8. Scarcely he entered the room than the telephone rang. Scarcely had he entered the room when the telephone rang.
9. Hardly she had left the house than it began to rain. Hardly had she left the house when it began to rain.
10. He is the fastest runner and he comes last. He is the fastest runner but he comes last.
11. She is as innocent as if she looks. She is as innocent as she looks.
12. Until he does not try he must be punished. He must be punished unless he tries.
13. I want to know as to why you are late. I want to know why you are late.
14. I am fond of Chinese food as for example sweet and sour prawns.I am fond of Chinese food, for example, sweet and sour prawns.
15. He was angry therefore I ran away. He was angry so I ran away.
16. I was trying to work, at that time he was disturbing me. While I was trying to work, he was disturbing me.
17. Supposing if he is late, what will happen? Supposing he is late (or if he is late) what will happen?
18. He asked me that why I was late. He asked me why I was late.
19. Let us catch a taxi lest we should not get late. Let us catch a taxi lest we should get late.
20. She dresses herself like the teacher does. She dresses herself as the teacher does.
21. Wait while I come. Wait until (or till) I come.
22. Until, there is corruption in India, there can be little progress.As long as there is corruption in India there can be little progress.
23. I have never told a lie nor cheated anybody. I have never told a lie nor have I cheated anybody.
24. Both Mohan as well as Arun are responsible for this action.Both Mohan and Arun are responsible for this action.
25. Hindus and Muslims both are to blame for the riots. Both Hindus and Muslims are to blame for the riots.

Common Errors in the Use of Prepositions
Incorrect  - Correct
1. I will not listen him. I will not listen to him.
2. Copy this word by word. Copy this word for word.
3. He enquired from her where she lived. He enquired of her where she lived.
4. Sign here with ink. Sign here in ink.
5. Has she come in train or by foot? Has she come by train or on foot?
6. She said this at his face. She said this to his face.
7. Open the book on page one. Open the book at page one.
8. I was invited for lunch. I was invited to lunch.
9. I am ill since three months. I have been ill for three months.
10. This paper is inferior than that. This paper is inferior to that.
11. This resembles to that. This resembles that.
12. My brother is superior than you in strength. My brother is superior to you in strength.
13. He wrote me. He wrote to me.
14. I shall explain them this. I shall explain this to them.
15. Send this letter on my address. Send this letter to my address.
16. He suggested me this. He suggested this to me.
17. He goes on his work. He goes to his work.
18. He reached to Nagpur. He reached Nagpur.
19. He told to me to go. He told me to go.
20. The term begins from July 1st. The term begins on July 1st.

Miscellaneous Errors
Incorrect  - Correct
1. Many homes are lying vacant. Many houses are lying vacant.
2. It is cool in the shadow of the tree. It is cool in the shade of the tree.
3. She keeps good health. She enjoys good health.
4. My leg is paining. I am feeling pain in my leg.
5. See this word in the dictionary. Look up this word in the dictionary.
6. The train will arrive just now. The train will arrive shortly.
7. They are pulling on well. They are getting on well.
8. The river has over flown its bank. The river has over flown its banks.
9. He was appointed on the post. He was appointed to the post.
10. Last but not the least, we have to discuss the problem of over population.Last but not least, we have to discuss the problem of over population.
11. Cities after cities fell. City after city fell.
12. What is the use Munir going there? What is the use of Munir going there?
13. He did many mischief. He made much mischief.
14. It is exact five in my watch. It is exact five by my watch.
15. I will dine with them on next Sunday. I will dine with them Sunday next.
16. Misfortunes when faced bravely and manly become less troublesome.Misfortunes when faced bravely and manfully become less troublesome.
17. I am laid down with fever. I am laid up with fever.
18. He is habituated to smoking. He is addicted to smoking.
19. According to my opinion he is right. In my opinion (or according to me) he is right.
20. Could you please open this knot? Could you please untie this knot?