Cᴏᴍᴍᴏɴ Mɪsᴛᴀᴋᴇs:
1. Absorbed (- very much interested) in, not at.
❌ Don't say: The man was absorbed at his work.
✅ Say: The man was absorbed in his work.
2. Accuse of, not for.
❌ Don't say: She accused the man for stealing.
✅ Say: She accused the man of stealing.
3. Accustomed to, not with.
❌ Don't say: I'm accustomed with hot weather.
✅ Say: I'm accustomed to hot weather.
Note: Also used to: He is used to the heat.
4. Afraid of, not from.
❌Don't say: Laura is afraid from the dog.
✅ Say: Laura is afraid of the dog.
5. Aim at, not on or against.
❌ Don't say: She aimed on {or against) the target.
✅ Say: She aimed at the target,
Note Use the preposition at to denote direction, throw at, shout at, fire
at, shoot at. Shoot (without the at) means to kill He shot a bird (= he hit
and killed it)
6. Angry with, not against.
❌ Don't say: The teacher was angry against him.
✅ Say: The teacher was angry with him.
Note I - W e get angry with a person but at a thing He was angry at The
weather 'not with the weather)
Note 2- Also annoyed with, vexed with, indignant with a person, but at
a thing.
7. Anxious (= troubled) about, not for.
❌ Don't say.'They're anxious for his health.
✅ Say: They're anxious about his health.
NOTE - Anxious meaning wishing very much lakes for Parents are anxious
for their children's success.
8. Arrive at, not to.
❌ Don't say: We arrived to the village at night.
✅ Say:: We arrived at the village at night.
Note - Use arrive in with countries a n d large cities. Mr Smith has arrived in
London (or New York. India, etc )
9. Ashamed of, not from.
❌Don't say: He's now
ashamed from his conduct.
✅ Say: He's now ashamed of his conduct.
Note - it isn't correct to use ashamed of meaning shy Ashamed means
feeling shame or guilt about something. Shy means feeling nervous with
someone Instead of saying1 I'm ashamed (or shamed) of my teacher, say
I'm shy of my teacher
11. Boast of or about, not for.
❌ Don't say: James boasted for his strength.
✅ Say: James boasted of (or about) his strength.
12. Careful of, with or about, not for.
❌Don't say: Elke's very careful for her health.
✅Say: Elke's very careful of/about her health.
Or: You should be more careful with your money.
Note Take care of' He takes care of his money.
13. Travel by train, etc., not with the train, etc.
❌ Don't say: He travelled with the train yesterday.
✅ Say: He travelled by train yesterday.
Note: W e say: by train, by boat, by plane, by bike; also, by land, by sea,
by air, by bus; in a bus or on a bus; by car or in a car, by taxi or in a taxi;
on horse-back, on a donkey, on a bicycle; on foot.
14. Complain about, not for.
❌ Don't say: Annette complained for the weather.
✅ Say: Annette complained about the weather.
Note- When talking about illness w e use complain of. W e say She
complained of a sore throat.
15. Composed of, not from.
❌ Don't soy: Our class is composed from thirty students.
✅ Say: Our class is composed of thirty students.
16. Confidence in, not to.
❌ Don't say: I have great confidence to you.
✅ Say: I have great confidence in you.
Note In confidence: Let me tell you something in confidence {= a i a secret)
17. Conform to, not with.
❌Don't say:'We must conform with the rules.
✅Say. We must conform to the rules.
18. Congratulate on, not for.
❌ Don't say: I congratulate you for your success.
✅ Say: I congratulate you on your success.
19. Consist of, not from.
❌Don't say: A year consists from twelve months.
✅Say: A year consists of twelve months.
Note - Take great caie never to use consist in the passive iorm.
20. Covered with, not by.
❌ Don't say: The mountains are covered by snow.
✅ Say: The mountains are covered with/in snow.
21. Cure of, not from.
❌ Don't say: The man was cured from his illness.
✅ Say: The man was cured of his illness.
NOTE - The noun cure takes for1 There is no cure for that disease
22. Depend on or upon, not from.
❌ Don't say: It depends from her.
✅ Say: It depends on (or upon) her.
23. Deprive of, not from.
❌ Don't say: Nelson Mandela was deprived from his
freedom.
✅ Say: Nelson Mandela was deprived of his freedom.
24. Die of an illness, not from an illness.
❌ Don't say: Many people have died.from malaria.
✅ Say: Many people have died of malaria.
Note - People die of illness, of hunger, of thirst, of or from wounds; from
overwork; b y violence, fay the sword, by pestilence; in battle; for their country,
for a cause, through neglect; on the scaffold; at the stake.
25. Different from, not than.
❌ Don't say: My book is different than yours.
✅ Say: My book is different from yours.
26 Disappointed by, about or at, not from.
(a) by/at/about:
❌ Don't say: Phillipa was disappointed from the low
mark she got in the test.
✅ Say: Phillipa was disappointed by/about/at the low
mark she got in the test.
(b) with/in:
❌ Don't say: Jane was disappointed from her son.
✅ Say: Jane was disappointed with/in her son.
27. Divide into parts, not in parts.
❌ Don't say: I divided the cake in four parts.
✅ Say: I divided the cake into four parts.
Note : A thing may be divided in half or in two Paul divided the apple in half
(or in two).
28 . No doubt (n) of or about, not for.
❌ Don't say: I've no doubt for his ability.
✅ Say: I've no doubt of (or about) his ability.
Note - Doubtful of: / am doubtful of his ability to pass
29 . Dressed in, not with.
❌ Don't say: The woman was dressed with black.
✅ Say:The woman was dressed in black.
Note 1 : The woman ivas in black is also correct
30. Exception to, not of.
❌ Don't say: This is an exception of the rule.
✅ Say: This is an exception to the rule.
Note : W e say with the exception of: She liked all her subjects with the
exception of physics
31. Exchange for, not by.
❌ Don't say: He exchanged his collection of matchboxes
by some foreign stamps.
✅ Say: He exchanged his collection of matchboxes for
some foreign stamps.
Note 1 : In exchange for He gave them his old car in exchange for a new one.
32 . Fail in, not from.
❌ Don't say: Steven failed from maths last year.
✅ Say: Steven failed in maths last year.
33. Full of, not with or from.
❌ Don't say : The jar was full with (or from) oil.
✅ Say : The jar was full of oil.
Note1: Fill takes with Jane filled the glass with water
34. Get rid of, not from.
❌ Don't say: I'll be glad to get rid from him.
✅ Say: I'll be glad to get rid of him.
35. Glad about, not from or with.
❌ Don't say: Francis was glad from (or with) receiving
your letter.
✅ Say: Francis was glad about receiving your letter.
36. Good at, not in.
❌ Don't say : My sister's good in maths.
✅ Say : My sister's good at maths.
Note 1 : Bad at, clever at, quick at, slow at, etc. However, weak in: He's
weak in grammar.
Note 2 : He's good in class means that his conduct is good.
37. Guard against, not from.
❌ Don't soy: You must guard from bad habits.
✅ Say; You must guard against bad habits.
38. Guilty of, not for.
❌ Don't say: He was found guilty for murder.
✅ Say: He was found guilty of murder
39. Independent of, not from.
❌Don't say: Clare's independent from her parents.
✅Say: Clare's independent of her parents.
Note: We say dependent on: A child is dependent on its parents.
40. Indifferent to, not for.
❌ Don't say : They're indifferent for politics.
✅ Say : They're indifferent to politics.
41. Insist on, not to.
❌ Don't say: He always insisted to his opinion.
✅ Say: He always insisted on his opinion.
42 Interested in, not for.
❌ Don't say: She's not interested for her work.
✅ Say: She's not interested in her work.
Note - Also take an interest in She takes a great interest in music
43 Jealous of, not from.
❌ Don't say: He's very jealous from his brother.
✅ Say: He's very jealous of his brother.
44. Leave for a place, not to a place.
❌ Don't say:They're leaving to England soon.
✅ Say: They're leaving for England soon.
45. Live on, not from.
❌ Don't say: He lives from his brother's money.
✅ Say: He lives on his brother's money.
46 Look at, not to.
❌ Don't say: Look to this beautiful picture.
✅ Say: Look at this beautiful picture.
47. Married to, not with.
❌ Don't say: Angela was married with a rich man.
✅ Say: Angela was married to a rich man-
Note Also engaged to Sally was engaged to Peter for a year be'cre tney go;
married.
48 Opposite to, not from
❌ Don't say:Their house is opposite from ours.
✅ Say: Their house is opposite to ours.
Note - Opposite ours is also correct
49 Pass by a place, not from a place.
❌ Don't say: Will you pass from the post-office?
✅ Say: Will you pass by the post-office?
Note - Also pass the post-office is correct.
50. Play for a team, not with a team.
❌ Don't say: He plays regularly with that team.
✅ He plays regularly for that team.
51 Pleased with, not from
❌ Don't say:The teacher is pleased from me.
✅ Say: The teacher is pleased with me.
52 Popular with, not among
❌ Don't say: John's popular among his friends
✅ Say: John's popular with his friends.
53 Prefer to, not from
❌ Don't say: I prefer a blue pen from a red one.
✅ Say: I prefer a blue pen to a red one.
54 Preside at or over, not in
❌ Don't say: Who presided in the last meeting?
✅ 5ay:Who presided at (or over) the last meeting?
55 Proud of, not for
❌ Don't say: He's very proud for his promotion.
✅ Say: He's very proud of his promotion.
56 Rejoice at or in, not for.
❌ Don't say: We rejoiced for her success.
✅ Say: We rejoiced at (or in) her success.
57 Related to, not with.
❌ Don't say: Are you related with Simon in any way?
✅ Say Are you related to Simon in any way?
Note - Also relation to. Is he any relation to you?
58 Repent of, not from.
❌ Don't say: He repented from his crime.
✅ Say : He repented of his crime.
59 Satisfied with, not from.
❌ Don't say: Are you satisfied from your marks?
✅ Say: Are you satisfied with your marks?
60 Similar to, not with
❌ Don't say: Your house is similar with mine.
✅ Say: Your house is similar to mine.
61 Sit at a desk etc., not on a desk etc.
❌ Don't say: The bank manager was sitting on his desk.
✅ Say: The bank manager was sitting at his desk.
62 Spend on, not for.
❌ Don't say: \ spend a lot of time for my computer.
✅ Say: I spend a lot of time on my computer.
63 Succeed in, not at.
❌ Don't say: 1 hope he'll succeed at his work.
✅ Say: I hope he'll succeed in his work.
64 Superior to, not from or than.
❌ Don't say: This is superior from (or than) that.
✅ Say.This is superior to that.
65 Sure of, not for.
❌ Don't say: I'm quite sure for her honesty.
✅ Say: I'm quite sure of her honesty.
66 Surprised at or by, not for.
❌ Don't say: Harold was surprised for the loud bang.
✅ Say: Harold was surprised at/by the loud bang.
67 Suspect of, not for.
❌Don't say: I suspect Kate for stealing the pen.
✅ Say: I suspect Kate of stealing the pen.
68 Take by, not from.
❌ Don't say: Robert took his brother from the hand.
✅ Say: Robert took his brother by the hand.
69 Tie to, not on
❌Don't say ; The girl tied the string on the kite.
✅ Say : The girl tied the string to the kite.
70 Tired of, not from.
❌Don't say: The boys are tired from eating boiled eggs.
✅ Say :The boys are tired of eating boiled eggs.
71 Translate into, not to.
❌Don't say; Translate this passage to English.
✅Say: Translate this passage into English.
72 Tremble with cold, etc., not from cold. etc.
❌Don't say: The man was trembling from cold.
✅Say :The man was trembling with cold.
73 Warn (a person) of danger, not about danger.
❌Don't say: They were warned about the danger.
✅Say: They were warned of the danger.
74 Write in ink, not with ink.
❌Don't say: I've written the letter with ink.
✅Say: I've written the letter in ink.
75 Without, etc. + -ing.
❌Don't say: Do your work without to speak.
✅Say: Do your work without speaking.
76 Instead of, etc. + -ing.
❌Don't say: He went away instead to watt.
✅Say: He went away instead of waiting.
77 Capable of + -ing.
❌ Don't say:They're quite capable to do that
✅ Say: They're quite capable of doing that.
78 Fond of + -ing.
❌Don't say: She's always fond to talk.
✅Say: She's always fond of talking.
79 Insist on + -ing.
❌ Don't say: Simon insisted to go to London.
✅ Say: Simon insisted on going to London.
80 Object to + -ing.
❌Don't say: I object to be treated like this.
✅Say: I object to being treated like this.
81 Prevent from + -ing.
❌Don't say: The rain prevented me to go.
✅Say: The rain prevented me from going.
82 Succeed in + -ing.
❌Don't say: Paula succeeded to win the prize.
✅say- Paula succeeded in winning the prize.
83 Think of + -ing.
❌ Don't say: I often think to go to England.
✅ Say: I often think of going to England.
84 Tired of + -ing.
❌ Don't say: The customer got tired to wait.
✅ Say: The customer got tired of waiting.
🌀@Common_Mistakes_Grammar
85 Used to + -ing.
❌ Don't say: She's used to get up early.
✅ Say: She's used to getting up early.
🌀@Common_Mistakes_Grammar
86 Avoid + -ing.
❌Don't say: You can't avoid to make mistakes.
✅Say: You can't avoid making mistakes.
🌀@Common_Mistakes_Grammar
87 Enjoy + -ing.
❌Don't say: I enjoy to play football.
✅ Say: I enjoy playing football.
🌀@Common_Mistakes_Grammar
88 Excuse + -ing
❌Don't say: Please excuse me to be so late.
✅Say: Please excuse my being so late.
Or: Please excuse me for being so late.
🌀@Common_Mistakes_Grammar
89 Finish + -ing.
❌Don't say: Have you finished to speak?
✅ Say: Have you finished speaking?
🌀@Common_Mistakes_Grammar
90 Go on (continue) + -ing
❌Don't say: The music went on to play all day.
✅Say: The music went on playing all day.
🌀@Common_Mistakes_Grammar
91 Mind (object to) + -ing
❌Don't say: Would you mind to open the door?
✅Say: Would you mind opening the door?
🌀@Common_Mistakes_Grammar
92 Practise + -ing
❌Don't say: You must practise to speak English.
✅Say: You must practise speaking English.
🌀@Common_Mistakes_Grammar
93 Remember + -ing
❌Don't say: I don't remember to have seen him.
✅Say: I don't remember seeing him.
Or; I don't remember having seen him.
🌀@Common_Mistakes_Grammar
94 Risk + -ing
❌ Don't say: We couldn't risk to leave him alone.
✅ Say: We couldn't risk leaving him alone.
🌀@Common_Mistakes_Grammar
95 Stop + ing
❌ Don't say: The wind has almost stopped to blow
✅ Say: The wind has almost stopped blowing.
🌀@Common_Mistakes_Grammar
96 Busy + -ing.
❌Don't say: tie was busy to revise the exams.
✅Say: He was busy revising for the exams.
🌀@Common_Mistakes_Grammar
97 Worth + -ing.
❌ Don't say. Is today's film worth to see?
✅ Say: Is today's film worth seeing?
🌀@Common_Mistakes_Grammar
98 Have difficulty in + -ing
❌Don't say: She has no difficulty to do it.
✅ Say: She has no difficulty in doing it.
🌀@Common_Mistakes_Grammar
99 Have the pleasure of + -ing.
❌Don't say: I had the pleasure to meet him.
✅Say: I had the pleasure of meeting him.
🌀@Common_Mistakes_Grammar
100 It's no use + -ing.
❌ Don't say: It's no use to cry like a baby.
✅ Say: It's no use crying like a baby.
🌀@Common_Mistakes_Grammar
