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8 Tips to Master Your Spoken
Everyone has their own ways of expression. I believe we all have a lot to say, but
finding ways to say it is more than half the battle. Author Criss Jami
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Every Mile (http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/16347970)
Anyone learning English as a Second Language will make mistakes along the way. It is
inevitable. Dont worry. Ive made more than my share of speaking mistakes while
studying foreign languages. The important thing is to learn from these mistakes so you
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Tips On How to Build Up Your
Confidence When Speaking
Englis...
become a more capable, confident speaker. This blog describes many of these common
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speaking mistakes for ESL speakers. Heres hoping that some of these suggestions can be
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helpful to you:
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1. Much, more, less (some nouns occur only in the singular form)
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Incorrect: There is much dusts. There is more courages. He had less funs.
Correct: There is much dust. There is more courage. He had less fun.
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knowledge-spectacular/)
Incorrect: The dog lost his bone. (You dont know the gender.)
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5. That/who
and-formal-in-the-english-
language/)
6. Me/I
Incorrect: Give it to I. Jason and me took the class. He read as well as me.
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Correct: Give it to me. Jason and I took the class. He read as well as I.
/blog/attention-all-englishlanguage-learners-avoiding-
7. This/that/those/these
Incorrect: These/those is my child. That/this are my children.
the-200-most-common-englishmistakes/)
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9. Quality (well/good)
Incorrect: She sings good.
Correct: She sings well.
an-elephant-learn-faster-than-a-
Incorrect: She spoke to him quiet. He shouted not as loud as the rest of the group.
trained-monkey-and-kill-the-esl-
Correct: She spoke to him quietly. He shouted not as loudly as the rest of the group.
learning-slump/)
English
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esl-language/)
What Science Tells Us About
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Language Learning
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17. Misplaced adverbs (Be careful where the adverb is placed in the sentence as it
learning-what-science-tells-us/)
Incorrect: She almost washed all of the dishes. He offered to paint the fence last night.
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Correct: She washed almost all of the dishes. Last night, he offered to paint the fence.
/blog/40-proverbs-to-spice-
up-your-english-and-makeyou-wiser-2/)
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to/saw
26. An/a
Incorrect: It is a old television set, but it still works. It is an costly purchase.
Correct: It is an old television set, but it still works. It is a costly purchase.
27. Alternative/alternate
Incorrect: We will alternative playing the video games. The salad is a healthier alternate.
Correct: We will alternate playing the video games. The salad is a healthier alternative.
28. Amicable (used to describe arrangements or settlements agreed peacefully by
parties)/
Amiable (used to describe people who are kind, gentle and friendly)
Incorrect: The soccer teams were amicable
Correct: The soccer teams were amiable
29. Among/between
Incorrect: She could not decide among the two guys.
Correct: She could not decide between the two guys.
30. Beside (means next to)/besides (means in addition to)
Incorrect: Ask him to sit besides me.
Correct: Ask him to sit beside me.
31. Bimonthly (every 2 months)/Semi-monthly (2 times a month)
Incorrect: I get paid bimonthly (every 2 months when you want to say every 2 months).
Correct: I get paid semi-monthly (every 2 months).
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39. Last (that what comes at the end)/latest (last in time, but not necessarily the final
occurrence)
Incorrect: It is the latest game of the season.
Correct: It is the last game of the season.
40. Lay/lie/laid (to put down) lie/lay/lain (to recline or repose)
Incorrect: I will lie the paper on the table.
Correct: I will lay the paper on the table.
41. Learn (acquire information)/teach (impart knowledge)
Incorrect: I will learn the English to him.
Correct: I will teach the English to him.
42. Presently (soon or shortly)/at present (now, currently, at this time)
Incorrect: Presently, the boss is in his office.
Correct: At present, the boss is in his office.
43. Regardless (despite)/irregardless (a nonstandard word)
Incorrect: Irregardless of what you want, the restaurant does not have it.
Correct: Regardless of what you want, the restaurant does not have it.
44. Rare (implies value)/scarce (applied to ordinary things that are no longer in
abundant)
Incorrect: The painting was very scarce.
Correct: The painting was very rare.
45. Future tense
Incorrect: Tomorrow we go shopping.
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Incorrect: My English it is improving. My friend Mary she is going out with me.
Correct: My English is improving. My friend Mary is going out with me.
53. Incorrect preposition
Incorrect: In January 13 th, I will be twenty.
Correct: On January 13th, I will be twenty.
54. Nobody/anybody
Incorrect: At the party, I didnt meet nobody.
Correct: At the party, I didnt meet anybody.
55. Possessive
Incorrect: She lives with shes father.
Correct: She lives with her father.
56. Of come/have come
Incorrect: I would of come if I had a car.
Correct: I would have come if I had a car.
57. Loan/borrow
Incorrect: I loaned the book from the library.
Correct: I borrowed the book from the library.
58. Grade/year
Incorrect: I am in the third grade of college. My little brother is in the third year of school.
Correct: I am in the third year of college. My little brother is in the third grade of school.
59. Irregular plurals
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