Test Your English: 25 Most Common English Mistakes Professionals Make at Workplace

25 Common Grammar Mistakes Indian Professionals Make (With Direct Corrections)

By the end of this reading, you'll have an edge over 70% of working professionals in accurate and effective English communication.

Many employees in India make repeated grammar mistakes due to cultural influence, mother-tongue interference, or workplace environment. Based on my 13 years of experience, assessing over 8,000 professionals across IT, chemical, electrical, automobile, medical, education, HR, management, production, and import-export sectors, I've identified the most common mistakes and shared direct corrections you can apply immediately.

This reading focuses on practical application, so you can start improving your corporate emails, presentations, and meetings right away.

The 25 Most Common Grammar Mistakes

1) Subject-Verb Agreement

Incorrect: She don't like coffee.

Correct: She doesn't like coffee.

Incorrect: The manager don't approve the leave request.

Correct: The manager doesn't approve the leave request.

Use correct verb form for singular/plural subjects.

2) Wrong Past Participle

Incorrect: I have went to the meeting.

Correct: I have gone to the meeting.

Incorrect: The team has went over the budget report.

Correct: The team has gone over the budget report.

Use past participle with "have/has."

3) Modal Verb + Base Form

Incorrect: He can sings well.

Correct: He can sing well.

Incorrect: You should attends the client meeting.

Correct: You should attend the client meeting.

Modal verbs are followed by base verbs.

4) Incorrect Tense Usage (Since/For)

Incorrect: I am working here since 2010.

Correct: I have been working here since 2010.

Incorrect: She is leading the team since last year.

Correct: She has been leading the team since last year.

Use present perfect continuous for ongoing actions.

5) Double Comparative

Incorrect: She is more smarter than him.

Correct: She is smarter than him.

Incorrect: This strategy is more better than the previous plan.

Correct: This strategy is better than the previous plan.

Avoid double comparatives.

6) Redundant "About" with Discuss

Incorrect: I will discuss about the project.

Correct: I will discuss the project.

Incorrect: We discussed about the new marketing plan.

Correct: We discussed the new marketing plan.

"Discuss" does not take "about."

7) Wrong Preposition After Adjective

Incorrect: He is good in English.

Correct: He is good at English.

Incorrect: She is excellent in negotiation skills.

Correct: She is excellent at negotiation skills.

Use correct preposition with adjectives.

8) Wrong Use of Articles (a/an/the)

Incorrect: He is a engineer.

Correct: He is an engineer.

Incorrect: She is the best manager in the team.

Correct: She is the best manager in the team.

Use "a/an" based on vowel sound; "the" for specific items.

9) Plural vs Singular Errors

Incorrect: Some visitors is coming today to meet us.

Correct: Some visitors are coming today to meet us.

Incorrect: The datas are inaccurate.

Correct: The data are inaccurate.

Ensure correct singular/plural form with verb.

10) Incorrect Superlative Form

Incorrect: She is the bestest candidate.

Correct: She is the best candidate.

Incorrect: This is the most easiest way.

Correct: This is the easiest way.

Avoid incorrect superlatives; use correct form.

11) Wrong Continuous Tense with Stative Verbs

Incorrect: She is knowing the answer.

Correct: She knows the answer.

Incorrect: I am believing in your strategy.

Correct: I believe in your strategy.

Stative verbs are not used in continuous tense.

12) Wrong Continuous Tense Duration

Incorrect: I am waiting since an hour.

Correct: I have been waiting for an hour.

Incorrect: He is staying here since Monday.

Correct: He has been staying here since Monday.

Use present perfect continuous with "for/since."

13) Incorrect Future Tense in Dependent Clause

Incorrect: I will call you after I will reach home.

Correct: I will call you after I reach home.

Incorrect: She will share the report once she will finish it.

Correct: She will share the report once she finishes it.

Do not use "will" in both clauses.

14) Incorrect Use of "Less" vs "Fewer"

Incorrect: She has less experience than him.

Correct: She has fewer experiences than him.

Incorrect: There are less candidates than expected.

Correct: There are fewer candidates than expected.

Use "fewer" for countable nouns, "less" for uncountable.

15) Incorrect Use of Preposition "Since" vs "For"

Incorrect: I have been working here since five years.

Correct: I have been working here for five years.

Incorrect: She has been leading the project since two months.

Correct: She has been leading the project for two months.

"For" is used with duration; "since" with specific start time.

16) Incorrect Tense with Specific Past Time

Incorrect: I have seen him yesterday.

Correct: I saw him yesterday.

Incorrect: She has completed the report last week.

Correct: She completed the report last week.

Use simple past for finished past events.

17) Wrong Use of Comparisons Between Two Items

Incorrect: She is the best among the two.

Correct: She is the better of the two.

Incorrect: This proposal is the worst among the two.

Correct: This proposal is the worse of the two.

Use "better/worse" for two items.

18) Incorrect Use of "Myself"

Incorrect: Myself and my team handled the project.

Correct: My team and I handled the project.

Incorrect: Please contact myself for details.

Correct: Please contact me for details.

Use "I/me," not "myself," unless reflexive.

19) Wrong Use of "Look Forward To" + Verb

Incorrect: I am looking forward to meet you.

Correct: I am looking forward to meeting you.

Incorrect: We are looking forward to discuss the proposal.

Correct: We are looking forward to discussing the proposal.

"Look forward to" is followed by gerund.

20) Using "In" vs "On" for Membership/Team

Incorrect: He is the best player of the team.

Correct: He is the best player on the team.

Incorrect: She is a key member of the committee.

Correct: She is a key member on the committee.

"On" indicates group membership.

21) Double Negatives

Incorrect: I don't need no assistance.

Correct: I don't need any assistance.

Incorrect: He didn't say nothing in the meeting.

Correct: He didn't say anything in the meeting.

Avoid double negatives; they are incorrect in formal English.

22) Wrong Placement of Negatives

Incorrect: He is a good player, but he don't practice regularly.

Correct: He is a good player, but he doesn't practice regularly.

Incorrect: She is talented, but she don't manage time well.

Correct: She is talented, but she doesn't manage time well.

Correct verb form with third-person singular.

23) Wrong Use of Comparative Form

Incorrect: He is more tall than his brother.

Correct: He is taller than his brother.

Incorrect: This strategy is more effective than previous one.

Correct: This strategy is more effective than the previous one.

Use correct comparative forms.

24) Redundant Words in Sentence

Incorrect: She is a very talented and a hardworking employee.

Correct: She is a very talented and hardworking employee.

Incorrect: He is a dedicated and a committed professional.

Correct: He is a dedicated and committed professional.

Avoid repeating articles unnecessarily.

25) Wrong Preposition with Deadline

Incorrect: I will complete the task till tomorrow.

Correct: I will complete the task by tomorrow.

Incorrect: Submit the report till Friday.

Correct: Submit the report by Friday.

Use "by" for deadlines.

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