How to Stop Making the Same Mistake in English Speaking

Do you ever feel like you repeat the same mistakes when you speak English? You're not alone. Many English learners from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and elsewhere face this. In this friendly guide, we'll explore smart ways to break the pattern.

Why Do We Repeat Mistakes?

First, let’s accept that making mistakes is part of learning. Psychologists call this a growth mindset—seeing mistakes as chances to improve. ^[1]

Second, errors can get “fossilized” if not corrected early. Fossilization means a mistake becomes fixed in your speaking pattern. ^[2]

Third, if you don’t notice your mistake right away, your brain doesn’t get the chance to adjust. A study on timing of feedback shows that correcting after speaking may work better than stopping you immediately. ^[3]

Common Speaking Mistakes Beginners Make

Before you fix something, you must recognize it. Here are errors many learners repeat:

Misusing articles (“a”, “an”, “the”) — e.g. saying “I go to school” vs. “I go to the school” incorrectly. ^[4]
Subject–verb agreement errors — e.g. “He go” instead of “He goes.” ^[5]
Wrong word order in questions — e.g. “You are coming?” instead of “Are you coming?” ^[5]
Confusing “me too” / “me either” — e.g. “I don’t like that. — Me too.” (Wrong) It should be “Me either.” ^[6]
Mixing prepositions (“in”, “on”, “at”) or using literal translations from your native tongue. ^[7]
Leaving out small but vital words like “to” in “want to go.” ^[8]

Steps to Stop Repeating Mistakes

Here’s a step-by-step plan you can follow. Be gentle with yourself.

1. Keep an Error Journal

Every time someone corrects you, or you realize your own mistake, write it down. Note:

What you said (wrong form)
The correct form
When you made it (in conversation, writing, etc.)

Review your journal daily or weekly. Over time, you’ll see a pattern.

2. Focus on One Mistake at a Time

Don’t try to fix everything at once. Choose one error (e.g. article use) for a week. Practice it in many sentences and conversations.

3. Practice with Mini-Dialogs & Role Play

Use short dialogues or role plays that force you to use the target structure. For example:

You: “I go to the park yesterday.”
Friend: “Oh, you went to the park yesterday?”
You: “Yes, I went to the park.”

Such repetition helps your brain build a stronger memory.

4. Use Self-Correction & Monitoring

After you speak, pause slightly and think: “Did I say that right?” Try to self-correct. Research shows self-correction can improve learning, especially when learners are motivated. ^[9]

5. Get Delayed, Kind Feedback

Immediate correction sometimes interrupts your flow. Many language teaching studies suggest delayed feedback (after you finish your thought) can help fluency without breaking concentration. ^[3] Use recasts (where someone repeats your sentence in a correct way) gently. ^[10]

6. Speak & Use the Mistake in Real Contexts

Find a partner or teacher and use sentences that force you to use the correct form in real speech. The more times your brain practices the correct version, the more it replaces the wrong one.

Common Speaking Mistakes in English

These are mistakes learners often make in daily conversation—and how to say them correctly:

Mistake	Correction
Me too (after a negative)	Me either.
He go to school.	He goes to school.
She don’t like it.	She doesn’t like it.
I am agree.	I agree.
We was happy.	We were happy.
I no like it	I don’t like it
Can you borrow me your pen?	Can you lend me your pen?
Where you go?	Where are you going?
I no understand.	I don’t understand.
I am boring.	I am bored.
He is very much tired.	He is very tired.
She is married with a doctor.	She is married to a doctor.
Give me some advice.	Can you give me some advice?
I want go now.	I want to go now.
He can to swim.	He can swim.
She is knowing him.	She knows him.
I didn’t went there.	I didn’t go there.
He told me to not go.	He told me not to go.
Me and him went shopping.	He and I went shopping.
I very like it.	I like it very much.
He suggested me go there.	He suggested I go there.
I am interesting in English.	I am interested in English.
She is good in singing.	She is good at singing.
I enjoy to read books.	I enjoy reading books.
He is more smarter than me.	He is smarter than me.
He has many money.	He has a lot of money.
I look forward to meet you.	I look forward to meeting you.
She said me hello.	She said hello to me.
He is working here since two years.	He has been working here for two years.
I afraid from dogs.	I am afraid of dogs.
He likes play football.	He likes playing football.
She go to office now.	She is going to the office now.
You understand?	Do you understand?
No, I no	No, I don’t
Me also	Me too
She didn’t saw him.	She didn’t see him.
I am agree with you.	I agree with you.
Where is you from?	Where are you from?
He is boring.	He is bored.
I am live here since 2015.	I have lived here since 2015.
I want learn English.	I want to learn English.
He suggested me to take rest.	He suggested that I take rest.
He did mistake.	He made a mistake.
Can I borrow some sugar from you?	Can I have some sugar?
He is knowing the answer.	He knows the answer.
I no like it.	I don’t like it.
He is very much happy.	He is very happy.
I am looking forward to see you.	I am looking forward to seeing you.
Me and him are friends.	He and I are friends.
He explained me the problem.	He explained the problem to me.

Extra Tips

Here are extra ideas that never go out of style (evergreen), but also reflect currently effective techniques (trending):

Use language apps like speech-recognition tools to catch pronunciation & grammar slips.
Record yourself speaking and compare with native speakers (shadowing).
Watch YouTube English speaking tutorials that focus on “common errors” and repeat them. (These are trending among learners.)
Use “English speaking mistake correction techniques” as a search term to find recent blog posts, videos, or podcasts.
Engage with online speaking clubs or tandem partners and ask them to point out just one error per conversation. Less is more.

How Long Will It Take?

It depends on how often you practice. If you are consistent—daily mini practice, thinking in English, self-correction, feedback—then in a few weeks you should see real change.

But don’t expect perfection overnight. Even native speakers make grammar or usage slips. ^[11][12]

Summary: Your Friendly Roadmap

Here’s a quick recap:

Acknowledge mistakes are part of learning.
Track errors with an error journal.
Pick one mistake at a time.
Use self-correction and delayed feedback.
Practice in real speaking contexts.
Be consistent and patient.

Keep going. With time, your confidence grows, your errors shrink, and your English turns more natural.

See also:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why do I keep making the same speaking mistakes?

Repeated mistakes happen because of habits, lack of practice, or thinking in your native language. Consistent awareness and practice are key to overcoming them.

2. How can I identify my most common speaking mistakes?

Record yourself speaking, ask a friend or teacher for feedback, or use apps that detect grammar errors. Regular review helps you spot recurring mistakes.

3. What are effective ways to stop repeating mistakes?

Focus on one mistake at a time, practice it in sentences, and use it in conversation. Shadowing, repetition, and self-correction help reinforce the correct usage.

4. How long does it take to stop making a repeated mistake?

It depends on how often you practice and how serious the mistake is. Daily mini practice, thinking in English, and self-awareness usually lead to noticeable improvement in a few weeks.

5. Can mistakes ever completely go away?

Even fluent speakers make mistakes sometimes. The goal is to reduce recurring errors and speak more confidently, rather than expecting perfection.

References

Ashia Jade. The Magic of Mistakes in Language Learning. Medium.
Steve. (2023, January 27). Fossilization in second language acquisition. English Coach Online. https://englishcoachonline.com/blog/fossilization-in-second-language-acquisition/
Xu, M., & Zeng, S. (2023). Optimal timing of treatment for errors in second language learning - A systematic review of corrective feedback timing. Frontiers in psychology, 14, 1026174.
Miller, J. (2005). Most of ESL students have trouble with the articles.International Education Journal, 5(5), 80–88.
Bay Atlantic University. (2021). 10 Common Mistakes ESL Students Make. BAU Blog.
Miranda Parr. (2025). 9 Common English speaking mistakes (+ expert tips to avoid them). Preply Blog.
TalkToCanada. (n.d.). 100 Speaking Mistakes Youre Most Likely Making As An English As A Second Language Speaker. TalkToCanada Blog.
TEFL Lemon. (n.d.). Error Correction in Language Learning. TEFL Lemon.
Lázaro-Ibarrola, Amparo. (2009).Reformulation and self-correction:: testing the validity of correction strategies in the classroom. Revista española de lingüística aplicada, ISSN 0213-2028, Vol. 22, 2009, pags. 189-216. 22.
Wikipedia contributors. (2023). Recast (language teaching). Wikipedia.
Global Nomad English. (n.d.). Five “mistakes” native speakers make. Global Nomad English.
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Speech error.Wikipedia.

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