6 English Mistakes Even Advanced Learners Still Make
By Anthony Whelan · 13 October 2026 · 4 min read
By advanced level, people communicate well and the mistakes that remain are small, but they stand out because everything else is so good. They also tend to become habits, which makes them harder to remove. Here are six I hear again and again.
1. Making uncountable nouns plural
Words like advice, information, news, furniture, luggage and research are uncountable in English. They have no plural form, and you cannot use “a” with them. Use a piece of, some, or a quantity word instead.
Instead ofShe gave me many advices and informations.
SayShe gave me a lot of advice and information.
Instead ofI need a new furniture.
SayI need a new piece of furniture.
2. Adding “about” after verbs that do not need it
Verbs such as discuss, mention and explain take their object directly, so no extra preposition is needed.
Instead ofWe discussed about the budget.
SayWe discussed the budget.
Instead ofHe mentioned about the delay.
SayHe mentioned the delay.
3. Putting the person straight after “explain” or “suggest”
With explain, say, suggest and describe, the thing comes first and the person follows after to.
Instead ofCan you explain me the rule?
SayCan you explain the rule to me?
Instead ofShe suggested me a good book.
SayShe suggested a good book to me. / She recommended a good book to me.
4. Saying “do research” as “make a research”
Research is uncountable and goes with do or carry out. Similar mistakes happen with “make a photo” (take a photo) and “make an exam” (take or sit an exam).
Instead ofI am making a research on this topic.
SayI am doing research on this topic.
Instead ofShe will make the exam in June.
SayShe will take the exam in June.
5. Using “the” with general ideas
When you talk about something in general, English usually uses no article at all. Use the only when you mean specific things.
Instead ofThe life is expensive in big cities.
SayLife is expensive in big cities.
Instead ofI like the music, especially the jazz.
SayI like music, especially jazz.
6. Mixing up “fewer” and “less”
Use fewer with things you can count and less with things you cannot count. Many native speakers mix them up in casual speech, but in writing and formal situations the difference is noticed.
Instead ofThere were less people than last year.
SayThere were fewer people than last year.
Instead ofI have fewer time than before.
SayI have less time than before.
The best way to fix a habit is to record yourself or ask a teacher to note down every repeated mistake in a conversation. Once you can hear a mistake, you can stop making it.