Grammar gets all the attention, but word choice is what really separates intermediate speakers from fluent ones. Native speakers rarely think about grammar rules — but they instantly notice when someone uses a word that sounds "off." The good news is that most of these vocabulary mistakes follow predictable patterns, and fixing them is easier than you think.
1. Using "Make" and "Do" Interchangeably
This is one of the most common mistakes across almost every language background. In many languages, a single verb covers both — but in English, "make" and "do" have distinct uses.
- Make = creating or producing something: make a decision, make a mistake, make breakfast, make progress
- Do = performing an action or task: do homework, do the dishes, do your best, do research
Fix: When you add a new verb phrase to your vocabulary, always save the full collocation — not just the base word. "Make a decision" as a unit is much more useful than "decision" alone.
2. Overusing "Very"
Beginners lean on "very" as a universal intensifier: very big, very small, very good, very bad. It works — people will understand you — but it sounds flat and undeveloped.
English has precise words for almost every "very + adjective" combination:
- very big → enormous, massive, huge
- very small → tiny, minuscule
- very good → excellent, outstanding, superb
- very bad → terrible, awful, dreadful
- very tired → exhausted
- very hungry → starving
Fix: Each time you catch yourself thinking "very + adjective," look up the precise word instead and add it to your vocabulary. Over time, your English will sound noticeably more natural.
3. Confusing "Say" and "Tell"
Another pair that causes constant errors. The rule is straightforward but easy to forget:
- Say = focuses on the words spoken: "She said she was tired."
- Tell = requires a person as the object: "She told me she was tired."
You say something. You tell someone something. Mix them up and the sentence sounds immediately wrong to native ears.
4. Using "Actually" When You Mean "Currently"
In French, Spanish, Portuguese, and several other languages, "actually" (actuellement, actualmente) means "currently." In English, "actually" means "in fact" or "to correct a misunderstanding". Saying "I actually work at Google" sounds like you are correcting someone who thought you worked somewhere else — not like you are describing your current job.
Fix: Use "currently" or "right now" for things happening in the present. Save "actually" for corrections and surprises.
5. Saying "Learn" When You Mean "Teach"
In some languages, the same word covers both directions. In English, the distinction matters:
- Learn = to gain knowledge (you learn)
- Teach = to give knowledge (someone teaches you)
"My teacher learned me English" is one of the most recognizable beginner mistakes. The correct version: "My teacher taught me English."
6. Using "Bored" and "Boring" Incorrectly
The -ed form describes how you feel. The -ing form describes what causes the feeling. This applies to dozens of adjective pairs: interested/interesting, excited/exciting, confused/confusing, frustrated/frustrating.
"I am boring" means you are a boring person. "I am bored" means you have nothing to do. Big difference.
7. Relying on Direct Translations
Every language has expressions that do not translate word-for-word. When you try to translate directly from your native language, the result often sounds unnatural even if it is grammatically correct. "I have 25 years" (from Romance languages) instead of "I am 25 years old" is a classic example.
Fix: When you learn a new word or phrase, learn it inside an English sentence — not as an isolated translation. Seeing how native speakers actually use a word is the fastest way to avoid awkward direct translations.
Building Better Word Habits
The pattern across all seven mistakes is the same: context matters as much as meaning. Learning a word in isolation — just the translation — gives you the meaning but not the usage. Learning a word with example sentences, audio, and images gives you the full picture.
This is exactly why LexiMory pairs every word with real example sentences, vivid images, and native audio. When you review a word, you are not just recalling a translation — you are recalling how the word sounds, looks, and lives inside a real sentence. Over time, this builds natural instincts about word choice that make your English sound polished and fluent, not just correct.