10 Common Mistakes in English Words That Make You Sound Less Natural

Sometimes an English mistake happens not because of grammar, but because of the wrong word choice. The translation may look similar, the meaning is clear, but the phrase still sounds odd. These mistakes are especially frustrating: it feels like you know the word, but a native speaker would say it differently.

Below are ten common cases where Russian logic gets in the way of English word choice. It helps to learn them not as a list of bans, but as pairs: the unnatural habit and the natural alternative.

1. Do a mistake instead of make a mistake

In Russian, we say "делать ошибку," so it’s tempting to say do a mistake. In English, the correct phrase is make a mistake.

Correct

I made a mistake.

Everyone makes mistakes.

Try memorizing the whole chunk: make a mistake.

2. Say me instead of tell me

If there is a person who is being told something, tell is usually the right verb.

Incorrect

Say me the answer.

Correct

Tell me the answer.

Use say when the exact words matter: What did you say?

3. Listen music instead of listen to music

After listen, you need the preposition to.

Correct

I listen to music every day.

Listen to me, please.

By contrast, hear is used without to: I hear music.

4. Depend from instead of depend on

In English, you say depend on.

Correct

It depends on the weather.

The result depends on your practice.

It’s best to learn the preposition together with the phrase: depend on.

5. Good in English instead of good at English

When saying that someone is skilled at something, English usually uses good at.

Correct

She is good at English.

I am not very good at speaking.

Good in can appear in other contexts, but for skills, remember good at.

6. Discuss about instead of discuss

Discuss already means "to talk about something," so about is usually unnecessary.

Incorrect

We discussed about the project.

Correct

We discussed the project.

You can also say talk about the project.

7. Explain me instead of explain to me

With explain, you can’t usually put the person directly after the verb in this meaning. The pattern is explain something to someone.

Correct

Can you explain this to me?

She explained the rule to the students.

Short formula: explain something to someone.

8. Very like instead of really like

In Russian, you can say "очень нравится," but in English very like doesn’t work. Use really like or like very much.

Correct

I really like this book.

I like this song very much.

In spoken English, really like sounds more natural.

9. In the internet instead of on the internet

For the internet, English usually uses on.

Correct

I found it on the internet.

There are many examples on the internet.

The same pattern applies to: on the website, on YouTube, on Instagram.

10. I feel myself instead of I feel

The Russian "я чувствую себя" often leads to I feel myself. In English, I feel is usually enough.

Correct

I feel tired.

I feel better today.

I feel nervous before meetings.

Feel myself can exist in other meanings, but for health and mood, remember I feel + adjective.

How to fix these mistakes

Don’t learn the mistake separately from the correct phrase. It’s better to make a flashcard with the full natural chunk.

• make a mistake;
• tell me;
• listen to music;
• depend on;
• good at;
• discuss the project;
• explain this to me;
• really like;
• on the internet;
• I feel tired.

These ready-made combinations are what help you sound more natural.

Mini practice

Cover the correct answers and try to fix the sentences.

• I did a mistake.
• Say me your name.
• I listen music.
• It depends from you.
• She is good in English.
• We discussed about it.
• Explain me this rule.
• I very like coffee.
• I saw it in the internet.
• I feel myself tired.

Then check yourself and review only the phrases you got wrong.

The main point

Mistakes like these are not fixed by five-page rules, but by frequent ready-made collocations. The more often you see and repeat the correct phrase, the less you’ll want to translate word for word from Russian.

Add tricky pairs to your flashcards and review them as whole expressions. It’s faster than trying to remember the rule from scratch every time.