15 Common English Mistakes Indian Speakers Make (And Easy Fixes)

Updated 2026-09-12 · English Talk

These come from Hindi sentence patterns carrying over into English. Everyone makes them, including people whose English is otherwise excellent. Fix them one at a time.

Direct translations from Hindi

"Myself Rahul." → "I'm Rahul." / "My name is Rahul."
"I am having a car." → "I have a car." (Possession does not take "am having".)
"Do one thing…" (from ek kaam karo) → "Here's what you can do…"
"What is your good name?" → "What's your name?"
"I am going to office." → "I'm going to the office."
"Kindly do the needful." → "Please take care of it." (Very Indian-English; confusing abroad.)

Tense habits

"I am knowing him since 5 years." → "I have known him for five years."
"I didn't went." → "I didn't go." (After did, the verb stays plain.)
"Yesterday I have gone to Delhi." → "Yesterday I went to Delhi."
"I am working here since 2020." → "I have been working here since 2020."

Small words that change everything

"Discuss about the plan." → "Discuss the plan." (No about.)
"Return back" / "Revert back." → "Return." / "Reply."
"I am agree." → "I agree."
"Cousin brother." → "Cousin."
"Prepone the meeting." → "Move the meeting earlier." (Prepone is Indian English only.)

How to actually fix them

Reading this list changes nothing by itself — you already knew most of these. The fix is narrower:

Pick ONE you know you say often.
Watch for it for a week while speaking. You will catch it after you say it — that is the first stage, and it is normal.
Then you start catching it as you say it. Then before. That is the whole process, per mistake.

And do not let this list slow you down

Here is the trap: people read a mistakes list and become more hesitant, checking every sentence before it leaves their mouth. That makes speech worse, not better.

Fluency first, accuracy second. A confident speaker who says "I didn't went" is far more effective than a silent one with perfect grammar.

Practise speaking freely — mistakes and all →

Practise English with a real person

Free voice calls with other learners. Nothing to fill in, no signup.

Start in your browser → Get the Android app →

Common questions

Are these mistakes a big problem?

Mostly no — people understand you anyway. They matter in interviews and written communication, where they are noticed. In casual conversation, fluency matters far more than any item on this list.

Is Indian English wrong?

No. Indian English is a recognised variety with its own patterns. This list is about the specific habits that confuse people outside India, not about sounding British or American.

How do I stop making them?

Fix one at a time. Pick the mistake you make most, watch for it for a week, and let the rest wait. Trying to fix fifteen things at once fixes none.

English Bolna Kaise Sikhe — Ghar Baithe, Bina Coaching KeEnglish bolna seekhne ka sabse tez tarika: roz kisi asli insaan se baat karna. Practical steps, common galtiyan, aur free practice partner.Free English Speaking Practice Online — With Real People, No SignupPractise spoken English on free voice calls with real people. No signup, no payment, no app install — start talking in your browser in 30 seconds.How to Practise English Speaking Alone at Home (And Where It Stops Working)Practical ways to practise English speaking by yourself — shadowing, recording, thinking aloud — and the point where you need a real person instead.English Conversation Practice With Strangers — Is It Safe, And Does It Work?Practising English on voice calls with strangers: why it works, what to say in the first ten seconds, and how anonymity and safety are handled.Daily Use English Sentences — 60 Vaakya Jo Roz Kaam Aate HainRoz ke kaam mein aane wale 60 English sentences, Hindi matlab ke saath. Ratna nahi hai — bolna hai. Har group ke baad practice ka tarika.40 English Conversation Topics for Practice (When Your Mind Goes Blank)Ready-made conversation topics and questions for English speaking practice — for beginners to advanced, plus what to do when the conversation dies.

See all 15 guides →