Common English mistakes Indians make, one page each
24 mistakes that Hindi speakers, and speakers of most Indian languages, make in English: the wrong and right sentence, why your first language pushes you into it (with a short explanation in Hindi), more examples and a quick self-check.
Job interviews
“Myself Rahul”
Myself Rahul, from Pune. → My name is Rahul, and I'm from Pune.
“What is your good name?”
What is your good name? → May I have your name, please?
“I am having experience”
I am having three years experience in Java. → I have three years of experience in Java.
“I passed out in 2022”
I passed out from IIT Delhi in 2022. → I graduated from IIT Delhi in 2022.
“I am a fresher”
I am a fresher, so I have no experience. → I'm a recent graduate, and I did a six-month internship in testing.
Office email and meetings
“I will revert”
I will revert by EOD. → I'll get back to you by the end of the day.
“Do the needful”
Kindly do the needful. → Could you please send the report?
“Prepone the meeting”
Can we prepone the meeting? → Can we move the meeting earlier?
“Discuss about”
Let's discuss about the budget. → Let's discuss the budget.
“Out of station”
I am out of station till Monday. → I'm out of town until Monday.
“I have a doubt”
Sir, I have a doubt in chapter 3. → Sir, I have a question about chapter 3.
“Kindly find attached”
Kindly find attached the file. → I've attached the file.
“Today itself”
I will send it today itself. → I'll send it today, for sure.
Grammar
Since vs for
I am working here since two years. → I have been working here for two years.
“I didn’t went”
I didn't went to office yesterday. → I didn't go to the office yesterday.
“She don’t know”
She don't know about the meeting. → She doesn't know about the meeting.
“Where you live?”
Where you live? → Where do you live?
“…, isn’t it?”
You are coming tomorrow, isn't it? → You're coming tomorrow, aren't you?
“My cousin brother”
He is my cousin brother. → He's my cousin.
“I am software engineer”
I am software engineer. → I'm a software engineer.
“Informations”
Please give me some informations. → Please give me some information.
Pronunciation
V and W sounds
“Ve vill visit the vest ving.” → “We will visit the west wing.”
The “th” sound
“I tink dis is de tird time.” → “I think this is the third time.”
“Ischool”, “istation”
“My istation is near the ischool.” → “My station is near the school.”
Go deeper
- English for Hindi speakers: every trap in one place
- Guide: common English mistakes of Indian speakers, and a two-week practice plan
- English interview phrases: what to say and what to avoid
- WordSlick in Hindi
- Para brasileiros: erros comuns de inglês
Questions
What are the most common English mistakes Indians make?
Dropped articles (“I am software engineer”), -ing with state verbs (“I am having experience”), since and for (“since two years”), question order (“Where you live?”), the universal “isn’t it?” tag, and office phrases like “I will revert” and “do the needful” that colleagues abroad do not follow.
Is Indian English wrong?
No. Indian English is a well-established variety and works well within India. Some of its words and patterns confuse international listeners or read as mistakes in interviews and exams, so it helps to know both forms and choose.
How can I fix these mistakes?
One or two at a time. Read the page, do the self-check, then say the correct sentences out loud every day for a week. Mistakes you only know about tend to come back in fast speech; mistakes you have practised out loud stop.