Common English Mistakes in Script Treatments by Spanish Speakers

This page focuses on errors typically made by native Spanish speakers from Mexico when writing a Script Treatment in English.

Mistake Example #1

Direct translation of Spanish expressions ('I have 25 years' instead of 'I am 25 years old')

In the bustling streets of Mexico City, Juan walks with a sense of urgency. He hais 25 yearsold and dreams of becoming a famous actor. As he approaches the casting office, he thinks about the opportunity that waits for him inside,. He hopinges ithe will bhave the chance to finally make his dreams areality.

Text corrected by:
Jennifer, Detroit, Michigan USA

"Good work! I just made some changes so the English would sound more natural."

In the bustling streets of Mexico City, Juan walks with a sense of urgency. He is 25 years old and dreams of becoming a famous actor. As he approaches the casting office, he thinks about the opportunity that waits for him inside. He hopes he will have the chance to finally make his dreams a reality.

In the bustling streets of Mexico City, Juan walks with a sense of urgency. He has 25 years and dreams of becoming a famous actor. As he approaches the casting office, he thinks about the opportunity that waits for him inside, hoping it will be the chance to finally make his dreams reality.

Mistake Example #2

Misuse of prepositions ('Married with' instead of 'Married to')

In the bustling streets of Mexico City, a young woman named Sofia dreams of becoming a renowned filmmaker. She is inspired by the vibrant culture and colorful traditions that surround her every day. Sofia is married witho a talented musician, and together they create stories that resonate with the heartbeats of their city. As she writes her latest script treatment, she envisions a tale of love and resilience, set against the backdrop of the Day of the Dead celebrations. Her characters are deeply connected witho their roots, and Sofia hopes to capture the essence of their journey with authenticity and passion.

Text corrected by:
Miss E., Cyprus, Europe

"This is mostly well-written - just this: "Sofia is married with a talented musician" should be "Sofia is married to a talented musician" and "Her characters are deeply connected with their roots" should be "Her characters are deeply connected to their roots"."

In the bustling streets of Mexico City, a young woman named Sofia dreams of becoming a renowned filmmaker. She is inspired by the vibrant culture and colorful traditions that surround her every day. Sofia is married to a talented musician, and together they create stories that resonate with the heartbeats of their city. As she writes her latest script treatment, she envisions a tale of love and resilience, set against the backdrop of the Day of the Dead celebrations. Her characters are deeply connected to their roots, and Sofia hopes to capture the essence of their journey with authenticity and passion.

In the bustling streets of Mexico City, a young woman named Sofia dreams of becoming a renowned filmmaker. She is inspired by the vibrant culture and colorful traditions that surround her every day. Sofia is married with a talented musician, and together they create stories that resonate with the heartbeats of their city. As she writes her latest script treatment, she envisions a tale of love and resilience, set against the backdrop of the Day of the Dead celebrations. Her characters are deeply connected with their roots, and Sofia hopes to capture the essence of their journey with authenticity and passion.

Mistake Example #3

Overuse of present continuous ('I am going to the school every day' instead of 'I go to school every day')

In the bustling streets of Mexico City, Maria isdreamings about becoming a famous actress. She ismeetings with directors every week, hoping to land the role that will change her life. Her passion isdrivinges her to the theater every day, where she ispracticinges her lines with dedication and enthusiasm.

Text corrected by:
Gregg, Los Angeles, CA

"This needed some corrections for verb tense issues."

In the bustling streets of Mexico City, Maria dreams about becoming a famous actress. She meets with directors every week, hoping to land the role that will change her life. Her passion drives her to the theater every day, where she practices her lines with dedication and enthusiasm.

In the bustling streets of Mexico City, Maria is dreaming about becoming a famous actress. She is meeting with directors every week, hoping to land the role that will change her life. Her passion is driving her to the theater every day, where she is practicing her lines with dedication and enthusiasm.