Common English Mistakes in Feature Stories by Spanish Speakers

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

Mistake Example #1

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, I amseeing the vibrant colors of the market every day. Vendors areselling their goods with enthusiasm, and I amhearing the lively chatter of people who are coming to buy fresh produce and handmade crafts. As I amwalking through the aisles, the aroma of street food isfillings the air, making it impossible to resist trying a delicious taco or tamale.

Text corrected by:
Miss E., Cyprus, Europe

"Please be mindful of errors such as the following: "I am seeing the vibrant colors of the market every day" should be "I see the vibrant colors of the market every day" and "Vendors are selling their goods with enthusiasm" should be "Vendors sell their goods with enthusiasm". "

In the bustling streets of Mexico City, I see the vibrant colors of the market every day. Vendors sell their goods with enthusiasm, and I hear the lively chatter of people who are coming to buy fresh produce and handmade crafts. As I walk through the aisles, the aroma of street food fills the air, making it impossible to resist trying a delicious taco or tamale.

In the bustling streets of Mexico City, I am seeing the vibrant colors of the market every day. Vendors are selling their goods with enthusiasm, and I am hearing the lively chatter of people who are coming to buy fresh produce and handmade crafts. As I am walking through the aisles, the aroma of street food is filling the air, making it impossible to resist trying a delicious taco or tamale.

Mistake Example #2

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

In the vibrant streets of Mexico City, the air is filled with the aroma of freshly made tortillas and the sound of mariachi music. I havem 25 yearsold, and since I was a child, I have always been fascinated by the colorful celebrations of Día de los Muertos. This festival, which honors the deceased, is a time when families gather to remember their loved ones, decorating altars with marigolds and sugar skulls.

Text corrected by:
Miss E., Cyprus, Europe

"This is close to perfect - there's just this: "I have 25 years" should be "I am 25 years old"."

In the vibrant streets of Mexico City, the air is filled with the aroma of freshly made tortillas and the sound of mariachi music. I am 25 years old, and since I was a child, I have always been fascinated by the colorful celebrations of Día de los Muertos. This festival, which honors the deceased, is a time when families gather to remember their loved ones, decorating altars with marigolds and sugar skulls.

In the vibrant streets of Mexico City, the air is filled with the aroma of freshly made tortillas and the sound of mariachi music. I have 25 years, and since I was a child, I have always been fascinated by the colorful celebrations of Día de los Muertos. This festival, which honors the deceased, is a time when families gather to remember their loved ones, decorating altars with marigolds and sugar skulls.

Mistake Example #3

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

In the vibrant streets of Mexico City, Maria,—a talented chef,—shares her journey of becoming a culinary sensation. She talks about how she indulgot marriedwith her passion for cooking at a young age, inspired by her grandmother's traditional recipes. Now, Maria is dedicated witho bringing authentic Mexican flavors to the world, blending tradition with innovation in every dish she creates.

Text corrected by:
Gregg, Los Angeles, CA

"This needed some corrections for improper prepositional phrasing."

In the vibrant streets of Mexico City, Maria—a talented chef—shares her journey of becoming a culinary sensation. She talks about how she indulged her passion for cooking at a young age, inspired by her grandmother's traditional recipes. Now, Maria is dedicated to bringing authentic Mexican flavors to the world, blending tradition with innovation in every dish she creates.

In the vibrant streets of Mexico City, Maria, a talented chef, shares her journey of becoming a culinary sensation. She talks about how she got married with her passion for cooking at a young age, inspired by her grandmother's traditional recipes. Now, Maria is dedicated with bringing authentic Mexican flavors to the world, blending tradition with innovation in every dish she creates.