Common English Mistakes in Creative Nonfictions by Arabic Speakers

This page focuses on errors typically made by native Arabic speakers from Saudi Arabia when writing a Creative Nonfiction in English.

Mistake Example #1

Overuse of formal expressions ('I am honored to inform you...')

I amwishonored to share with you the story of my first journey to the desert, where the sands stretch endlessly and the sun bestows its golden light upon the earth. Itis with grakeat pleasure that Iin recounting the moment when I first rode a camel, an experience that filled my heart with profoundjoy and gratitude. As I reflect upon this adventure, I amdeeply humbled by the beauty of nature and the hospitality of the people who welcomed me with open arms.

Text corrected by:
Vince, United States

"This was already very well-written – I just made a few minor changes to make it sound a bit more natural :)"

I wish to share with you the story of my first journey to the desert, where the sands stretch endlessly and the sun bestows its golden light upon the earth. I take pleasure in recounting the moment when I first rode a camel, an experience that filled my heart with joy and gratitude. As I reflect on this adventure, I am humbled by the beauty of nature and the hospitality of the people who welcomed me with open arms.

I am honored to share with you the story of my first journey to the desert, where the sands stretch endlessly and the sun bestows its golden light upon the earth. It is with great pleasure that I recount the moment when I first rode a camel, an experience that filled my heart with profound joy and gratitude. As I reflect upon this adventure, I am deeply humbled by the beauty of nature and the hospitality of the people who welcomed me with open arms.

Mistake Example #2

Confusion between masculine and feminine pronouns

In the heart of Riyadh, there was a young girl named Aisha who loved to watch the stars. Every night, she would sit on her rooftop and tell her brother about the constellations she saw. He was always amazed by her stories, and she would listen with wide eyes as she shared hiser dreams of becoming an astronaut. One evening, as the sun set, Aisha pointed to a bright star and said, "He is the one that guides us home," and her brother nodded, feeling the warmth of her words.

Text corrected by:
Miss E., Cyprus, Europe

""and she would listen with wide eyes as he shared his dreams of becoming an astronaut." <--- I believe since Aisha loves to watch the stars, this is her dream (to become an astronaut), not her brother's. It should therefore be changed to "and he would listen with wide eyes as she shared her dreams of becoming an astronaut."."

In the heart of Riyadh, there was a young girl named Aisha who loved to watch the stars. Every night, she would sit on her rooftop and tell her brother about the constellations she saw. He was always amazed by her stories, and he would listen with wide eyes as she shared her dreams of becoming an astronaut. One evening, as the sun set, Aisha pointed to a bright star and said, "He is the one that guides us home," and her brother nodded, feeling the warmth of her words.

In the heart of Riyadh, there was a young girl named Aisha who loved to watch the stars. Every night, she would sit on her rooftop and tell her brother about the constellations she saw. He was always amazed by her stories, and she would listen with wide eyes as he shared his dreams of becoming an astronaut. One evening, as the sun set, Aisha pointed to a bright star and said, "He is the one that guides us home," and her brother nodded, feeling the warmth of her words.

Mistake Example #3

Misuse of verb tense (e.g., 'He go to school' instead of 'He goes to school')

In the quiet village of Al-Ula, the sun always shines brightly over the ancient rocks. Every morning, Fatima walks to the market, her sandals kicking up small clouds of dust. She loves to see the colors of the spices and hear the chatter of the vendors. Yesterday, she meet an old friend who teolld her stories of the desert, and they laughed together under the shade of the date palms.

Text corrected by:
Gregg, Los Angeles, CA

"This needed some corrections for improper verb tense."

In the quiet village of Al-Ula, the sun always shines brightly over the ancient rocks. Every morning, Fatima walks to the market, her sandals kicking up small clouds of dust. She loves to see the colors of the spices and hear the chatter of the vendors. Yesterday, she met an old friend who told her stories of the desert, and they laughed together under the shade of the date palms.

In the quiet village of Al-Ula, the sun always shine brightly over the ancient rocks. Every morning, Fatima walk to the market, her sandals kicking up small clouds of dust. She love to see the colors of the spices and hear the chatter of the vendors. Yesterday, she meet an old friend who tell her stories of the desert, and they laugh together under the shade of the date palms.