Common English Mistakes by Arabic Speakers

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

Category:Journalism & Media
Writing for news, articles, and investigative reports.
Common Users:Journalists, Bloggers, Columnists.
Mistake Example #1

Journalism & Media / Editorial

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

It aismy honored to inform you that the recent developments in our beloved city of Riyadh have been nothing short of remarkable. It is with greatm pleasured that Io announce the opening of the new cultural center, which I am cshonfiuldent will greatly enrich the lives of our esteemedcitizens. I am deeply privileged to share tThis newswith you, as it marks a significant milestone in our ongoing journey towards cultural excellence.

Text corrected by:
Michele A., Boston, Massachusetts; United States

"I changed some of the phrasing to sound more straightforward while still maintaining a professional tone to the sentences."

It is my honor to inform you that the recent developments in our beloved city of Riyadh have been nothing short of remarkable. I am pleased to announce the opening of the new cultural center, which should greatly enrich the lives of our citizens. This news marks a significant milestone in our ongoing journey toward cultural excellence.

I am honored to inform you that the recent developments in our beloved city of Riyadh have been nothing short of remarkable. It is with great pleasure that I announce the opening of the new cultural center, which I am confident will greatly enrich the lives of our esteemed citizens. I am deeply privileged to share this news with you, as it marks a significant milestone in our ongoing journey towards cultural excellence.

Mistake Example #2

Journalism & Media / Feature Story

Confusion between masculine and feminine pronouns

In the bustling streets of Riyadh, a young artist named Amal is gaining attention for his unique style of painting. Heris works,which are often inspired by the vibrant culture of Saudi Arabia, have been showcased in several galleries across the city. As he prepares for heris upcoming exhibition, Amal reflects on the journey that brought him to this point,. Amal creditings heris family and friends for their unwavering support.

Text corrected by:
Jennifer, Detroit, Michigan USA

"I changed the female pronouns to male ones. I hope this is right, since the name Amal can be either masculine or feminine."

In the bustling streets of Riyadh, a young artist named Amal is gaining attention for his unique style of painting. His works, which are often inspired by the vibrant culture of Saudi Arabia, have been showcased in several galleries across the city. As he prepares for his upcoming exhibition, Amal reflects on the journey that brought him to this point. Amal credits his family and friends for their unwavering support.

In the bustling streets of Riyadh, a young artist named Amal is gaining attention for his unique style of painting. Her works, often inspired by the vibrant culture of Saudi Arabia, have been showcased in several galleries across the city. As he prepares for her upcoming exhibition, Amal reflects on the journey that brought him to this point, crediting her family and friends for their unwavering support.

Mistake Example #3

Journalism & Media / Interview Transcript

Confusion between masculine and feminine pronouns

**Interview Transcript:** Interviewer: Can you tell me about your experience working in the marketing field? Interviewee: Yes, of course. Iha've worked in marketing for over five years. My last job was with a company where heI was responsible for managing social media campaigns. SheI really enjoyed the creative aspect of the work, andhe learned a lot about how to engage with different audiences.

Text corrected by:
Gregg, Los Angeles, CA

"This needed some tweaking for proper use of pronouns."

**Interview Transcript:** Interviewer: Can you tell me about your experience working in the marketing field? Interviewee: Yes, of course. I've worked in marketing for over five years. My last job was with a company where I was responsible for managing social media campaigns. I really enjoyed the creative aspect of the work, and learned a lot about how to engage with different audiences.

**Interview Transcript:** Interviewer: Can you tell me about your experience working in the marketing field? Interviewee: Yes, of course. I have worked in marketing for over five years. My last job was with a company where he was responsible for managing social media campaigns. She really enjoyed the creative aspect of the work, and he learned a lot about how to engage with different audiences.

Mistake Example #4

Journalism & Media / Investigative Report

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

The investigative report revealed that the incident happened at the construction site in Riyadh last week. Witnesses say that the worker climbed the scaffold without safety gear, which lead to the accident. Authorities arenow investigate theing company policies to ensure they comply with safety regulations.

Text corrected by:
Gregg, Los Angeles, CA

"This needed some corrections for verb tense issues."

The investigative report revealed that the incident happened at the construction site in Riyadh last week. Witnesses say that the worker climbed the scaffold without safety gear, which led to the accident. Authorities are now investigating company policies to ensure they comply with safety regulations.

The investigative report reveal that the incident happen at the construction site in Riyadh last week. Witnesses say that the worker climb the scaffold without safety gear, which lead to the accident. Authorities now investigate the company policies to ensure they comply with safety regulations.

Mistake Example #5

Journalism & Media / News Article

Confusion between masculine and feminine pronouns

In a recent development, the Saudi Arabian government announced that heit will be implementing new policies to boost the tourism sector. The minister of tourism stated that she is confident these changes will attract more visitors to the kingdom. He emphasized the importance of showcasing Saudi Arabia's rich cultural heritage and natural beauty to the world.

Text corrected by:
Camille, Maryland, USA

"Nice job overall! Be careful about the proper use of pronouns. Here I assume the minister is a man; masculine pronouns should be used."

In a recent development, the Saudi Arabian government announced that it will be implementing new policies to boost the tourism sector. The minister of tourism stated that he is confident these changes will attract more visitors to the kingdom. He emphasized the importance of showcasing Saudi Arabia's rich cultural heritage and natural beauty to the world.

In a recent development, the Saudi Arabian government announced that he will be implementing new policies to boost the tourism sector. The minister of tourism stated that she is confident these changes will attract more visitors to the kingdom. He emphasized the importance of showcasing Saudi Arabia's rich cultural heritage and natural beauty to the world.

Mistake Example #6

Journalism & Media / Op-Ed

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

In recent years, Saudi Arabia hasmakde significant progress in various sectors, including education and technology. The government hasimplemented new policies that aim to diversify the economy and reduce dependency on oil. As a result, many young Saudis pursue careers in fields that weare not traditionally popular, and this shift is expected to continue shaping the future of the country.

Text corrected by:
Vince, United States

"Just a few minor tweaks to make everything consistent :) Nice job! "

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has made significant progress in various sectors, including education and technology. The government has implemented new policies that aim to diversify the economy and reduce dependency on oil. As a result, many young Saudis pursue careers in fields that are not traditionally popular, and this shift is expected to continue shaping the future of the country.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia make significant progress in various sectors, including education and technology. The government implement new policies that aim to diversify the economy and reduce dependency on oil. As a result, many young Saudis pursue careers in fields that were not traditionally popular, and this shift is expected to continue shaping the future of the country.

Mistake Example #7

Journalism & Media / Press Release

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

For Immediate Release: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The Ministry of Culture announces today that it haslaunched a new initiative to promote traditional arts in the region. The program aims to support local artists and provide them with resources they need to develop their skills. This initiative is part of the government's ongoing efforts to preserve cultural heritage, and it hasreceived positive feedback from the community.

Text corrected by:
Vince, United States

"This was very good! Just a few small changes were needed to make the writing more consistent."

For Immediate Release: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The Ministry of Culture announces today that it has launched a new initiative to promote traditional arts in the region. The program aims to support local artists and provide them with resources they need to develop their skills. This initiative is part of the government's ongoing efforts to preserve cultural heritage, and it has received positive feedback from the community.

For Immediate Release: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The Ministry of Culture announce today that it launch a new initiative to promote traditional arts in the region. The program aim to support local artists and provide them with resources they need to develop their skills. This initiative is part of the government's ongoing efforts to preserve cultural heritage and it receive positive feedback from the community.