Common English Mistakes in Feature Stories by Arabic Speakers

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

Mistake Example #1

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 #2

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

I am honored to inform you about tThe recent cultural festival heldin Riyadh, which was a magnificent event that brought together people from various backgrounds. It is with great pleasure that I share the details of tThe performances, which were a testament to the rich heritage of our beloved country. I am delighted to convey that tThe festival was a resounding success, and ithad is my privilege to report on thea positive impactit had on the community.

Text corrected by:
Camille, Maryland, USA

"I removed the formal expressions as native English speakers do not commonly use them under normal circumstances. "

The recent cultural festival in Riyadh was a magnificent event that brought together people from various backgrounds. The performances were a testament to the rich heritage of our beloved country. The festival was a resounding success and had a positive impact on the community.

I am honored to inform you about the recent cultural festival held in Riyadh, which was a magnificent event that brought together people from various backgrounds. It is with great pleasure that I share the details of the performances, which were a testament to the rich heritage of our beloved country. I am delighted to convey that the festival was a resounding success, and it is my privilege to report on the positive impact it had on the community.

Mistake Example #3

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

In the bustling streets of Riyadh, a young artist named Ahmed finds his inspiration in the vibrant colors of the city. Every morning, he walks through the old market, capturing the essence of life with his camera. His dream is to showcase his work in a gallery, and he believes that one day, his art will speak to the world about the beauty of his homeland.

Text corrected by:
Gregg, Los Angeles, CA

"This needed some verb tense corrections."

In the bustling streets of Riyadh, a young artist named Ahmed finds his inspiration in the vibrant colors of the city. Every morning, he walks through the old market, capturing the essence of life with his camera. His dream is to showcase his work in a gallery, and he believes that one day, his art will speak to the world about the beauty of his homeland.

In the bustling streets of Riyadh, a young artist named Ahmed find his inspiration in the vibrant colors of the city. Every morning, he walk through the old market, capturing the essence of life with his camera. His dream is to showcase his work in a gallery, and he believe that one day, his art will speak to the world about the beauty of his homeland.