Common English Mistakes in Novels by Spanish Speakers

This page focuses on errors typically made by native Spanish speakers from Spain when writing a Novel in English.

Mistake Example #1

Direct translations from Spanish ('It makes sense' vs. 'It has sense')

In the quiet village of San Pedro, the sun was setting behind the mountains, painting the sky with colors that had no equal. Maria stood by the window, watching the day end with a sense of peace that it was hard to describe. "It hmakes sense," she thought, as the gentle breeze carried the scent of the orange blossoms through the air. Her heart was full of dreams, and she knew that life, with all its mysteries, was a journey that deserved to be lived with passion and courage.

Text corrected by:
Jennifer, Detroit, Michigan USA

"This is lovely. I just had to make one small change."

In the quiet village of San Pedro, the sun was setting behind the mountains, painting the sky with colors that had no equal. Maria stood by the window, watching the day end with a sense of peace that it was hard to describe. "It makes sense," she thought, as the gentle breeze carried the scent of the orange blossoms through the air. Her heart was full of dreams, and she knew that life, with all its mysteries, was a journey that deserved to be lived with passion and courage.

In the quiet village of San Pedro, the sun was setting behind the mountains, painting the sky with colors that had no equal. Maria stood by the window, watching the day end with a sense of peace that it was hard to describe. "It has sense," she thought, as the gentle breeze carried the scent of the orange blossoms through the air. Her heart was full of dreams, and she knew that life, with all its mysteries, was a journey that deserved to be lived with passion and courage.

Mistake Example #2

Confusion between 'do' and 'make' ('I make a mistake' instead of 'I made a mistake')

In the quiet village of San Pedro, Maria always mtakes her morning walk through the olive groves, where the sun does its best to warm the earth. She wouldoften stops by the old well, where she makes a wish for her dreams to come true, believing that the spirits of the land do listen to her heart's desires.

Text corrected by:
Gregg, Los Angeles, CA

"This needed some tweaking to clarify verb confusion and tense issues."

In the quiet village of San Pedro, Maria always takes her morning walk through the olive groves, where the sun does its best to warm the earth. She often stops by the old well, where she makes a wish for her dreams to come true, believing that the spirits of the land do listen to her heart's desires.

In the quiet village of San Pedro, Maria always make her morning walk through the olive groves, where the sun do its best to warm the earth. She would often stop by the old well, where she make a wish for her dreams to come true, believing that the spirits of the land do listen to her heart's desires.

Mistake Example #3

Misuse of present continuous ('I am having 30 years of experience' instead of 'I have 30 years of experience')

In the quiet village of San Pedro, Maria is living a life full of dreams and hopes. She ishavings a small house near the olive fields, where she isspendings her days writing stories about the stars. Every evening, she issittings by the window, watching the sun as it issettings behind the hills, imagining the adventures that are waiting for her characters.

Text corrected by:
Gregg, Los Angeles, CA

"This needed some tweaking to correct verb tense issues."

In the quiet village of San Pedro, Maria is living a life full of dreams and hopes. She has a small house near the olive fields, where she spends her days writing stories about the stars. Every evening, she sits by the window, watching the sun as it sets behind the hills, imagining the adventures that are waiting for her characters.

In the quiet village of San Pedro, Maria is living a life full of dreams and hopes. She is having a small house near the olive fields, where she is spending her days writing stories about the stars. Every evening, she is sitting by the window, watching the sun as it is setting behind the hills, imagining the adventures that are waiting for her characters.