Common English Mistakes in Personal Essays by Spanish Speakers

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

Mistake Example #1

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

When I was a child, I always wanted to mcreakte my own adventures. I remember the summer when I makde a new friend at the beach, and we decided to make a sandcastle together. It was a beautiful day, and even though we makde a lot of mistakes, we had so much fun and learned a lot from each other.

Text corrected by:
Miss E., Cyprus, Europe

"Just a few small changes were needed. Please be mindful of errors such as the following: "when I make a new friend" should be "when I made a new friend" and "and we decide to make" should be "and we decided to make"."

When I was a child, I always wanted to create my own adventures. I remember the summer when I made a new friend at the beach, and we decided to make a sandcastle together. It was a beautiful day, and even though we made a lot of mistakes, we had so much fun and learned a lot from each other.

When I was a child, I always wanted to make my own adventures. I remember the summer when I make a new friend at the beach, and we decide to make a sandcastle together. It was a beautiful day, and even though we make a lot of mistakes, we had so much fun and learn a lot from each other.

Mistake Example #2

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

When I was a child, I always thought that the world was a place fuilled ofwith magic and wonder. It hmakes sense to believe in such things when you are young, because everything around you is new and exciting. My grandmother used to tell me stories about fairies and enchanted forests, and I remember thinking that it was possible to find them if I just looked hard enough.

Text corrected by:
Jennifer, Detroit, Michigan USA

"Very nice! I just made some small changes so the English would sound more natural."

When I was a child, I always thought that the world was a place filled with magic and wonder. It makes sense to believe in such things when you are young, because everything around you is new and exciting. My grandmother used to tell me stories about fairies and enchanted forests, and I remember thinking that it was possible to find them if I just looked hard enough.

When I was a child, I always thought that the world was a place full of magic and wonder. It has sense to believe in such things when you are young, because everything around you is new and exciting. My grandmother used to tell me stories about fairies and enchanted forests, and I remember thinking that it was possible to find them if I just looked hard enough.

Mistake Example #3

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

When I amthinking about my childhood in Spain, I amremembering the long summersI spent at my grandparents' house in the countryside. I amhavinge many memories of playing in the fields and listening to my grandmother's stories under the olive trees. Now, as an adult, I amrealizinge how those moments harve shapinged who I am today.

Text corrected by:
Jennifer, Detroit, Michigan USA

"Lovely! I just made some corrections to the verb tense."

When I think about my childhood in Spain, I remember the long summers I spent at my grandparents' house in the countryside. I have many memories of playing in the fields and listening to my grandmother's stories under the olive trees. Now, as an adult, I realize how those moments have shaped who I am today.

When I am thinking about my childhood in Spain, I am remembering the long summers spent at my grandparents' house in the countryside. I am having many memories of playing in the fields and listening to my grandmother's stories under the olive trees. Now, as an adult, I am realizing how those moments are shaping who I am today.