Common English Mistakes by Mandarin Chinese Speakers

This page focuses on errors typically made by native Mandarin Chinese speakers from Taiwan when writing in English.

Category:Personal & Lifestyle Writing
Writing for personal expression and self-improvement.
Common Users:Bloggers, Life Coaches, Hobbyists.
Mistake Example #1

Personal & Lifestyle Writing / Journal Entry

Omitting the subject in sentences ('Is important to learn English' instead of 'It is important to learn English')

TodayI went to the night market with myfriends. It is always so much fun to try different foods and see all the colorful stalls. FI feel very lucky to have such avibrant culture in Taiwan.

Text corrected by:
Jennifer, Detroit, Michigan USA

"I added the subject to the beginning of some of the sentences and made a few additional changes. Nice job!"

Today I went to the night market with my friends. It is always so much fun to try different foods and see all the colorful stalls. I feel very lucky to have such a vibrant culture in Taiwan.

Today went to the night market with friends. Is always so much fun to try different foods and see all the colorful stalls. Feel very lucky to have such vibrant culture in Taiwan.

Mistake Example #2

Personal & Lifestyle Writing / Life Advice Column

Using overly formal or direct language

Dear Advice Seeker, I am writing to inform you that it is imperativeyoumust cease communication with your friend immediately. The situation you described is highly inappropriate, and it is essential you take decisive action to protect your personal well-being. Please ensutreyou followat this advice withthe utmost seriousness and do noact delay ion implementringht these measuresway.

Text corrected by:
Gregg, Los Angeles, CA

"This needed some tweaking to sound more native and natural."

Dear Advice Seeker, I am writing to inform you that you must cease communication with your friend immediately. The situation you described is highly inappropriate, and it is essential you take decisive action to protect your personal well-being. Please treat this advice with the utmost seriousness and act on it right away.

Dear Advice Seeker, I am writing to inform you that it is imperative you cease communication with your friend immediately. The situation you described is highly inappropriate, and it is essential you take decisive action to protect your personal well-being. Please ensure you follow this advice with utmost seriousness and do not delay in implementing these measures.

Mistake Example #3

Personal & Lifestyle Writing / Motivational Speech

Using overly formal or direct language

Ladies and gentlemen, I am here to inform you thatsuccess is not just a matter of luck,. buItis a result of hard work and determination. You must pursue your goals with utmostdiligencetly and never allow obstacles to dsteter youaway from your path. It is imperative that you mainStainy focused and disciplined in all your endeavors to achieve theyour desired outcomes.

Text corrected by:
Jennifer, Detroit, Michigan USA

"I made some stylistic changes to give it a slightly less formal (but still professional) tone."

Ladies and gentlemen, success is not just a matter of luck. It is a result of hard work and determination. You must pursue your goals diligently and never allow obstacles to steer you away from your path. Stay focused and disciplined in all your endeavors to achieve your desired outcomes.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am here to inform you that success is not a matter of luck, but a result of hard work and determination. You must pursue your goals with utmost diligence and never allow obstacles to deter you from your path. It is imperative that you maintain focus and discipline in all your endeavors to achieve the desired outcome.

Mistake Example #4

Personal & Lifestyle Writing / Personal Blog Post

Omitting the subject in sentences ('Is important to learn English' instead of 'It is important to learn English')

WI went tothe night market yesterday,—it was so much fun! TI tried stinky tofu for thefirst time,—it was a very unique taste. It is important to explore local culture and food,—it makes life more interesting. Also, Imet new friends there,—they were very friendly and welcoming.

Text corrected by:
Gregg, Los Angeles, CA

"This needed corrections to replace missing sentence subjects, and some other fixes."

I went to the night market yesterday—it was so much fun! I tried stinky tofu for the first time—it was a very unique taste. It is important to explore local culture and food—it makes life more interesting. Also, I met new friends there—they were very friendly and welcoming.

Went to night market yesterday, was so much fun! Tried stinky tofu for first time, very unique taste. Is important to explore local culture and food, makes life more interesting. Also, met new friends there, they were very friendly and welcoming.

Mistake Example #5

Personal & Lifestyle Writing / Personal Essay

Omitting the subject in sentences ('Is important to learn English' instead of 'It is important to learn English')

Growing up in Taiwan,I was always fascinated by the vibrant night markets and delicious street food. It is amazing how the culture here blends tradition with modernity. When visiting Taipei 101,you can feel the excitement of being in one of the tallest buildings in the world. Learning English has been a journey, but Ibelieveit is important for connecting with people globally.

Text corrected by:
Camille, Maryland, USA

"Don't forget to use subjects in your sentences."

Growing up in Taiwan, I was always fascinated by the vibrant night markets and delicious street food. It is amazing how the culture here blends tradition with modernity. When visiting Taipei 101, you can feel the excitement of being in one of the tallest buildings in the world. Learning English has been a journey, but I believe it is important for connecting with people globally.

Growing up in Taiwan, always fascinated by the vibrant night markets and delicious street food. Is amazing how the culture here blends tradition with modernity. When visiting Taipei 101, feel the excitement of being in one of the tallest buildings in the world. Learning English has been a journey, but believe is important for connecting with people globally.

Mistake Example #6

Personal & Lifestyle Writing / Self-Help Article

Misuse of singular/plural nouns ('There are much people here' instead of 'There are many people here')

In today's fast-paced world, finding balance in life is very important. There areis much advice available on how to achieve this, but not all of ithem works for everyone. Many people find that setting clear goals helps them stay focused and motivated. It is also helpful to surround yourself with positive influence, as there areis manyuch negativity that can distract you from your path. Remember, every person has their own journey, and what works for one may not work for another.

Text corrected by:
Miss E., Cyprus, Europe

"Please mindful of the following: "There are much advice" should be "There is much advice" and "there are many negativity" should be "there is much negativity"."

In today's fast-paced world, finding balance in life is very important. There is much advice available on how to achieve this, but not all of it works for everyone. Many people find that setting clear goals helps them stay focused and motivated. It is also helpful to surround yourself with positive influence, as there is much negativity that can distract you from your path. Remember, every person has their own journey, and what works for one may not work for another.

In today's fast-paced world, finding balance in life is very important. There are much advice available on how to achieve this, but not all of them work for everyone. Many people find that setting clear goals help them stay focused and motivated. It is also helpful to surround yourself with positive influence, as there are many negativity that can distract you from your path. Remember, every person has their own journey, and what works for one may not work for another.