Common English Mistakes in Creative Nonfictions by Arabic Speakers

This page focuses on errors typically made by native Arabic speakers from United Arab Emirates when writing a Creative Nonfiction in English.

Mistake Example #1

Overuse of passive voice

In the golden sands of the desert, a story was told bythe windtold a story. The ancient city was built by the hands of skilled artisansbuilt the ancient city, andits beauty was admired by travelers from distant landsadmired its beauty. TGeneration after generation passed down the tales of the citywere passed down through generations, andits secrets were whispered by the stars in the night skywhispered its secrets.

Text corrected by:
Gregg, Los Angeles, CA

"This needed some tweaking to reduce the use of passive voice."

In the golden sands of the desert, the wind told a story. The hands of skilled artisans built the ancient city, and travelers from distant lands admired its beauty. Generation after generation passed down the tales of the city, and the stars in the night sky whispered its secrets.

In the golden sands of the desert, a story was told by the wind. The ancient city was built by the hands of skilled artisans, and its beauty was admired by travelers from distant lands. The tales of the city were passed down through generations, and its secrets were whispered by the stars in the night sky.

Mistake Example #2

Misuse of articles ('I have car' instead of 'I have a car')

Inthe heart of Dubai, I find inspiration iaround every corner. I walk through thebustling streets, feeling theenergy ofa city that never sleeps. There is magic inthe air, a blend of tradition and modernity that captivates thesoul. Asthe sun sets behindthe skyline, I am reminded ofthe beauty that surrounds us every day.

Text corrected by:
Gregg, Los Angeles, CA

"This needed some tweaking to add missing articles ("the," "an," etc.), among other fixes."

In the heart of Dubai, I find inspiration around every corner. I walk through the bustling streets, feeling the energy of a city that never sleeps. There is magic in the air, a blend of tradition and modernity that captivates the soul. As the sun sets behind the skyline, I am reminded of the beauty that surrounds us every day.

In heart of Dubai, I find inspiration in every corner. I walk through bustling streets, feeling energy of city that never sleeps. There is magic in air, a blend of tradition and modernity that captivates soul. As sun sets behind skyline, I am reminded of beauty that surrounds us every day.