Have you ever wondered why certain English phrases feel natural in your head but sound different when native speakers say them? Or why colleagues sometimes ask you to repeat yourself even though your grammar is correct? You're not alone.
Indian English speakers share certain patterns of speech that stem from the beautiful diversity of our mother tongues. Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, and other Indian languages each leave their unique imprint on how we speak English. These patterns aren't "wrong" in any moral sense. They're simply different from what's considered standard in international or professional contexts.
At English Engine, we've worked with thousands of professionals in Hyderabad who want to communicate more effectively in global workplaces. Understanding these common patterns is the first step toward more confident, clear communication. This guide covers 18 common mistakes, organised into four categories: pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and mother tongue influence (MTI). For each mistake, we explain why it happens and exactly how to fix it.
Why These Mistakes Happen: Understanding Language Interference
Before diving into the specific mistakes, it helps to understand the concept of "language interference" or "language transfer." When you learn a second language, your brain naturally applies the rules and patterns of your first language. This is completely normal and happens to everyone learning any new language.
For Indian English speakers, interference comes from:
- Different sound systems: Many Indian languages don't have certain English sounds, or have sounds that are similar but not identical
- Different grammar structures: Word order, verb tenses, and article usage differ significantly between Indian languages and English
- Direct translation: Phrases that make perfect sense in Hindi or Telugu can sound odd when translated word-for-word to English
- Educational emphasis: Indian English education often focuses heavily on written English and grammar rules, with less attention to natural spoken patterns
Recognising these patterns isn't about feeling embarrassed. It's about becoming aware so you can make conscious improvements. Every fluent speaker has gone through this process.
Pronunciation Mistakes
Pronunciation issues are often the most noticeable and can affect how easily others understand you. These mistakes relate to individual sounds, stress patterns, and intonation.
Mistake 1 — Confusing V and W Sounds: This is one of the most common pronunciation challenges for Indian English speakers, particularly those whose mother tongue is Hindi, Telugu, or other languages where these sounds aren't distinguished the same way. Incorrect: "I vant to vork on this project." Correct: "I want to work on this project" (W is rounded lips, V is teeth on lip). Why it happens: In many Indian languages, there's a single sound that sits between the English V and W. How to fix it: For W, round your lips into a small circle, like you're about to whistle. For V, let your upper teeth touch your lower lip lightly. Practice pairs: vest/west, vine/wine, veal/wheel, vet/wet.
Mistake 2 — The TH Sound Challenge: The "th" sound in English (both the voiced "th" in "this" and the voiceless "th" in "think") doesn't exist in most Indian languages. Incorrect: "I tink dis is da best option." Correct: "I think this is the best option." Why it happens: Without a native equivalent, speakers substitute the closest sounds they know: T, D, S, or Z. How to fix it: Place the tip of your tongue between your teeth (not behind them), blow air gently over your tongue. For "think" (voiceless), no vocal cord vibration. For "this" (voiced), add vocal cord vibration. Practice: three, through, think, thank, this, that, these, those.
Mistake 3 — Word Stress Placement: English is a stress-timed language where certain syllables are emphasised more than others. Incorrect stress can change meaning or make speech sound unnatural. Incorrect: "deLIver" (stress on second syllable). Correct: "DEliver" (stress on first syllable for verb). Why it happens: Many Indian languages are syllable-timed, meaning each syllable gets roughly equal weight. How to fix it: When learning new words, always check the stressed syllable (online dictionaries mark this). Listen to how news anchors or TED speakers stress words. Practice common business words: preSENT (verb) vs PREsent (noun), REcord (noun) vs reCORD (verb).
Mistake 4 — Adding Extra Sounds: Indian speakers sometimes add extra sounds, particularly at the beginning of words that start with consonant clusters or at the end of words ending in certain consonants. Incorrect: "school" becomes "ischool," "film" becomes "filum." Correct: "school" (blend S and K smoothly), "film" (end cleanly on M). Why it happens: Many Indian languages don't have consonant clusters at the beginning of words. How to fix it: Practice blending consonants: "sp" (speak), "st" (start), "sk" (skill), "str" (strong). Record yourself and listen for extra sounds. Slow down and consciously stop after the final consonant.
Mistake 5 — Silent Letters: English has many silent letters that Indian speakers often pronounce because of the tendency to read phonetically. Incorrect: "Wed-nes-day" (pronouncing D), "Kuh-nife" (pronouncing K). Correct: "Wenz-day" (silent D), "nife" (silent K). Why it happens: Most Indian languages have a more consistent relationship between spelling and pronunciation. How to fix it: Learn common silent letter patterns—silent K before N (know, knee, knife), silent W before R (write, wrong, wrist), silent B after M (climb, comb, lamb). Use audio dictionaries to verify pronunciation of new words.
Grammar Mistakes
Grammar mistakes can affect clarity and sometimes create unintended meanings. These errors often stem from structural differences between Indian languages and English.
Mistake 6 — Article Confusion (A, An, The): Articles are one of the most persistent challenges for Indian English speakers because most Indian languages either don't have articles or use them very differently. Incorrect: "I am going to office" / "I bought car yesterday." Correct: "I am going to the office" / "I bought a car yesterday." Also incorrect: "The honesty is important." Correct: "Honesty is important" (no article for general concepts). Why it happens: Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and other Indian languages don't use articles the same way. How to fix it: Use "a/an" for singular countable nouns mentioned for the first time. Use "the" when the listener knows which specific thing you mean. Don't use articles for general concepts.
Mistake 7 — Question Formation: Indian speakers often form questions by adding a question mark to a statement or using incorrect word order. Incorrect: "You are coming tomorrow?" / "What you want?" Correct: "Are you coming tomorrow?" / "What do you want?" Why it happens: In Hindi and other Indian languages, questions are often formed simply by changing intonation, without restructuring the sentence. How to fix it: For Yes/No questions, move the auxiliary verb to the beginning. For WH-questions, start with the WH-word, then the auxiliary verb, then the subject.
Mistake 8 — Tense Consistency: Mixing tenses within a single sentence or paragraph is common, particularly when narrating past events. Incorrect: "Yesterday I go to the market and I am buying vegetables." Correct: "Yesterday I went to the market and bought vegetables." Also: "If I will have time" should be "If I have time, I will come." Why it happens: Indian languages handle time references differently. How to fix it: Identify the time frame first, keep all verbs in the same tense within related clauses, and remember that conditional sentences use present tense after "if" even for future possibilities.
Mistake 9 — Preposition Usage: Prepositions rarely translate directly between languages. Incorrect: "I am good in English" / "Discuss about the topic." Correct: "I am good at English" / "Discuss the topic." Why it happens: Each language pairs verbs and nouns with different prepositions. How to fix it: Learn verbs with their prepositions as chunks ("good at," "interested in," "responsible for"). Note that some verbs don't need prepositions in English: discuss, enter, emphasise, mention.
Mistake 10 — Subject-Verb Agreement: Matching verbs to their subjects, especially with collective nouns or when the subject and verb are separated, can be challenging. Incorrect: "Each of the students have submitted." Correct: "Each of the students has submitted." Why it happens: Words like "each," "every," "one" can be confusing. How to fix it: "Each," "every," "either," "neither," and "one" take singular verbs. Identify the true subject (not the noun closest to the verb). Practice: "The quality of these products is excellent" (quality is the subject, not products).
Vocabulary Mistakes
Using words correctly involves more than knowing their meaning. It requires understanding context, formality levels, and common collocations.
Mistake 11 — False Friends and Misused Words: Some words sound similar to Indian language words or are commonly misused in Indian English contexts. Incorrect: "Please do the needful" / "I have a doubt" (meaning question) / "I passed out from college." Correct: "Please take care of this" / "I have a question" / "I graduated from college." Also: "Revert back to me" should be "Get back to me" and "Prepone the meeting" should be "Move the meeting earlier." Why it happens: Some phrases became established in Indian English through widespread use, even though they're not used in other English-speaking regions. How to fix it: Be aware that "Indian English" phrases may not be understood internationally. "Doubt" in standard English means uncertainty or disbelief, not a question. "Pass out" means to faint or lose consciousness.
Mistake 12 — Formal vs Informal Register: Indian English speakers sometimes use overly formal language in casual situations or vice versa. Too formal: "I shall be obliged if you could kindly assist me." Appropriate: "Could you help me with this?" Too informal for professional setting: "Ya, I'll do it." Appropriate: "Yes, I'll take care of it." Why it happens: English textbooks in India often teach very formal, somewhat outdated expressions. How to fix it: Observe how native speakers adjust their language for different situations—casual (friends, family), professional (meetings, emails), formal (official documents, legal matters).
Mistake 13 — Word Collocations: English words combine in specific patterns called collocations. Using unexpected combinations sounds unnatural even if grammatically correct. Incorrect: "Do a mistake" / "Strong rain" / "Open the TV." Correct: "Make a mistake" / "Heavy rain" / "Turn on the TV." Why it happens: Collocations are arbitrary—there's no logical reason why rain is "heavy" rather than "strong." How to fix it: Learn vocabulary in chunks, not isolated words. Use collocation dictionaries. Notice collocations while reading and listening to English.
Mother Tongue Influence (MTI) Mistakes
MTI refers to patterns directly transferred from Indian languages that affect rhythm, expression, and style. These patterns can be reduced with consistent practice and awareness.
Mistake 14 — Direct Translation of Expressions: Translating idiomatic expressions word-for-word creates confusing or unintentionally humorous results. Incorrect (from Hindi): "My leg has slept." Correct: "My leg has fallen asleep." Incorrect (from Telugu): "I will come and go." Correct: "I'll be back" or "I'm just stepping out." Also, "What is your good name?" should be simply "What is your name?" Why it happens: We naturally reach for expressions we use in our mother tongue. How to fix it: Learn English expressions as complete units. When you catch yourself translating, pause and think: "How would a native speaker express this?"
Mistake 15 — Syllable-Timed Speech Rhythm: Indian languages are typically syllable-timed, where each syllable takes approximately the same amount of time. English is stress-timed, with stressed syllables taking longer and unstressed syllables being compressed. Syllable-timed: "COM-PU-TER" (each syllable equal). Stress-timed: "com-PU-ter" (middle syllable emphasised, others reduced). How to fix it: Listen to native speakers and notice how unstressed syllables become shorter and quieter. Practice reducing common words: "probably" becomes "PROB-blee," "comfortable" becomes "KUMF-ter-bul." Shadow speak with podcasts, matching the speaker's rhythm.
Mistake 16 — Retroflex Sounds: Indian languages have retroflex consonants (where the tongue curls back), which speakers often apply to English T, D, and N sounds. While usually understandable, heavily retroflex pronunciation can make speech sound distinctly Indian and may affect clarity in some contexts. How to fix it: For English T and D, touch the ridge just behind your upper teeth (not curled back). Practice with words like "butter," "better," "data," "total." Record yourself and compare with native speaker pronunciation.
Mistake 17 — Question Tag Errors: Indian English speakers often use simplified question tags instead of the grammatically correct ones. Incorrect: "You're coming, isn't it?" Correct: "You're coming, aren't you?" Also: "He finished the work, isn't it?" should be "He finished the work, didn't he?" Why it happens: Many Indian languages use a single, universal question tag (like "na?"). How to fix it: Match the auxiliary verb in the main sentence. Positive sentence = negative tag; negative sentence = positive tag. Practice common patterns: "It's cold, isn't it?" "You don't mind, do you?"
Mistake 18 — Overuse of "Actually" and "Basically": These filler words have become extremely common in Indian English, often appearing multiple times in a single sentence. Overused: "Actually, I basically want to say that actually the project is basically complete." Better: "The project is complete." Why it happens: These words became verbal fillers that buy thinking time but don't add meaning. How to fix it: Record yourself speaking and count how often you use these words. Practice pausing silently instead of filling space with these words. Reserve "actually" for correcting misunderstandings and "basically" for simplifying complex ideas.
How to Systematically Improve
Knowing the mistakes is only the first step. Systematic improvement requires a structured approach.
Step 1 — Identify Your Priority Areas: Not all mistakes affect you equally. Record yourself speaking for 5 minutes and note which mistakes from this list you make most frequently. Focus on 2-3 patterns at a time rather than trying to fix everything simultaneously.
Step 2 — Create Awareness Triggers: For your priority mistakes, create mental triggers. For example, if you often omit articles, make a mental note to check for articles before each noun when you speak. This conscious attention gradually becomes automatic.
Step 3 — Practice Deliberately: Targeted practice is more effective than general English study. If you struggle with the TH sound, spend 10 minutes daily on TH tongue twisters and minimal pairs rather than general pronunciation practice.
Step 4 — Get Feedback: Self-correction has limits. You may not notice patterns that are obvious to others. A speaking partner, tutor, or structured course can provide the feedback you need. At English Engine, our spoken English courses include personalised feedback on common Indian English patterns.
Step 5 — Monitor Progress: Keep recordings from different time periods. Compare your speech from month to month. Progress in pronunciation and fluency is often gradual and hard to notice day-to-day, but recordings provide clear evidence of improvement.
A Note on "Indian English"
Before concluding, an important perspective: Indian English is a legitimate variety of English with its own history and characteristics, just like American English, British English, or Australian English. Many features we've discussed aren't "wrong" within Indian English contexts.
The goal isn't to erase your Indian identity from your speech. Rather, it's to develop "code-switching" ability. You can choose to adjust certain features when communicating with international audiences or in contexts where standard English is expected while retaining your natural speech patterns in other situations.
Effective communication is about being understood by your audience. Understanding these patterns gives you the choice of when and how to adjust.
Take the Next Step
Recognising these 18 common mistakes is your starting point for more effective English communication. With awareness and consistent practice, every single one of these patterns can be improved.
If you want structured guidance, expert feedback, and a supportive environment to accelerate your improvement, English Engine can help. Our practical, job-focused approach has helped thousands of professionals in Hyderabad communicate more confidently in English.
Contact us to book a free demo class. We'll assess your current speaking patterns and show you exactly how our training can address your specific improvement areas. No pressure, no judgement. Just a clear path to more effective English communication.
Conclusion
Every English speaker in India carries the influence of their mother tongue. This isn't something to be ashamed of. It's a natural result of the rich linguistic diversity we're fortunate to have. The patterns we've explored in this guide aren't character flaws; they're simply areas where intentional practice can lead to clearer, more effective communication.
Start with self-awareness. Record yourself, identify your patterns, and focus on a few improvements at a time. Remember that fluency comes from practice, not from perfection. The goal is progress, not the elimination of every trace of your linguistic heritage.
Your English journey is exactly that: a journey. Embrace it with patience, practice consistently, and celebrate the improvements you make along the way. The confident, clear communicator you want to become is already within you, waiting for the practice that will bring them out.