English is Nigeria’s official language and a major language of education, business, media, and professional communication. Nigerian learners use English extensively, yet local expressions, direct translations, and established speech habits can create forms that differ from Standard English. The common English mistakes Nigerian learners make often involve vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, pronunciation, and word choice.
These mistakes do not mean your English is poor. Nigerian English has established local features, and everyday communication can remain clear within the Nigerian context. The goal is to recognize where Nigerian usage differs from Standard English so you can adjust your language for school, examinations, interviews, workplaces, international communication, and formal writing. This guide separates culturally familiar Nigerian expressions from forms expected in Standard English, then provides practical corrections for more confident workplace communication. The following examples focus on practical corrections you can apply immediately.
1. Saying “I Am Coming” When You Are Leaving
Use “I’ll be back” when you leave temporarily; “I’m coming” normally indicates movement toward the listener. In a Nigerian speech, “I am coming” can mean that you are leaving briefly and intend to return. Standard English interprets the phrase according to the direction of movement.
For example, saying “I am coming” while walking away may confuse someone unfamiliar with Nigerian usage. Say “I’ll be right back,” “I’ll be back soon,” or “Give me a moment” when you mean temporary departure. This distinction matters during international conversations because the listener may expect you to move toward the listener rather than leave.
2. Confusing “Borrow” and “Lend”
Use “borrow” for receiving something temporarily and “lend” for giving something temporarily. The grammatical direction determines the correct verb. You borrow something from someone, while someone lends something to you.
“Can you borrow me your pen?” is incorrect in Standard English. Say “Can you lend me your pen?” or “Can I borrow your pen?” The first sentence focuses on what the other person gives; the second focuses on what you receive. Practise the two sentence patterns together to prevent this error in conversation and writing.
3. Adding “About” After “Discuss”
Use “discuss” directly with the subject under discussion; do not add “about” after the verb. The verb “discuss” already expresses the meaning of talking about a subject.
“Let us discuss about the matter” should become “Let us discuss the matter.” Similarly, write “We need to discuss your performance,” not “We need to discuss about your performance.” The correct construction is especially important in emails, reports, academic assignments, and workplace communication because unnecessary words can weaken grammatical precision.
4. Using “My Stuffs” Instead of “My Stuff”
Use “stuff” as an uncountable noun when you mean a collection of unspecified things. Standard English does not normally form the plural “stuffs” when “stuff” refers generally to possessions, materials, or things.
Say “I brought my stuff with me,” not “I brought my stuffs with me.” Use specific countable nouns when you need a plural, such as “I brought my books, clothes, and documents.” Learning the difference between countable and uncountable nouns helps you avoid similar errors with other everyday vocabulary.
5. Saying “He Is Matured”
Use “mature” as the adjective for a person who has reached an appropriate level of emotional, mental, or social development. “Matured” functions differently because “mature” can operate as a verb describing a process or change.
Say “He is mature,” not “He is matured.” You can write “The plan has matured over time” when “matured” describes development. The same distinction applies to other contexts where learners incorrectly convert a verb into an adjective.
6. Using “The Reason Is Because”
Use “The reason is that” or simply “The reason is” followed by the explanation. The construction “the reason is because” combines two structures that both introduce a cause, which creates unnecessary repetition.
Write “The reason is that the meeting was cancelled” or “The meeting was cancelled because the manager was unavailable.” Both versions communicate the cause clearly. Choosing one complete structure keeps formal writing concise and makes the relationship between the reason and result easier to understand.
7. Saying “Return It Back”
Use “return it,” because “return” already expresses the idea of giving something back. The phrase “return it back” adds an unnecessary word.
Say “Please return the book” rather than “Please return the book back.” Use “give the book back” when “give back” is the intended verb phrase. The distinction demonstrates a broader principle: remove words that repeat a meaning already expressed by the main verb.
8. Saying “Comprises Of”
Use “comprises” directly when the subject includes its parts; do not normally write “comprises of.” For example, write “Nigeria comprises 36 states” rather than “Nigeria comprises of 36 states.”
You can use “consists of” when you prefer a construction that requires “of.” The two patterns are different: “The committee comprises five members” and “The committee consists of five members.” Remembering the verb pattern prevents a frequent formal-writing error.
9. Saying “More Better”
Use “better” alone because “better” already expresses the comparative form of “good.” The phrase “more better” adds another comparative marker to a word that already contains one.
Write “She is better than her colleague,” not “She is more better than her colleague.” Apply the same principle to other irregular comparatives such as “worse,” “more,” and “less.” Avoid combining two comparative forms unless a specific grammatical structure requires both.
10. Saying “Reverse Back”
Use “reverse” when you mean move a vehicle or process in the opposite direction; “back” is unnecessary when the verb already supplies that meaning. Say “Please reverse the car,” not “Please reverse back the car.”
The correction applies particularly to formal speech and driving-related instructions. Clear verb selection makes instructions shorter and reduces unnecessary repetition. When “back” adds a separate meaning, the word can remain, but “reverse back” is generally redundant in Standard English.
11. Saying “My Names Are”
Use “My name is” when introducing yourself, even when your full name contains several given names. The grammatical subject remains singular because one person has one name in the relevant introduction.
Say “My name is David Mensa,” not “My names are David Mensa.” When you need to identify several distinct names, specify the categories: “My first name is David, and my middle name is Mensa.” This wording provides greater precision in formal introductions and documents.
12. Using “Stress” When You Mean “Emphasise”
Use “emphasise” when your purpose is to give special importance or attention to a point. “Stress” can communicate emphasis, but it can carry meanings related to pressure, strain, or tension, so “emphasise” can provide greater precision in formal contexts.
Write “The report emphasises the need for training” when the intended meaning is to highlight importance. Use “stress” when pressure or strain forms part of the meaning. This distinction helps you select vocabulary according to context rather than relying on familiar Nigerian usage.
13. Using “Senior” as a General Title
Use “older” or “younger” for family age relationships and use “senior” for appropriate professional or hierarchical contexts. Nigerian communication may use “Senior” as a respectful form of address for an older person or colleague, but international audiences may interpret “senior” according to rank or experience.
For family relationships, say “my older brother” or “my younger sister.” In a workplace, “senior manager” correctly describes a professional position. You can retain culturally familiar forms in informal Nigerian settings while choosing context-appropriate Standard English for international communication.
14. Saying “Off the Light” or “On the Generator”
Use “turn off,” “switch off,” “turn on,” or “switch on” when describing an action involving a device or appliance. In Standard English, “off” and “on” do not normally function as the main verbs in these expressions.
Say “Turn off the light,” “Switch off the fan,” or “Turn on the generator.” These forms identify the action and the object clearly. The correction is useful in classrooms, professional conversations, written instructions, and customer communication.
15. Overusing “Sorry”
Use “sorry” for an apology, sympathy, or expression appropriate to the situation, and choose a more precise response when no apology is intended. Nigerian social usage often uses “sorry” when someone experiences pain, difficulty, or an inconvenience, even when the speaker caused no problem.
In formal or international communication, “Are you okay?”, “I hope you are fine,” or “That sounds difficult” can communicate the intended concern more precisely. The goal is not to eliminate “sorry” from Nigerian communication but to select expressions that match the social purpose and context.
How Can You Avoid Common English Mistakes?
You can reduce recurring English errors by identifying your patterns, learning the Standard English form, practising complete sentences, and checking your speech and writing regularly. Correction becomes effective when you practise the exact structure that replaces the incorrect form.
Create a personal correction list with pairs such as “borrow/lend,” “discuss the matter/discuss about the matter,” and “my stuff/my stuffs.” Read the correct forms aloud, use each form in original sentences, and review the list during writing practice.
You can strengthen your grammar through structured lessons, pronunciation practice, reading, listening, and regular conversation. Talkup English can support this process through its free English language lessons, which give you additional opportunities to practise English skills.h.com/course/talkup-english-free-sample-lessons/
Why Do Nigerian Learners Make These Mistakes?
Nigerian learners may make these mistakes because English is used alongside numerous Nigerian languages and because local usage develops expressions that differ from international Standard English. Language transfer can affect vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, sentence patterns, and meanings.
Frequent exposure to a local form can make that form feel completely natural, especially when family members, classmates, colleagues, teachers, and media use the same expression. The issue becomes important when your audience expects a different variety of English. Learning both local usage and Standard English gives you greater control over formal communication without requiring you to reject Nigerian English.
How Can You Improve English Grammar and Speaking Accuracy?
You can improve grammar and speaking accuracy by combining explicit grammar study with listening, reading, speaking, and targeted correction. Memorising isolated rules is less effective when you cannot apply the rules during real communication.
Start with frequent errors that affect your everyday speech. Record short answers, review word choice and sentence structure, and rewrite incorrect sentences in Standard English. Read reliable English materials to observe natural grammar in context. During conversation practice, focus on one or two recurring errors instead of trying to correct every sentence simultaneously.
Pronunciation requires the same deliberate process. Listen to standard models, notice differences in vowel and consonant sounds, practise difficult words aloud, and repeat sentences until the correct pattern becomes automatic. Consistent practice develops accuracy while preserving your natural Nigerian identity and communication style.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are some common mistakes English learners make?
Common mistakes include incorrect verb patterns, confusing similar words, unnecessary words, subject-verb agreement errors, article errors, tense mistakes, and pronunciation problems. Nigerian learners may additionally encounter local expressions such as “borrow me,” “discuss about,” “my stuffs,” and “I am coming” when leaving.
What are the 20 most common writing errors in English?
Twenty frequent writing errors include subject-verb disagreement, incorrect tense, missing articles, comma splices, fragments, run-on sentences, wrong prepositions, pronoun errors, spelling mistakes, redundancy, repetition, unclear references, faulty comparisons, incorrect plurals, apostrophe errors, capitalization errors, weak punctuation, word-choice errors, “alot,” and “more better.”
What are common pronunciation mistakes among Nigerian English learners?
Common pronunciation mistakes can involve vowel contrasts, consonant sounds, word stress, syllable patterns, and final consonants. Nigerian English contains established pronunciation patterns, but learners preparing for international communication can improve clarity by comparing local pronunciation with the target English variety and practising difficult words.
How can Nigerian learners improve their English grammar and sentence structure?
Nigerian learners can improve grammar and sentence structure through targeted lessons, extensive reading, active listening, guided speaking practice, writing correction, and repeated use of accurate sentence patterns. Focus on recurring errors, study the rule behind each correction, and apply the corrected structure in original sentences.