Five English Mistakes Indians Commonly Make

English is one of the most widely used languages in India. We use it in schools, colleges, offices, examinations, social media, emails and everyday conversations. Yet, even people who have studied English for many years often make certain mistakes while speaking or writing.

These mistakes are usually not a sign of poor knowledge. Many of them develop because we translate sentences directly from our mother tongue or follow expressions that are commonly heard around us.

Here are five English mistakes Indians commonly make, along with simple ways to correct them.

1. “I am having two brothers.”

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This is one of the most common mistakes in Indian English.

❌ Incorrect: I am having two brothers.
✅ Correct: I have two brothers.

The verb have is normally used to show possession. We generally do not use the continuous form having for possession.

More examples:

❌ I am having a car.
✅ I have a car.

❌ She is having a beautiful house.
✅ She has a beautiful house.

However, having is correct when it refers to an activity or experience.

✅ I am having lunch.
✅ We are having a meeting.

So, remember: “have” for possession, but “having” for an activity or experience.

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2. “Discuss about the problem.”

The word discuss itself already contains the idea of talking about something. Therefore, we normally do not use about immediately after discuss.

❌ Incorrect: We discussed about the problem.
✅ Correct: We discussed the problem.

❌ The teacher discussed about the new rules.
✅ The teacher discussed the new rules.

Compare this with the verb talk:

✅ We talked about the problem.

A useful rule is:

Discuss + object
Talk + about + object

For example:

We discussed the matter.
We talked about the matter.

This small difference can make your English sound much more natural.

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3. “He did not went there.”

This mistake occurs when learners use the past form of the main verb after did.

❌ Incorrect: He did not went there.
✅ Correct: He did not go there.

Why?

Because did already shows the past tense. Therefore, the main verb should remain in its base form.

More examples:

❌ She did not came yesterday.
✅ She did not come yesterday.

❌ They did not understood the question.
✅ They did not understand the question.

❌ Did you went to Delhi?
✅ Did you go to Delhi?

Remember this simple formula:

Did + subject + base verb

And in negative sentences:

Subject + did not + base verb

Once you remember this rule, many common mistakes disappear.

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4. “Myself Rahul.”

This expression is extremely common when Indians introduce themselves, particularly in formal situations.

❌ Incorrect: Myself Rahul.
✅ Correct: My name is Rahul.
✅ Correct: I am Rahul.
✅ Correct: I’m Rahul.

The word myself is a reflexive pronoun. It is normally used when the subject and object refer to the same person.

For example:

✅ I hurt myself.
✅ I introduced myself to the guests.

It is not normally used as a substitute for I or my name is when introducing yourself.

Instead of saying:

“Myself Rahul. I am from Delhi.”

say:

“My name is Rahul. I am from Delhi.”

This sounds natural and grammatically correct.

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5. “Return back” and “revert back”

Another common habit is adding back to words that already express the idea of returning.

❌ Incorrect: Please return back my book.
✅ Correct: Please return my book.

Similarly, in professional communication, you may hear:

❌ Please revert back to me.
✅ Please revert to me.

However, there is an important point here. In modern Indian business English, “revert” is very commonly used to mean “reply” or “respond.” In international English, revert traditionally means “return to a previous state or condition,” so reply or respond is often clearer.

For example:

Please reply to my email.

is clearer than:

Please revert back to my email.

Good English is not simply about using difficult words. It is about using the right words in the right way.

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Why Do These Mistakes Happen?

A major reason is direct translation from Indian languages into English.

For example, a sentence that sounds perfectly natural in Hindi or another Indian language may not follow the same structure in English.

Another reason is that certain expressions become so common in our surroundings that we stop noticing them. If students hear the same expression repeatedly at school, at work or in everyday conversation, they may naturally assume that it is correct English.

The good news is that these habits can be changed.

How Can You Improve Your English?

You do not need to memorise hundreds of grammar rules. Start by observing the English you hear and read.

Here are five simple habits:

1. Read English every day, even for 10–15 minutes.
2. Listen to good-quality English through news, interviews, lectures and educational videos.
3. Write a few sentences daily and check your grammar.
4. Notice common mistakes and learn their correct forms.
5. Think in English instead of translating every sentence word-for-word from your mother tongue.

Most importantly, do not be afraid of making mistakes. Mistakes are part of learning. The real progress begins when we notice a mistake, understand why it is wrong and consciously use the correct form next time.

Final Thoughts

English is not the property of any particular country or community. It is a global language, and Indians have made—and continue to make—a significant contribution to its use and development.

There is nothing wrong with an Indian accent or with varieties of English influenced by Indian languages. The goal should not be to erase our identity. The goal is to communicate clearly, correctly and confidently.

So, the next time you say “Myself Rahul,” “discuss about,” or “did not went,” pause for a moment and correct yourself.

Small corrections, practised consistently, can make a big difference to your English.