Being an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) student is challenging. Learning new material while mastering a new language in your field is no easy feat. It’s understandable that sitting through classes you don’t fully understand can be frustrating and affect your ESOL writing. Additionally, the pressure of writing papers in a language that is not your first can feel overwhelming. We understand the challenges you are facing, and we are here to support you.

There are several common writing mistakes ESOL learners make. Seeking assistance with your English writing improves academic standings. Below are the top ten errors we’ve found in ESL academic writing.

1. Misuse of articles
   • One of the most common mistakes in academic writing for ESOL learners is mixing up indefinite and definite articles. Indefinite articles (a or an) refer to a noun with an unknown identity. “A” is used for words that begin with a consonant sound, while “an” is used for words that start with a vowel sound. There is only one definite article in English (“the”), so you don’t have to worry about listening for vowel sounds. It is used before singular or plural nouns and adjectives to refer to something familiar to the writer and reader. “A” refers to an unspecified single person, whereas “the” refers to a specific person.
2. Transitional phrases

   • The over-reliance on transitional phrases is a common ESOL issue in academic papers. Two logically related sentences often do not need a transitional word to link them. For example, “The student cut the paper in two. Consequently, it became two papers.” Consequently, this is unnecessary because readers can determine that the essay is in two parts due to the student’s cutting.
3. Watch your adjectives

   • Adjectives are used to describe nouns; using them in a specific order is essential when using more than one. For example, in the sentence “Rajev wants a white new shirt,” the order of the adjectives is incorrect. It should be “Rajev wants a new, white shirt.”
4. Wordiness

   • The tendency to use two or three words when one would suffice is a common mistake in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Consider the sentence, “Sandy believed, but could not confirm, that her manager had feelings of respect for her,” and compare it to, “Sandy assumed her manager respected her.” Both sentences convey the same meaning; however, the first uses 15 words while the second uses only six. When writing an essay, it’s crucial to avoid wordiness and to construct sentences as precisely as possible.
5. Plural possessives

   • Remember to add an apostrophe at the end of the word for plural possessive nouns (the brothers’ book). Singular nouns show possession by adding an apostrophe and “s” at the end of the word (‘the essay belonging to the student’ is written as ‘the student’s essay’).
6. Adverbs
Usage
   • Adverbs, such as quickly, slowly, or peacefully, are often misplaced in ESOL academic writing. It’s best to keep the adverb close to the verb it modifies. Never put an adverb between the words “to” and a verb (i.e., to quickly run), making the error of a split infinitive. In traditional academic writing, it’s best to avoid splitting infinitives. The correct way is to write ‘to run quickly’.
7. Using a thesaurus

   • A thesaurus is helpful but can create errors by confusing the right word due to homonyms. Homonyms are words that sound and are spelled the same but have different meanings. It’s a common ESOL mistake. Make sure to fully understand a word’s definition before finding an alternative.
8. Coordinating conjunctions

   • Sentences containing multiple coordinating conjunctions (and, but, if, or) should be divided into separate sentences. Moreover, initiating a sentence with a coordinating conjunction diminishes its strength. Avoid overusing these words in ESOL writing to prevent common mistakes.
9. Which/that
Usage
   • Using “which” and “that” incorrectly is a common mistake for English learners. Use “that” when the information being added is essential to understanding the sentence, and use “which” when the added information is unnecessary; if you use “which,” remember to use a comma.
10. Avoiding definitive statements

    • We often observe that ESOL writing lacks clear and definitive statements. Avoiding solid opinions may be an attempt to remain objective or indicate a lack of confidence in English writing skills. However, it is important not to shy away from making clear statements. When writers make definitive statements, their sentences are usually shorter, and their writing becomes more precise and concise.