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Back to Speak English With Vanessa

Learning Foundations

20 Most Common Speaking Mistakes

Review common speaking and grammar mistakes with Vanessa, including clear pronunciation, filler words, time prepositions, and how to respond to questions.

Read the full lesson summary

Vanessa’s lesson reviews common speaking mistakes and offers clear alternatives with short explanations. It is intended for learners who want their spoken English to be easier to understand and more natural in everyday exchanges. The examples cover several kinds of issues: pronunciation and clarity, filler words, the meaning of short answers, sentence patterns, and prepositions used with time. The format is corrective, but the practical goal is improvement, not perfection.

One section focuses on speaking clearly. Vanessa explains that clarity can help listeners understand a message, but it is not the same as speaking loudly or trying to erase an accent. She also discusses filler words such as “um.” Speakers use them naturally while thinking; the lesson recommends using them in moderation rather than treating every pause as a failure. “Here and there” is a useful way to say that something happens occasionally, not constantly.

The video also shows why context matters when answering questions. A short “yes” or “no” may communicate more than a learner intends, so a complete sentence can make a response clearer. “Make sure” is a practical frame for reminders and checks, while “not your fault” can reassure someone who was not responsible for a problem. These expressions serve different purposes: one gives a direct instruction, and the other softens a difficult moment.

Near the end, Vanessa reviews time expressions. English commonly uses “in” with broad parts of the day, as in “in the morning,” and “at” with a particular clock time, such as “at 3:30.” The phrasal verb “go over” means to review information or solutions together. These patterns are especially useful in schedules, study sessions, and workplace conversations.

For practice, record a short response to a familiar question. Listen for one place where you can speak more clearly, one filler word you might reduce, and one time phrase you want to use correctly. Then try the response again as a complete sentence. If you notice an occasional mistake, treat it as something to review rather than proof that you cannot communicate. The lesson’s central value is learning to make a message clearer while staying comfortable enough to keep speaking.

S2.1
Speak English With VanessaAmerican English41:19

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Transcript

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Select an expression for its meaning · 0:00

Introducing common speaking mistakes

Have you ever made an embarrassing mistake let's imagine that your co-workers tell you that you're in charge of calling the bakery to get a birthday cake made for your boss's birthday party well you call the bakery and you tell them that you want the cake to say this happy birthday to the best boss in the world but when you get the cake back oh no it's a disaster it says have a big day to the best bus in the wheel what in the world is this nonsense uh and then you realize I didn't speak

Try it: Listen for the purpose of the lesson and the first examples used to show unclear communication.

Phrase cheat sheet

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7 phrases

speak clearly

Making a message clear · expression

Say words in a way that listeners can understand without unnecessary effort.

Tone and use: Neutral and practical. Use it when talking about making pronunciation or a message easier to understand.

May not fit: Clear speech does not mean speaking loudly or eliminating an accent.

Example“I slow down and speak clearly when I explain the directions.”

here and there

Using filler words in moderation · expression

Occasionally or in a few places, but not constantly.

Tone and use: Informal and softening. Use it to describe something that happens sometimes or in scattered instances.

May not fit: It can be vague; give an amount or example if precision matters.

Example“I still make a spelling mistake here and there.”

a filler word

Using filler words in moderation · expression

A sound or word such as “um” that fills a pause while someone is thinking.

Tone and use: Neutral; often used in language coaching. Use it when discussing spoken pauses and speech habits.

May not fit: Do not assume every pause or filler is a serious error; natural conversation includes them.

Example“I sometimes use a filler word while I decide what to say.”

not your fault

Clarifying what an answer means · expression

You are not responsible for causing something bad or incorrect.

Tone and use: Reassuring and supportive. Use it to comfort someone when they lacked information or control.

May not fit: Use it only when responsibility is understood; it can sound dismissive without context.

Example“It was not your fault—the schedule changed after you left.”

in the morning

Choosing time prepositions and reviewing · expression

During the morning period; “in” is the usual preposition for this part of the day.

Tone and use: Neutral and everyday. Use it with a general part of the day, as in “in the morning” or “in the evening.”

May not fit: Use “at” with specific clock times, such as “at 8:30.”

Example“We have a team meeting in the morning.”

go over the solutions

Choosing time prepositions and reviewing · phrasal verb

Review the answers or ways to solve a problem together.

Tone and use: Neutral and instructional. Use “go over” when reviewing information, corrections, or plans.

May not fit: It does not necessarily mean physically walking over something.

Example“Let’s go over the solutions before the quiz.”

make sure

Choosing time prepositions and reviewing · expression

Check or take action so that something is definitely done or true.

Tone and use: Practical and direct. Use it before a clause or to-infinitive when giving a reminder.

May not fit: It can sound like an instruction; soften it when appropriate.

Example“Make sure you save the document before closing the laptop.”

Knowledge check

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Use it in a sentence · “speak clearly”

You want a listener to understand your directions. Which sentence fits?