Common mistake Choosing the right word
Word partnerships (collocations)
Collocation mistakes: using the wrong word partner
Two words that English does not put together, other than a preposition: a wrong verb, adjective or noun next to its partner (for example "do a mistake", "make research", "strong rain", "big attention", "apply a ban" for "introduce", "the cost of housing is growing" for "rising"; also a verb that cannot take that object, like "emerged a new way"). A wrong preposition is wrong_preposition. In short: Some words always go together, so learn them as pairs: make a decision, do research, pay attention, take a risk, heavy traffic.
This guide is for writers moving from B1 to B2 or from B2 to C1.
The rule for collocation mistakes
Some words always go together, so learn them as pairs: make a decision, do research, pay attention, take a risk, heavy traffic.
Pattern: make a mistake, a decision, progress; do research, harm, damage; pay attention; heavy rain, heavy traffic; take a risk; a strong argument.
Used correctly: a word partnership learners often get wrong, used correctly (for example "make a mistake", "do research", "heavy rain", "pay attention").
Use this when two words usually go together. English has fixed partners: we make a decision but do research. They are not logical, so learn them in pairs.
Collocation mistakes: wrong and right examples
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Wrong Smoking
makesa lot of damage to your lungs.Right Smoking does a lot of damage to your lungs.
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Wrong Our team
didgood progress this month.Right Our team made good progress this month.
More right sentences
- The company made a costly mistake.
- Scientists have done a lot of research on sleep.
- Heavy traffic slows the whole city down.
Traps to avoid with collocation mistakes
- Translating from your own language often gives the wrong partner: "strong rain" should be "heavy rain".
- When you learn a new noun, learn the verb that goes with it: make progress, raise a question.