7 English Mistakes That Make You Sound Less Professional — And How to Fix Them

Even native English speakers make language mistakes that weaken how they come across — especially in writing or at work.
Let’s fix the most common ones and learn better ways to express ourselves.

1. Saying “I feel like” too much
Wrong: I feel like we should launch it next week.
Better: We should launch it next week.

This phrase makes you sound unsure. Say what you mean — unless it’s about emotions.

2. Misusing “literally”
Wrong: I was literally dying from laughter.
Better: I couldn’t stop laughing.

“Literally” is often overused — and often wrongly.

3. Mixing up “less” and “fewer”
Use “fewer” for things you can count.
Use “less” for uncountable things.

Example:

We need less emails. ❌

We need fewer emails. ✔️

4. Overusing filler words
Wrong: I’m just, like, thinking maybe...
Better: Maybe we should try...

Too many “likes”, “you knows”, and “justs” make you sound unconfident.

5. Writing “could of” instead of “could have”
Wrong: I could of done it.
Right: I could have done it.

Spoken: “could’ve” sounds like “could of” — but that’s always wrong in writing.

6. Using big words the wrong way
Wrong: Irregardless of the outcome...
Better: Regardless of the outcome.

It’s better to be simple and right than complex and wrong.

7. Writing long, confusing sentences
Too wordy: It might be beneficial to potentially consider...
Better: Let’s consider...

Short sentences show clarity and control.

Final Thoughts
You don’t have to speak perfect English — but a few small changes can go a long way.
These simple fixes will help you sound more confident, sharp, and professional — whether you’re writing or speaking.