Top 10 English Words That Confuse Most Indians – Fix Them Today!

English is used by millions of people in India. But many times, we use some words in the wrong way. These mistakes are very common, so do not feel bad. The good news is that once you know the correct meaning and use, you will never forget. In this blog, we will see the top 10 English words that confuse most Indians and how to fix them today.

1. Revert

❌ Wrong: “I will revert back to you.”✔ Correct: “I will revert to you.”

The word revert already means “reply” or “come back.” So, saying revert back is a double mistake. Just say revert.

2. Cousin Brother / Cousin Sister

❌ Wrong: “He is my cousin brother.”✔ Correct: “He is my cousin.”

In English, the word cousin already tells us the relation. You don’t need to add brother or sister.

3. Passed Out

❌ Wrong: “I passed out from college in 2020.”✔ Correct: “I graduated from college in 2020.”

Passed out in English means “to faint” or “to become unconscious.” The right word is graduated.

4. Discuss About

❌ Wrong: “Let’s discuss about this project.”✔ Correct: “Let’s discuss this project.”

The word discuss already includes the idea of “about.” So, adding about makes it wrong.

5. Prepone

❌ Wrong: “Can we prepone the meeting?”✔ Correct: “Can we move the meeting earlier?”

The word prepone is widely used in India, but it is not standard English. Native speakers say advance the meeting or move it earlier.

6. Expired / Over

❌ Wrong: “My milk is over.”✔ Correct: “My milk is finished.”

In English, over means something has ended, like a game. For food or things, use finished or ran out of. Example: “The milk is finished.”

7. Order For

❌ Wrong: “I would like to order for a pizza.”✔ Correct: “I would like to order a pizza.”

The word order does not need for. Just say “order a pizza.”

8. Return Back

❌ Wrong: “Please return back my book.”✔ Correct: “Please return my book.”

Return already means give back. So, adding back is not correct.

9. Stuff / Stuffs

❌ Wrong: “These are my stuffs.”✔ Correct: “This is my stuff.”

The word stuff is uncountable, so it never has an s. Say “my stuff” or “some things.”

10. Marriage / Wedding

❌ Wrong: “I am going to attend his marriage.”✔ Correct: “I am going to attend his wedding.”

Marriage is the state of being married. Wedding is the event or function. So, use wedding when you talk about the ceremony.

Quick Recap

Here are the top 10 common mistakes and their fixes:

1. Revert (not revert back)

2. Cousin (not cousin brother/sister)

3. Graduated (not passed out)

4. Discuss (not discuss about)

5. Move earlier (not prepone)

6. Finished (not over, for things)

7. Order (not order for)

8. Return (not return back)

9. Stuff (not stuffs)

10. Wedding (not marriage, when talking about the event)

    
    

Why These Words Confuse Indians

Many of these mistakes come from how we use English in daily life in India. We mix it with local languages and make it sound natural to us. But in standard English, these phrases are different. If you fix these small mistakes, your English will sound much more professional and clear.

How to Remember the Correct Usage

1. Write and practice – Make your own sentences using the correct word.

2. Read English newspapers or blogs – Notice how native speakers use words.

3. Listen carefully – Watch English movies or news and listen to correct usage.

4. Practice speaking – Use the right word with friends and family.

5. Get feedback – Join an English class or ask someone fluent to correct you.

Learning English is a journey. Do not worry about mistakes. Even people who speak English from childhood make mistakes sometimes. The key is to learn, practice, and improve every day.

By fixing these top 10 confusing English words, you will speak better, write better, and feel more confident. Start today, and you will see the difference in just a few weeks!