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Common errors are shown to help ourselves in our everyday translations.

It is common to find ourselves trying to translate a word or phrase from English to Spanish which are similar in their sound and/or in writing. Here, I have collected some examples of these common errors which may help you a lot. Enjoy them!

ACCEPT

“The company will not accept to buy new machines” WRONG
“ The company will not agree to buy new machines” RIGHT

Explanation: You accept someone´s advice, opinion or suggestion BUT you agree to do something.

ACTUAL

“ We´d like to know more about the actual crisis” WRONG
“We´d like to know more about the present crisis” RIGHT

Explanation: Actual = real, (as opposed what is believed, planned or expected).

ADMIRE

“I enjoyed admiring all the old buildings” WRONG
" I enjoyed looking at all the old buildings” RIGHT

Explanation: Do not use "admire” when you just mean “see” or “look at”. Admire means “look at something or someone with a strong feeling of pleasure”.

ADORE

“I adore meeting new people” WRONG
“I like/love/enjoy/meeting new people” RIGHT

Explanation: Adore usually expresses a very strong feeling “ She adores her children and is always buying them presents".

ALARM

“Finally we got really worried and alarmed the police” WRONG
“Finally we got really worried and alerted the police” RIGHT

Explanation: Alarm: make someone feel worried about a possible danger. Alert: inform someone of possible danger so that they can be ready to deal with it.

ALIVE

“Every alive creature in the sea is affected by pollution” WRONG
“Every living creature in the sea is affected by pollution” RIGHT

Explanation: Alive: not dead .Living: alive now; used to refer to all creatures and things that live and die.

AMBITION

“My immediate ambition is to find somewhere to live” WRONG
“My immediate aim is to find somewhere to live” RIGHT

Explanation: Ambition: something very important that you have wanted to do or achieve for a long time. Aim: what you hope to achieve when you do something.

ANTIQUE

“There is a beautiful antique church in the centre of the town” WRONG
“There is a beautiful old church in the centre of the town” RIGHT

Explanation: Antique is used for objects (NOT buildings) “The upper-middle class have become collectors of antique furniture.”

ARGUE

“In the first class after lunch we usually argue” WRONG
“In the first class after lunch we usually have a discussion” RIGHT

Explanation: When people argue they strongly disagree about something and are often angry. When people consider a subject from several points of view, they have a discussion or a debate.

ATHLETIC

“A lot of athletic reporters write for the magazine” WRONG
“A lot of athletics reporters write for the magazine” RIGHT

Explanation: Athletic: physically strong and good at jumping, running, etc. Athletics: sports such as running, jumping, and throwing the javelin.

AWAKE

“I get up at seven o´ clock but I awake an hour later” WRONG
“I get up at seven o´ clock but I wake up an hour later" RIGHT

Explanation: Awake is used mainly as an adjective, as a verb it is used only in literary styles.

Till next time...