common mistake — frequent error
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
A mistake that many people often make in a particular situation.
Say it like a native
Textbook This represents a frequently committed error among learners.
Native That's a really common mistake.
'Frequently committed error' is stiff; 'a common mistake' is the everyday phrase.
Pattern: common mistake (in/with/about something)
In use
- A common mistake in English is forgetting to use articles like 'a' or 'the.'daily life
- One common mistake students make in the IELTS writing test is not answering all parts of the question.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ It's a common mistake to forgetting the article.
✓ It's a common mistake to forget the article.
'A common mistake to + base verb' — not '-ing'.
Common collocations
a common mistake— make a, to + verb, among beginners, avoid
Don't confuse it
'Common mistake' is about errors made by lots of people, while 'personal mistake' is about something only you did.