Writing well in Portuguese requires more than just knowing vocabulary and grammar rules — it’s about avoiding the small, sneaky mistakes that can undermine your clarity and credibility. Whether you’re writing an email, an essay, or a blog post, certain errors tend to pop up frequently. Let’s dive into the most common Portuguese writing mistakes and how to avoid them.
Confusing “Mas” and “Mais”
One of the most classic mix-ups involves these two words. “Mas” (with an s) is a conjunction that means “but” and is used to express contrast, like in “Eu queria sair, mas está chovendo.” Meanwhile, “mais” (with an i) means “more” or “plus,” as in “Eu quero mais café.” A quick tip to remember the difference: if you can replace the word with “porém” or “entretanto,” you should use “mas.”
Misplacing Accents
Portuguese has a variety of accents — acute (´), grave (`), circumflex (^), tilde (~), and the cedilla (ç) — and misplacing them can completely change the meaning of a word. For example, “avó” (grandmother) and “avô” (grandfather) differ only by the direction of the accent. Another tricky one is “pôde” (past tense of “poder”) versus “pode” (present tense). Reading aloud can help catch these errors, as can double-checking words you’re unsure about in a dictionary.
Mixing Up “A,” “À,” and “Há”
These three little words are easy to confuse but serve different purposes. “A” is a simple article or preposition, like in “Vou a casa dela.” “À” is a contraction of “a + a,” used when indicating direction or time, like “Fui à praia.” “Há” comes from the verb “haver” and indicates time or existence, as in “Há dois dias” (Two days ago). A quick hack: if you can replace “há” with “faz,” you’re using it correctly.
Subject-Verb Agreement Errors
One of the most frequent mistakes happens when the verb doesn’t match the subject in number or person. For instance, saying “A gente vamos sair” is incorrect — “a gente” is singular, so the correct form is “A gente vai sair.” Always make sure your verb matches the subject properly.
Incorrect Use of “Porque,” “Por que,” “Porquê,” and “Por quê”
This one is tricky even for native speakers. “Porque” (one word) is a conjunction, meaning “because,” like in “Eu estudo porque quero aprender.” “Por que” (two words) is used in questions or when it means “for what reason,” as in “Por que você saiu mais cedo?” “Porquê” (with an accent) is a noun meaning “the reason,” like in “Ninguém sabe o porquê da decisão.” Finally, “Por quê” (with a space and accent) is used at the end of questions, like “Você saiu mais cedo por quê?”
Overusing Commas
Commas are essential, but overusing them can make sentences choppy or unclear. Avoid placing a comma between the subject and the verb — a common mistake — like in “O João, foi ao mercado.” The correct version is “O João foi ao mercado.” Commas should separate elements in a list, before conjunctions like “mas” or “porém,” and to add extra information (called an appositive). If you’re unsure whether to use a comma, try reading the sentence aloud — if you naturally pause, a comma might belong there.
Confusing “Onde” and “Aonde”
“Onde” refers to a fixed place — “Onde você mora?” — while “Aonde” implies movement toward a place — “Aonde você vai?” Remember: “aonde” pairs with verbs of movement (ir, chegar), while “onde” suits verbs indicating location (estar, ficar).
Final Thoughts: Polish Your Portuguese with Confidence
Mistakes are part of the learning process, but knowing the most common pitfalls helps you avoid them and write with more confidence and clarity. Whether you’re a native speaker looking to refine your writing or a Portuguese learner working toward fluency, paying attention to these tricky areas will make a big difference. Writing is a skill — and like any skill, practice (and patience!) makes perfect. So, which mistake are you tackling first?