Most of the common English writing mistakes committed by non-native speakers involve inconsistency – from tenses and points of view to spelling styles (mistakes/irregularities). These kinds of errors don’t only confuse readers, but they can also diminish one’s credibility as a writer.

Some of the other usual writing mistakes made by people with English as a second language (ESL) are excessively long paragraphs, run on-sentences and the incorrect use of articles and prepositions.

The best way to achieve native-level English fluency is through plenty of practise. As you spend more time writing, you’ll grow more familiar with the grammar rules of the language. Eventually, you’ll get used to thinking in English, too, and it’ll become second nature. Instead of translating, you’ll be able to formulate your thoughts directly in English, which greatly improves your sentence construction and word choice.

ESL Tutoring Services shares practical tips to help you improve your English writing skills.

1. Brush up on basics

Regardless of your reason for learning the English language, you’ll need at least an intermediate understanding of its writing principles to produce correctly written content. The best way to overcome any recurring writing mistakes is to brush up on your grammar skills.

You don’t need to have every grammar rule memorised; there are a number of online resources you can consult to double-check your writing. Here are is one we recommend:

  • The Punctuation Guide: a resource providing in-depth information on how and when to use different punctuations, including commas, dashes and parentheses, among others.

2. Build your vocabulary

Expanding your vocabulary also improves your grasp of the English language. Knowing more words lets you choose the one that best conveys your meaning. This leaves minimal room for misinterpretation and ensures that you deliver your message exactly the way you want.

Reading is the easiest way to expand your vocabulary. Not only do you learn new words, but you also see how they’re used in context. Whenever you encounter an unfamiliar word, look it up in the dictionary and try to find more examples of how to use it in a sentence.

Another technique is to subscribe to ‘word of the day’ feeds. The Merriam Webster mobile application is one popular example. Every time you learn a new word, try to use it in your writing or even your day-to-day conversations.

3. Dissect writing that you admire

Analysing writing styles you admire helps you by creating a basis  for your own style. Find a couple of articles that you think are well-written and print them out. Then, mark all the parts you liked: certain sentences, turns of phrase     or even an entire paragraph. Examine how the author communicated their ideas and apply the techniques to your own work.

Here are other elements you can look at when deconstructing somebody else’s writing:

  • Sentence length and structure
  • Use of literary devices, figurative language and other elements that add colour to your writing, such as metaphors and idioms
  • Pay attention to the rhythm and flow of  the writing, such as alliteration and repetition
  • Word choice
  • Tone
  • Transitions from one idea to another

4. Draft then rewrite

When writing your draft, focus on putting your ideas onto paper first. Avoid revising as you write because this will only interrupt your train of thought.

Only after you’ve written out your thoughts can you revise your work with content and structure in mind. Check your word choice, sentence construction and transitions between ideas and paragraphs. See if there are any missed opportunities to expand on a topic or provide examples to deliver your point more clearly.

Once you’re happy with your content, give your article a second read-through to check for grammatical and typographical errors. You can run your article through the Hemingway app. Hemingway points out weaknesses in your sentence construction, such as adverb overuse, passive voices and confusing wording. The app helps make your writing clearer and your points stronger.

This method of drafting then revising will significantly improve the quality of your writing. It lets you work on the technical aspect of your article as well as the quality of your content.

5. Get feedback from a native English speaker

Having a native speaker read through your work will help you produce better-quality articles. It’s ideal to have an editor or mentor instead of having your work checked by different people every time. This way, you’ll be working with someone who already knows how you write, what your recurring mistakes are and if you have any crutch words.

Your editor doesn’t just correct grammar errors. They’ll also provide feedback on your word choice, verb usage and other stylistic choices. The best part about having a regular editor is that they won’t just tell you when something doesn’t work, but they’ll also tell you why it doesn’t work. This kind of constructive criticism helps sharpen your skills.

If you don’t have an editor, it’s still advisable to have your work checked by a native speaker. They’ll help polish your sentence construction and be your guide when navigating the unwritten rules of English grammar.

6. Take a lot of notes

Lastly, takes notes of the tricks and techniques you learn along the way. Whether you’re receiving feedback from your editor or analysing a piece of writing, jotting down your takeaways helps reinforce your learning. Plus, having your own English writing guide makes it easier for you to brush up on your basics and review any rules you’ve forgotten.

Taking notes is especially helpful for correcting recurring mistakes. For instance, many ESL writers get confused with the usage of ‘in’, ‘on’, and ‘at’. You can overcome this struggle by keeping a table of their proper usage along with some examples.

Use your notes to guide you as you write. Just like any other skill, practise is still key to improving your writing. As you continue to write and correct yourself, you’ll be able to absorb the necessary language knowledge without much effort – making English writing second nature.

If you’re the kind of learner who benefits from classroom-method learning, having private lessons can greatly contribute to your improvement.

Write Like a Native English Speaker with ESL Tutoring Services

ESL Tutoring Services offers English language learning programs designed to help you achieve your desired fluency level. Our lessons cater to various learning levels, from general English to academic and business English.

We cater to students in the following cities:

Contact us to start planning your English skills development path. You can also email us at info@esltutoringservices.com or call 1300 137 186.

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