In this article, I am going to give you my top 10 tips on how to improve your writing skills in English. This is what I tell all my students and so far they’ve done quite well! So if you’re a learner of English as a foreign language and are wondering how to improve your English writing skills keep on reading and make sure you take some (written!) notes. Oh, and if you want, you can download this post in PDF at the end of the page.
- 1. Improve your writing skills in English by reading
- 2. Write as much as you can in English
- 3. Make sure your English grammar is perfect
- 4. Make your English vocabulary rich
- 5. Make sure most of your written work in English is real
- 6. Get feedback from a professional English teacher
- 7. Learn from your mistakes
- 8. Identify your weak spots and work on them
- 10. Familiarise yourself with many types of writing tasks
- 10. Combine writing in English with other skills
- BONUS TIP: Use the correct tools to improve your writing in English
1. Improve your writing skills in English by reading
If you want to improve your English writing skills, it is important to read as much as you can. By reading a variety of materials – from novels to articles to biographies – you will not only improve your vocabulary and grammar, but you will also learn how to structure your writing and develop your own style.
Additionally, reading can help you better understand different cultures and perspectives, which can be beneficial when writing essays or other papers. So if you want to become a better writer, be sure to read as much as you can!
2. Write as much as you can in English
If you want to improve your written English skills, you need to write as much as you can. The more you write, the more proficient you will become. Writing can aid in the improvement of your grammar, vocabulary, and spelling. It can also aid in the development of your writing style. So, if you want to better your writing abilities, start writing more frequently.
You can make your written English skills better by writing in English as often as possible. When you have the opportunity to write in English, take it. Write emails, articles, blog posts, or even just a shopping list. The more you write, the better you will get.
3. Make sure your English grammar is perfect
As a foreign language student, in order to write better in English, it is important to make sure your grammar is perfect (or as good as possible!). If your grammar is deficient, your written skills will not improve. You can improve your grammar by practicing and studying the rules of English grammar.
There are many grammar websites and apps that can help you improve your English grammar (including this one!).
Additionally, you can find English grammar exercises in many textbooks and online. By practicing and studying grammar, you will be able to write better in English. That’s for sure!
4. Make your English vocabulary rich
If you want your writing to sound truly impressive, your vocabulary needs to be as rich and varied as possible. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to improve your English vocabulary. Reading extensively, as mentioned above, is a great way to expose yourself to new words and phrases. Watching television and movies is another activity that can help you expand your vocabulary, as you’ll hear a wide range of words and expressions used in context.
In the same way, practising your writing also helps, as you’ll get a chance to use new words in context and see how they fit into your sentences. Finally, using a dictionary is a great way to explore the many different meanings of a particular word. With a little effort, you can add some impressive words to your vocabulary and make your writing sound truly amazing.
5. Make sure most of your written work in English is real
There’s no better way to develop your English writing skills than to write in a real context, where your written work will have real consequences. For example, if you’re writing a letter, make sure to proofread it carefully and to check for any mistakes. Or, if you’re writing a report, be sure to fact-check all of your information. Writing in a real context will help you to become a more conscientious and accurate writer.
In addition, writing in a real context can also help you to become more familiar with the format and conventions of different types of writing. This can be especially helpful if you’re looking to boost your academic writing skills. For example, if you’re studying for an exam, it might be helpful to practice writing essays in the same style as the exam questions. Or, if you’re working on a research paper, it might be helpful to read some examples of other research papers that have been written in your field of study.
Ultimately, writing in a real context can help you to improve your overall communication skills. By practicing different forms of written communication, you’ll become better at conveying your ideas and thoughts effectively. And this is an essential skill for any professional or academic career.
6. Get feedback from a professional English teacher
There is no doubt that having an English teacher correct your written work and provide you with feedback is essential in your journey towards improving your writing skills. Feedback can help you to identify your mistakes and learn from them.
In order to get the most out of feedback, it is important to understand what your teacher is looking for. They will be looking for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary, as well as for coherence and cohesion in your writing. It is also important to take feedback seriously and to use it to advance your writing, as we will see in a minute.
7. Learn from your mistakes
No one is perfect and whenever we are learning something, we are going to make mistakes. So, it is essential that we know how to learn from them and make our writing better.
Mistakes can help us learn about our weaknesses and how to improve. If we can learn to be aware of our mistakes and learn from them, our writing will become much better. It is important to be patient and not give up when we make mistakes. We need to take the time to analyze what went wrong and learn from it.
There is no one right way to learn from mistakes. Some people prefer to reflect on what went wrong, while others may prefer to practice more. The most important thing is to find a way that works best for you and to stick with it.
There are a few things that you can do to make sure that you get the most out of feedback:
- Ask questions if you don’t understand something. Teachers and markers are happy to help explain things if you don’t understand what they are saying.
- Make a note of the corrections that your teacher makes, as well as any comments they may have made about your writing. This will help you to focus on the areas where you need to make improvements.
- Use feedback to improve your writing skills. Don’t just correct the mistakes that were pointed out, but also try to identify why the mistake was made and how you can avoid making it again in future.
Making mistakes is a part of life, and we can learn a lot from them. So, don’t be discouraged if you make mistakes while writing. Just remember to learn from them and keep trying. You will get better with practice!
8. Identify your weak spots and work on them
Another interesting way to better your writing skills is to identify your weaknesses and focus your efforts on improving those weak spots. No matter how good your writing skills in English are, there are always ways to improve them.
By analyzing your own writing, you can find areas that need improvement and work on them. The more you practice, the better your writing will become. Maybe your writing sounds repetitive, or your descriptions are bland, or your punctuation sucks. Whatever it is, make sure you spot it and work on it. By doing so, you will eventually see the results you want.
10. Familiarise yourself with many types of writing tasks
There are many different types of writing tasks, such as essays, articles, reports, and so on. Familiarising yourself with the different types of writing and the formats they take is a great way to improve your writing skills in all contexts.
Different types of writing often require different approaches, and by practising a variety of writing tasks, you’ll become better equipped to handle whatever comes your way. So take the time to learn about the different types of writing, and practise writing in different formats. You’ll be a better writer for it.
10. Combine writing in English with other skills
One of the best ways to enhance your writing abilities is to combine this skill with other language skills, such as reading, listening and speaking. This will help you to develop a deeper understanding of the language, and make you a more confident and competent writer.
Working on your writing skills in conjunction with other skills will also make you a more well-rounded learner, and you will be able to use language in a more natural way.
When you read, you will learn new words and expressions, and you will also get a better understanding of the structure and grammar of the language. By listening to native speakers, you will hear the language spoken in its natural context, and improving your listening will help you to develop your understanding and pronunciation. Speaking with others will give you the opportunity to use the language fluently and make mistakes, which is an essential part of learning. As you can see, all language skills are interconnected and, therefore, should not be worked on in isolation.
By practising all of them together, you will be able to learn more quickly and effectively, and you will be able to apply your new skills to your writing.
BONUS TIP: Use the correct tools to improve your writing in English
There are many different apps and websites designed to help you improve your writing, even as an English language learner. It can be difficult to know which ones to use, but once you find a few that work well for you, be sure to make use of them!
One great app for improving your writing is called Grammarly. It’s a free online tool that helps you to identify and correct errors in your writing. It’s perfect for students or professionals who want to make sure their writing is polished and error-free.
Another great option is the Hemingway App. This app is designed to help you write more concisely and effectively. It analyzes your writing and highlights words and phrases that could be shortened or removed altogether.
If you’re looking for a more general writing improvement tool, try the Writer’s Diet. This app analyzes your writing and provides feedback on areas that could be improved, such as grammar, style and word choice.
There are countless other apps and websites that can help you to improve your writing. Find a few that work well for you and make use of them!
If you have any questions about any of these tips, make sure you leave a comment and let me know. I’ll be more than happy to help you.
I’ll see you in the next post. Until then, don’t forget to keep smiling!
