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– 14 min read

How to write better: a quick-start guide for anyone and everyone

Anne Ichikawa

Anne Ichikawa

learn to write good

Just about everyone knows how to write — but writing well is something different. Great writers are formed through hard work and a passion for learning. But just like you, they all started from the beginning.

Problem is, a lot of “start writing well’ articles focus on the result. But good writing begins before you tippity-tap on that keyboard. Studying everyday practices, learning how to organize your thoughts, and then turning those ideas into effective writing should be your priority.

Whether you’re a blogger , an SEO writer, a marketer, or want to be the next Stephen King, these universal writing tips give you lots of ways to write better.

15 writing tips to help you write better

1. think before you start writing.

One of the best writing tips for beginners is organizing your thoughts in a logical, explainable manner before putting pen on paper. The biggest hurdle is often not knowing how to begin or what to say—everything is a jumble of ideas that probably look like a bunch of paint thrown against a wall (and not in an artistic way). It can be very frustrating.

Note: THIS IS NORMAL. Don’t get discouraged. There’s a reason the phrase “writer’s block” exists. Let yourself think about it for a day or two, especially if you’re doing creative writing. You’ll be surprised at how that paint blob slowly transforms into a recognizable shape.

2. Embrace the writing “brain dump”

In business writing , the “brain dump” signals the beginning of every new project or assignment. It’s the opportunity to get whatever is in your head out on digital paper in a stream of consciousness.

Avoid correcting misspellings, typos, sentence structure, or grammar—just type, type, type until your brain excavates all musings. You can use this creative writing skill for all kinds of work, from personal blogging and copywriting to essays and work emails.

Remember that at this phase of writing: bad ideas don’t exist. Your best creative ideas will come when you’re not held back by perfectionism.

3. Make an outline

Now that you have all your wonderful, messy thoughts on paper, it’s time to get more granular and organized. Some tips on how to edit your brain dump: do a first pass and delete the parts that are definite “nos.” Then go through again and highlight the ideas you like best. Revisit the “maybes” later.

Now, take your favorites and as briefly or as detailed as you like, make an outline that conveys your message. Start top-level with your biggest, overarching ideas, and then get into the details. Fill in missing parts, elaborate on other parts—rinse and repeat until satisfied.

4. Know your audience

This is a straightforward writing tip for beginners, but a lot of people forget it. For example, your voice and elements of style for personal blogging will be much more informal than business writing (i.e writing a proposal for a new client). Being mindful of your audience is key to improving writing skills and creating more impactful work.

5. Keep a journal

Being a better writer means writing more! Keeping a journal should be a very low-pressure thing. It can be as simple as writing a list of things you did that day, playing around with word choice for a LinkedIn headline, or recounting a conversation you had with a friend.

If you don’t want to keep a physical journal, you can start a note on your phone or a document on your computer. The point is—there are no journaling rules. Just start writing whenever you feel like it, because the more you do it, the more naturally it will come to you.

6. Pen a letter instead of texting

Great writers write letters for fun and for practice. Pen a letter (or an email) to a friend who lives in another city. A hundred years ago, people wrote long letters detailing everything from the mundane to faraway travel. Why not now? It’s the perfect way to get your creative writing juices flowing, rather than relying on boring texts.

Remember to check spelling, comma use, sentence structure, typos, etc. Your friends deserve good writing too. Spell-check is a nice starting point, but writing well happens when you use a reputable grammar or punctuation checker tool like  Writer  to support you.

7. Read more to do better writing

One of the best, passive ways of becoming a better writer is to read a book (Stephen King’s work makes for great binge reading). Not into books? Long-form business writing, graphic novels, or short stories do the trick as well.

Reading every day puts you in the fast lane for improving your writing skills. As  Roz Morris , the author of the bestseller book,  Nail Your Novel , puts it: “Reading exposes us to writing that’s better than our own and helps us to improve. Reading—the good and the bad—inspires you.”

By reading more, your brain will naturally pick up on things like good word choice, different writing styles, and good sentence structures. It also improves your reading comprehension and concentration levels (which comes in handy for the procrastinators among us, including me).

8. Keep your writing simple

As the legendary American novelist, Jack Kerouac, once said, “One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple.”

One big misconception about writing is that it should be full of beautiful prose and impressive words. Wrong! Sure, I can use the word 'floccinaucinihilipilification,' but most people will just think my cat walked across my keyboard. Click To Tweet

No matter who they are, you should empower readers with your words. Complex writing can leave readers feeling insecure, weary, or both. To simplify your writing:

  • Replace adverbs with more powerful verbs (e.g. she talked quietly > she whispered)
  • Get rid of unnecessary adjectives
  • Opt for simple word choice
  • Delete fluff (e.g. instead of saying “in order to”, say “to”)

Go ahead and make use of a thesaurus, but don’t try to be a Shakespeare or even an Ernest Hemingway—just keep it simple and true to yourself.

9. Tone up your tone in writing

Getting tone right is key to being a good writer. It’s the personality of your writing, influenced by the type of writing you’re doing and who you’re talking to.

Just like we said in “Know Your Audience,” business writing like an email might sound conservative, while a personal social media post can be friendly and casual. Your tone can and should change depending on your needs. An extreme example: don’t start a cover letter with: “Hey, dude! Wassup?”

10. Prioritize your key points

If you want to learn how to write good, sentence structure and word placement is everything. If you have a question to ask, don’t put it in the middle of a paragraph, because it could get skipped over. Similarly, if you have an important piece of information to share, make it into its own paragraph or strategically place it in the introduction or conclusion—the sections readers tend to pay attention to the most.

11. Break up your writing into bite-size bits

Long sentences that are full of fluff are boring to read! Like staring directly at the sun—you just have to look away. Instead of creating a heavy block of text, break down large sections of information into concise, punchy sentences. Bullet points in particular are an amazing tool. They help you:

  • Communicate information effectively and quickly
  • Emphasize important points that are more easily remembered
  • Provide easily digestible information to the reader

(See? They come in handy) AI writing software  like Writer can help you be a better writer by identifying paragraphs that are hard to read.

12. Use active voice

Once you’re comfortable with sentence structure, punctuation and comma use, and word choice, it’s time to look at elements of style. One core element is passive voice vs. active voice.

An active voice is key for effective writing. It makes for a much more engaging read, conveying a strong and clear tone. Whereas passive voice pulls you away from the action, which can create an apathetic experience.

Here’s an example:

  • Active voice: The thief stole one million dollars (subject + verb + object).
  • Passive voice: One million dollars was stolen by the thief (object + past participle + subject).

See how in the first sentence, the subject performs the action? This eliminates extra processing time by getting to the point faster, unlike the passive voice example which puts the subject at the end of the sentence.

13. Edit (then edit again)

Now that you’ve overcome writer’s block and have the first draft, it’s time to move on to the editing process. Chances are, you’re not a professional editor, but that doesn’t matter—you can do a great job on your own. First, don’t edit immediately after writing. You want fresh eyes on that baby. Revisit it the next day and it will be easier to look for:

  • unnecessary words (like adverbs and adjectives)
  • long sentences that can be shortened
  • passive voice use

At this phase, don’t worry about grammatical errors. Right now, you’re editing for clarity of your ideas and thoughts.

14. Proof your writing

Proofreading  is where you check spelling, punctuation (i.e. comma use), run-on sentences, typos … you get the picture. Spell-check is a good starting point, a reputable grammar checker tool like Writer gives you advanced support.

Whenever possible, ask a real human to read your writing. They’ll likely be able to point out any writing mistakes  and even offer suggestions. Over time, the lessons you learn from using these tools will help you become a great writer.

15. Reflect on your main point

We’ve made it to the very end. You’ve taken your idea and found many words to make into numerous sentences that communicate your intended message… or did you?

The last step is to always take an objective look at your writing. Pretend you’re a total stranger. Now ask yourself—does the narration make logical sense? Can you read it once and understand its message? Even better, can you sum it up in a few sentences? If so, you’ve written something you can feel good about.

8 exercises to improve writing skills

Here are fun activities you can do every day to become a better writer.

1. Write every day

This is the best writing tip for beginners. Write like it’s your job. Practicing every day is key to learning how to write good. It helps you stretch those writing muscles and learn from doing. Keeping a journal with you at all times also means you can write whenever inspiration strikes, like when you’re walking your fave four-legged friend.

Write every day, and you’ll turn it into a habit. That doesn’t mean you have to write ten thousand words every day, as the author of the children’s novel,  See You in the Cosmos , Jack Cheng says:

“When mastery is the goal, spending an exorbitant number of hours in one sitting will likely lead to burnout. We don’t go to the gym expecting to put on 20 pounds of muscle in a single, day-long workout. Instead, we do several short workouts a week, spread out over months.”

2. Turn long paragraphs into bullet points

Want to learn how to write better sentences? Sentences that are easy to read and get to the point right away? Practice the art of brevity by chopping up hard-to-read paragraphs into succinct bullets.

This is especially useful for business writing because your readers are likely short on time. They want you to get to the point fast! And they want easy to digest information.

There is a place for long sentences in your work though, especially when it comes to creative writing. Writology has a great guide on this full of ace writing tips for beginners.

3. Change passive voice into active voice

A little recap on passive and active voice: Active voice is when the sentence starts with the subject acting on the verb. Passive voice is when the subject is a recipient of the verb’s action. Active voice is more engaging because it takes less processing time from the reader, and also gives the impression that the action is happening now, not in the past.

Use an AI writing platform like Writer  to spot unengaging instances of passive voice and transform them into the active voice. This will help you draw readers in and make your writing easier to read.

4. Use grammar checker tools like Writer

Use a grammar checker like Writer helps you spot mistakes you may have missed. Mistakes such as misused commas, spelling errors, typos, incorrect use of words (we’re looking at you, thesaurus lovers), etc. Writer is also ideal for business writing. You can submit your company style guide and the app will measure your written work against it to ensure consistent and on-brand content.

5. Proof your friend’s or colleague’s writing

One effective way to improve writing skills:  Proofreading  other people’s content. You can pick up on  common grammar mistakes , different sentence structures, new words, word placement – everything that you might not learn from your own writing. It’s about getting a fresh perspective on all the different ways language is used.

Bonus: you get all the good feelings for helping someone out. And they might even return the favor one day!

6. Write fanfiction

Improve your creative writing skills by writing about stories and characters you love. Why? The more passionate you are about what you’re writing, the more fun and engaging it will be to read. Because you’ll naturally inject your love of the subject into your work. Plus, you can ensure your favorite novels or short stories live on through that amazing imagination of yours! It’s also a great place to start if your idea bank is running on empty, giving you the inspiration and direction needed to write freely.

7. Read out loud

Sometimes you can’t tell if a word or phrase doesn’t work until you read it out loud. Same with spotting mistakes. This is especially true if you’ve read your work over a hundred times (hello fellow perfectionists). Your brain will find it more and more difficult to spot mistakes – reading out loud can fix this!

When you read out loud, it requires you to slow down and focus on every single word that you’re saying, so that it can make its way from your brain to your mouth. When we proofread inwardly, we tend to rush through things and don’t actually read the text properly.

That’s because our brain already has a version of the content embedded and it wants to concentrate on the meaning rather than the words. As psychologist Tom Stafford, who studies typos at the University of Sheffield in the UK, says : “We don’t catch every detail, we’re not like computers or NSA databases Rather, we take in sensory information and combine it with what we expect, and we extract meaning.”

8. Read books on how to write better

These books on how to write better are simple, easy to read, and full of valuable info.

  • Everybody Writes by Ann Handley – for business writing, marketing, and blogging
  • On Writing  by Stephen King – for writing novels and improving your creative writing skills
  • Write Tight  by William Brohaugh – for business and creative writing, with lots of writing tips for beginners
  • The Sense of Style  by Steven Pinker – for writing novels, letters and understanding the sciences of mind when it comes to language
  • You Are a Writer  by Jeff Goins – for business writers with great writing tips for beginners
  • Nail Your Novel  by Roz Morris – for budding novelists who want to polish their first draft or write a book

That’s your next vacation reading list sorted!

Now you can write better

It’s time to unleash your amazing writing skills and creativity! Got a friend who also wants to learn how to write well? Share the tips you’ve learned today. By teaching them, you’ll embed them further into your wonderful brain.

Write with clarity and confidence when using Writer.  Sign up for your free trial .

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May Habib CEO, Writer.com

Here’s what else you should know about Ascending.

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Enchanting Marketing

Writing advice for small business

29 Ways to Improve Your Writing Skills and Escape Content Mediocrity

by Henneke | 158 enchanting opinions, add yours? :)

29 ways to improve your writing skills

Perhaps you’ve read a couple of books to improve your writing skills. And you’ve subscribed to the most popular blogs on writing.

But still …

It’s hard to know where to start, right?

You’re not alone. One of the most often asked questions in my inbox is: How do I improve my writing skills?

Let me answer that question and give you a clear action plan.

Are you up for it?

Step I. Understand the principles of deliberate practice

Learning to write better can feel like an overwhelming task.

But just like a chef learns how to fry an egg and how to fillet a fish—and just like a violinist practices a difficult passage over and over again—writers can practice specific writing techniques to improve their skills.

These principles of deliberate practice help accelerate your learning:

  • Establish your main writing weaknesses . What exactly do you want to improve? For instance, you may want to focus on choosing the right words or writing simpler sentences.
  • Read the work of other writers to understand how they apply writing techniques. If you’d like to write with more simplicity, study Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea . Or if you’d like to improve word choice, see how Ray Bradbury uses strong verbs in Zen in the Art of Writing ; gather all your favorite examples in a swipe file —a collection of writing examples to learn from.
  • Practice a specific writing technique , and compare your writing to the examples in your swipe file, so you can see how to improve further.
  • Get out of your comfort zone—don’t use the examples to put yourself down; instead, challenge yourself to get better and enjoy the learning experience— nurture a growth mindset .

As Anders Ericsson, author of Peak: How All of Us Can Achieve Extraordinary Things , suggests:

In pretty much any area of human endeavor, people have a tremendous capacity to improve their performance, as long as they train in the right way.

Part 2. Think before you write

Before you cook a meal, you need a plan of action.

Who’s coming for dinner? What do they like to eat? You create a meal plan, get your groceries, and decide in what order to cook the dishes, so each dish will be ready in time.

Just like a good dinner party needs some planning, good writing starts with thinking, too:

  • Who are you writing for? Good writers have a pathological interest in their readers and understand their dreams, fears, and secret wishes.
  • Which reader problem will your article help solve? Or which aim will you help achieve? Good content has one clear purpose—to inspire a reader to implement your advice.
  • What’s the roadmap to help your readers solve their problems or achieve their aims? The roadmap is the basis for a clear and logical article.

As a good writer, you’re a mentor to your reader. You tell her you understand her problems, explain how to solve them, and encourage her to implement your advice.

Part 3. How to structure your writing

Imagine you’re planning a 4-course dinner to entertain your guests:

  • A starter to whet their appetite—how about a spicy chicken galangal soup?
  • The main courses—pineapple stirfried rice, ginger-flavored steamed fish, and stirfried morning glory—to nourish your guests
  • A dessert of mango with sticky rice to satisfy their sweet tooth
  • Coffee, tea or cognac with perhaps a chocolate to enjoy the conversation a little longer

Good writers plan their content as a 4-course dinner, too. And each part has a clear purpose to keep readers captivated from the first to the last word:

  • A powerful headline uses power words or numbers to attract attention in busy social media streams, and it mentions a specific benefit to entice followers to click to read more.
  • A captivating opening promises readers you’ll help solve a problem so they feel encouraged to read on.
  • A valuable main body shows, step by step, how to solve a problem or achieve an aim.
  • An inspirational closing jumpstarts readers into action—you only become a true authority when readers experience the difference your advice makes to them.

Your first task as writer is to write with a specific reader and purpose in mind, and to structure your content to achieve that purpose.

Next, learn how to communicate with clarity and power …

Part 4. The 7 basic writing skills everyone must master

A chef needs to learn chopping, sautéing, roasting, boiling, and grilling.

But what are the basic writing techniques you should practice?

  • Use the 4-course meal plan to create a logical flow without distractions, so readers stay on track.
  • Learn how to use vivid language to make abstract ideas concrete so readers easily grasp and remember your message.
  • Learn how to write bite-sized, simple, and meaningful sentences— a good sentence is the basic ingredient of good writing.
  • Compose smooth transitions so readers glide effortlessly from sentence to sentence, and from paragraph to paragraph.
  • Practice how to write clearly and concisely so your message becomes strong.
  • Discover how to avoid weak words , gobbledygook , and cliches ; and spice up your writing with power words including sensory phrases.
  • Understand the basics of keyword research and on-page optimization to increase organic search traffic.

Remember, to become a good content writer, you don’t need to turn yourself into a Stephen King, Ernest Hemingway, or Margaret Atwood.

Instead, aim to communicate your ideas with power, and make tiny ripples to change the world.

Part 5. The 5 advanced skills to write with personality and pizzazz

Once you’ve learned how to communicate with power and clarity, it’s time to create your signature style:

  • Learn how to use the zoom-in-zoom-out technique to weave miniature stories into your content.
  • Discover how to pace your stories and hook readers with tiny cliffhangers.
  • Cook up fresh metaphors to add flavor to rehashed and boring topics.
  • Write long sentences without running out of breath, and discover how to use rhythm to put music into your writing .
  • Experiment with word choice and try a more conversational tone so readers start recognizing your voice .

Don’t overthink these writing techniques. Instead, write from the heart , and readers will sense the enthusiasm in your writing. That’s how you engage and spark action.

Part 6. Develop sticky writing habits

How did you learn how to cook? By watching TV and reading recipe books? Or by practicing in the kitchen?

To learn how to write, nurture a regular writing habit . Here’s how …

  • Make writing a choice, and book time in your calendar for writing—if you don’t plan time to write, then it won’t get done.
  • Set a tiny goal —like writing one paragraph or writing for 10 minutes a day, so it’s almost impossible not to write.
  • Create a productive relationship with your inner critic , so you can become a more joyful and prolific writer.
  • Start writing, even if you don’t feel motivated —your muse will reward your hard work and your words will start to flow.
  • Eliminate distractions and practice how to focus —focus is your productivity super-power.
  • Chop up the writing process into steps —outline, first draft, revision, final edit—and spread the work over several days so you can take advantage of percolation; review your writing with fresh eyes so you can make it even better.

Lofty goals don’t help you create a writing habit. Instead, put in the work, sentence by sentence, and paragraph by paragraph.

Over time, you’ll build your stamina and boost your confidence.

And your body of work will grow piece by piece.

How to start improving your writing

Feeling a tad overwhelmed?

Here’s your 3-point plan of action to become a better writer :

  • Define the purpose of your writing first, and know whom you’re writing for.
  • Get the content and the flow right—that’s the most important part of good writing.
  • Pick one basic writing skill to practice this week; after you’ve mastered the basic skills, try the advanced writing techniques, one by one.

Rather than strive for greatness, aim to be consistently good enough because that’s how you’ll improve faster.

Your readers are hungry

Your readers crave your ideas.

They want to hear from you. They want to be comforted and inspired by you.

So, what are you waiting for?

29 ways to improve your writing skills infographic

Grab the embed code below to display the image on your website:

29 ways to improve your writing skills infographic

29 Ways to Improve Your Writing Skills and Escape Content Mediocrity , courtesy of Henneke at Enchanting Marketing

PS This post is an expanded and updated version of an article originally published on March 24th, 2015. The infographic is new.

Want to improve your writing skills further?

Join the 16-Part Snackable Writing Course (it’s free!):

  • Discover the Power of the Subtle Nod and other persuasive tricks
  • Learn how to cure sentence bloat and avoid irritating your readers
  • Receive 16 simple tips to write more seductive content and win more business

Recommended reading to improve your writing skills:

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Reader Interactions

Leave a comment and join the conversation cancel reply.

learn to write good

November 19, 2023 at 10:30 am

I can’t thank you enough for showing me the best and extraordinary techniques to be a good writer. I really appreciate your time and you. You deserve a credit for your work 👏

learn to write good

November 20, 2023 at 12:04 pm

Thank you, Mohamed. Happy writing!

learn to write good

November 14, 2022 at 9:34 am

Love this too much! Thank you!

November 14, 2022 at 11:01 am

Thank you 🙂

learn to write good

August 24, 2022 at 2:41 pm

Excellent article, definitely gave me some pointers on practicing writing to improve.

August 24, 2022 at 5:25 pm

Thank you, Ronald. Happy writing!

learn to write good

March 22, 2021 at 2:40 pm

It’s hard to actually put the words in my head down in writing as vivid as they appear. I don’t know if you understand. What can I do?

March 22, 2021 at 6:57 pm

That’s how writing often works. The ideas in our mind seem a lot brighter than what we get on paper. We just have to accept that our first draft is a rough draft and the writing can be bad. We can make the writing more vivid when we edit. This may be a useful starting point to consider your writing process: https://www.enchantingmarketing.com/writing-strategies/

learn to write good

January 12, 2021 at 3:01 pm

How do I know which is my weakness? As for me, all my writing is a weakness!

January 12, 2021 at 4:23 pm

You start at the highest level so you ensure your content structure is right before you worry about things word choice. I’ve providing advice on how to establish (and prioritize) writing weaknesses here: https://www.enchantingmarketing.com/writing-weaknesses/

learn to write good

December 22, 2020 at 5:46 am

This is brand new out of the oven. I really love your communication skills. Your combination of ideas and words drives me towards excellence. I do the work and you plant the ideas. I just can’t stress enough how joyful I am to write content. Thank you a bunch, Henneke.

December 23, 2020 at 6:40 pm

Thank you, Danny. Happy writing!

learn to write good

November 15, 2020 at 1:11 pm

Dear Henneke, Thank you for your super training in writing better through various methods. I have gained a lot, very grateful to you. Thank you.

November 16, 2020 at 3:06 pm

I’m glad you found it useful, Tom. Happy writing!

learn to write good

October 27, 2020 at 7:40 am

Splendid Infographic. Not a “post!” This is an asset! In excess of a reference recorded under — Bookmarks Read Later. This is a guide. One, I recognize, at whatever point considered and followed every day, will unimaginably improve making.

Your infographic is stunning. Not a word squandered. Not a sensible, to join text style decision and setup plan that didn’t serve to improve the getting experience. The exertion related to this post surprise the creative mind. Stunning!

October 27, 2020 at 4:50 pm

Hi Aria, thank you so much for your compliment on my infographic. Your enthusiasm shines through your words. Happy writing!

learn to write good

October 6, 2020 at 6:12 am

Thank you so much for creating this piece. It has some awesome tips and advice. I only wish there was a like button on here so I could show it more love!

October 6, 2020 at 11:40 am

A comment counts as a like, too. 🙂

Thank you for stopping by, Knalid.

learn to write good

July 18, 2020 at 1:32 pm

Hi Henneke! i was stuck in the problem of writing a quality content. i searched a lot to finding help. and finally your site was so informative and real answer to my questions. your teaching style is so smooth and with illustrations it becomes super-easy. thanks you so much for your humble words.

July 19, 2020 at 4:58 pm

Thank you so much for your compliment, Leah. Happy writing!

learn to write good

June 20, 2020 at 3:40 am

hi, thank you for your advices! just wanna to ask how can i improve my writing skills pertaining to essay. i’m a senior high student yet it’s still a struggle to me to write essays. whenever my teachers ask to write one I always find myself looking at my blank paper for minutes. Any advices?

June 20, 2020 at 5:55 pm

I don’t really know what your teachers are looking for so I can’t really advise on how to write an essay for school. However, it’s normal to have to think for a while before starting to write. It’s actually recommended to think first before writing. .

learn to write good

June 8, 2020 at 12:29 pm

Hi Henneke,

Wow! this is very elaborate

Thank you for sharing your writing with us.

This is a classroom for me. I learn something in every blog post

June 8, 2020 at 2:48 pm

Thank you so much for your compliment, Paul, and for stopping by. I appreciate it 🙂

Happy writing!

learn to write good

May 22, 2020 at 8:42 am

Hi, can I ask how much time did you invest to produce this inspiring and super-practical post? Thanks Dimitri

May 22, 2020 at 9:50 am

Hi Dimitri — I do not know how much time I invested in it. An original version was published in March 2015. I updated the post in May 2019. The original version was shorter with only one image. As a rough estimate, it takes me between half an hour and one hour to create an image but I had created almost all of the drawings in this infographic for other blog posts that I wrote between 2015 and 2019. That doesn’t count the time of putting it all together in one infographic. The text was relatively quickly to update (a few hours) but I could only do that after having invested in writing all the more detailed posts over the years.

learn to write good

April 28, 2020 at 10:04 am

Every time you need to edit an article. I come back here Open your tutorial, and follow. Result ? Customers recognize me in millions of other readings on the internet. You are generous with advice.

Always keep your writing perfect.

April 28, 2020 at 12:43 pm

I’m glad you’re enjoying my blog. Happy writing, Trung!

April 27, 2020 at 7:21 am

I searched every corner of the internet for people to teach me how to write. I stopped here and didn’t go anywhere. thank you.

April 27, 2020 at 9:58 am

I’m glad you found my website, Trung. Happy writing!

learn to write good

February 17, 2020 at 5:17 am

Thank you for the amazing post. Can you recommend some books for writing? Because books are really helpful for developing new ideas and learning something new.

February 17, 2020 at 12:09 pm

You can find a list of recommended books on writing here: https://www.enchantingmarketing.com/best-books-on-writing/

learn to write good

December 28, 2019 at 9:17 pm

Thank you for the wonderful informative blog post. Motivating and precise.

December 29, 2019 at 7:45 pm

I’m glad you enjoyed it, Cally, Happy writing!

learn to write good

September 14, 2019 at 9:00 am

Hi! Henneke. Awesome post. More informative and fun. Images makes it more interesting.

September 15, 2019 at 12:42 pm

I’m glad you like the drawings in this post. Happy writing, Kalpana!

learn to write good

August 29, 2019 at 9:27 am

Really appreciate your writing, keep writing good stuff Henneke

August 29, 2019 at 9:32 am

Thanks! Happy writing, Kevin 🙂

learn to write good

August 27, 2019 at 7:51 am

Wow! Looks really juicy and beautiful!

August 27, 2019 at 2:46 pm

Thank you, Helen. Happy writing!

learn to write good

August 8, 2019 at 6:50 pm

Wow!!! I love this article. I’ve seen a lot of linking to useful posts and I’m going to take my time to read all of them. Thanks for this great resource.

August 9, 2019 at 12:24 pm

Yes, this is an overview of my most useful articles on improving your writing skills. I hope you’ll enjoy reading them. Happy writing, Eriq!

learn to write good

August 3, 2019 at 6:25 pm

Henneke, I love this article, especially the graphics. I’m bookmarking it for continued reference.

August 5, 2019 at 10:10 am

Thank you, Patricia. This is like a summary of my whole blog 🙂

learn to write good

August 2, 2019 at 5:20 am

Henneke, I heard you on ‘Experts on the Wire” and adored loads of what you said. I just skimmed some of your creations and instantly became a fan. I am eagerly anticipating reading your newsletter and learning more from your individual perspective.

P.S. On EOTW, you said the word “really” like really, really a lot. But English is not your first language so I will ignore your overwhelming usage of this “weak” word 😉

August 2, 2019 at 11:47 am

Welcome, Robert, and thank you for becoming a fan. Rest assured, you’ll rarely come across “really” in my writing 😉

I really (!) appreciate your comment on “really.” I’ll try cutting down on the usage next time.

learn to write good

July 11, 2019 at 1:21 pm

so powerful, so helpful, so meaningful …. so glad to read that so happy to find your website thanks so so so much

July 11, 2019 at 2:43 pm

Thank you, Kasia. Happy writing!

learn to write good

July 8, 2019 at 5:32 am

Hi! Im going to 10th grade and I want to improve my writing skills as much as I can over summer. THANK YOU for posting this. I’m in the progress of learning English.

July 8, 2019 at 4:28 pm

Thank you, Thu. Happy writing!

learn to write good

July 2, 2019 at 8:35 am

Great tips here and love the infographic! I love the idea of cliff hangers and hooks for readers. I like doing this and often use the “more on this later” hook or use a story which is unfinished and then return to it later.

July 2, 2019 at 9:11 pm

Yes, “more on this later” is a good hook, too! Thank you for stopping by, Tim.

learn to write good

September 10, 2019 at 2:46 am

I love the analogy of comparing writing with preparing a meal. Really thinking about what the readers may want to consume.

September 11, 2019 at 8:23 am

Thank you, Shantell. I love referring to cooking and food on my blog 🙂

learn to write good

June 25, 2019 at 11:56 am

Well I still believe in this statement “practice make perfection” when you develop an habit of writing regularly,you start writitng like a pro-just with little time,so write regularly.

June 25, 2019 at 12:46 pm

Sure, practice is essential to improving any skill. And you can accelerate your progress when you know exactly what to practice, how to practice, and what standard you’re aiming for.

learn to write good

June 11, 2019 at 1:23 pm

In summary, 1. Keep it simple but accurate and don’t over-complicate things. 2. Get some keywords and key phrases prepared. 3. Don’t use contractions like don’t for do not instead use the direct word. 4. Don’t use dead weight words like “very”, “a lot”, “so” instead use a high quality word that compensates the use of such filler adjectives. Also, avoid phrases as “there is” and “there are” 5. Prioritize accuracy over fluency. 6. Recheck your writings once done and identify mistakes with trying to correct them to the most extent. 7. Refer right document and material relevant to your preparation and the pattern of exam. Read examples for each type of questions that could be asked. 8. Get your work corrected with a qualified, interested and relevant teacher. Pay them if possible as that may guarantee a proper review.

June 11, 2019 at 2:11 pm

What’s wrong with contractions? I use them all the time. They make writing more conversational.

And a natural flow of writing is as important as accuracy.

learn to write good

June 11, 2019 at 11:47 am

I have love to write even before I know what writing is. I just want to start writing not for the pay but to pen down my thoughts and probably to have a listening ear.

Is that normal? Am I normal? Can I be regarded as a writer too?

P.S. Thank you for this post, it will go a long way for me

learn to write good

June 7, 2019 at 8:10 am

Thank you for providing such invaluable information for free. I had many light bulb moments while reading this post. I have also registered for your 16 part course and the first snack made me laugh! I must be the most wanted criminal of all! ? I am trying not to use exclamation but can’t help it! Help! Hahaha

June 7, 2019 at 5:08 pm

I’m glad you found this post useful. Happy snacking!?

And thank you for stopping by.

learn to write good

May 31, 2019 at 3:24 pm

Great read!

May 31, 2019 at 8:08 pm

learn to write good

May 30, 2019 at 5:00 am

Tremendous, Henneke. Thanks for resending this – hate to have missed it. It’s a goldmine, better still, the Kimberly diamond mine of outstanding tips and know-how. Cheers and best to you.

May 30, 2019 at 7:30 pm

Thank you so much, Paul. I’m glad you found this little goldmine 🙂

learn to write good

May 30, 2019 at 2:39 am

Hi Henneke, This is yet another wonderful post from you. I love the headline the part of escape content mediocrity.

BTW I think you should remove the date showing in the comment section, since the post is not dated.

Anyway thanks for this wonderful read.

May 30, 2019 at 7:29 pm

Thank you. I’m glad you liked it!

And I’ve changed the order of the comments so the most recent one comes at the top 🙂

learn to write good

May 29, 2019 at 4:44 pm

“Establish your main writing weaknesses. What exactly do you want to improve?”

This is a serious issue for me. I can’t pinpoint what exactly is wrong with my writing. I just know that when I compare it to writings like yours, it looks bad.

What’s your advice for a newbie writer like me?

May 29, 2019 at 8:35 pm

The big points are usually what I mention at the start: Writing for one reader, helping him solve his problems, staying on point (no irrelevant information), and making abstract ideas concrete.

learn to write good

May 29, 2019 at 1:43 pm

Great teaching article Henneke, thanks! Vimal Thapa

May 29, 2019 at 1:47 pm

Thank you, Vimal. Happy writing!

May 29, 2019 at 4:27 pm

You are welcome

learn to write good

May 29, 2019 at 10:07 am

I enjoyed this post in 2015 and the expanded version is so welcome.

As I read through it, what struck me most (apart from the wealth of learning on offer) was what an incredible body of work you have built up… quietly helping us solve our writing problems week after week.

It’s inspiring, generous … and always implementable.

May 29, 2019 at 11:42 am

You know what I was surprised about? That I could include existing images for all of these tips. Who knew I’d build up a body of writing, but of drawings, too?

Thank you so much for cheering me on all these years. ?

learn to write good

May 29, 2019 at 3:57 am

This is not a “post!” This is resource! More than a reference filed under —Bookmarks Read Later. This is a guide. One, I believe, if studied and followed daily, will vastly improve writing. ( Read ….my writing.)

Your infographic is amazing. Not a word wasted. Not a graphic, to include font choice and layout design that didn’t serve to enhance the reading experience. The effort involved in this post staggers the imagination. Amazing!

May 29, 2019 at 7:52 am

Thank you for your generous compliment, Curtis.

Maybe I could have sold this as a writing course instead of publishing it for free. But I had a great time putting the infographic together and I’m happy to share with everyone 🙂

learn to write good

May 29, 2019 at 12:34 am

By part 3 I was looking for the recipe links. Hungry! Ha ha. A great summary of writing tips. You are so generous, Henneke.

May 29, 2019 at 7:50 am

Ha, yes! Maybe it’s time to change my business and focus on food instead 😉

Thank you, Brooke!

learn to write good

May 28, 2019 at 10:00 pm

Knocked it out of the park with this one, my friend! ♥️

What I love is how this process shows up again and again. It breaks down for anything, whether it’s writing, dog training, building sport skills, and so on.

And the infographic … ?

Thank you so much, Kathy! It’s so true: once you know how to get better in one skill, you can apply it to so many other skills, too. It also applies to learning how to draw!

learn to write good

May 28, 2019 at 5:21 pm

Thank you so much. Am a fan of art. So reading this makes learning fun and exciting thank you so much. Especially magnifying the writing content and making small daily goals. This am willing to try. Thank you Henneke.

May 28, 2019 at 5:23 pm

I’m glad you enjoyed the drawings. Thank you for stopping by 🙂

learn to write good

May 28, 2019 at 3:54 pm

Thank you for continuing to be an inspiration. I’ve learnt so much from your articles, even by scanning the articles themselves. I’m sure there is more for me when I sit down and read it deeply not to talk when I start applying the principles you espouse in each one. Thanks so much.

May 28, 2019 at 4:38 pm

Thank you, Chenden. I’m glad you’re enjoying my blog 🙂

learn to write good

May 28, 2019 at 3:17 pm

Just wonderful Henneke! The build up to the advanced techniques was the icing on the cake.

May 28, 2019 at 3:19 pm

The icing on the cake … that’s the perfect metaphor 🙂

Thank you, Paul!

learn to write good

May 28, 2019 at 4:04 pm

The graphic adds to the content in a measurable way drawing you into the article. Great job. The watercolors give it a subtle intrusion that is not distracting but captivating.

May 28, 2019 at 4:39 pm

I’m glad you like the drawings and find them adding value rather than distracting. I color the drawings with colored pencils 🙂

learn to write good

May 28, 2019 at 1:28 pm

Superb article lady! Descriptive yet impressive .. 🙂

May 28, 2019 at 1:29 pm

Thank you so much, Vatsala. It was a big job to put this all together 🙂

learn to write good

May 18, 2017 at 7:04 am

Really thank you, Henneke. I have seen many blogs and posts about how to do content writing well, and I got lots of information from those posts, but your post not only inspired me but also raised my confidence. I never usually comment on posts, because I am not confident enough. But now here I am commenting!! Thank you once again

May 18, 2017 at 12:30 pm

I appreciate your comment, Vineeth. Happy writing!

learn to write good

September 1, 2016 at 3:19 pm

Practicing empathy really seems like a smart idea when writing. That way, you can engage your readers and play to their emotions. Even if what you are writing is something they don’t agree with! You can still sympathize with them, and that may even help them to sympathize with you and your ideas.

learn to write good

June 26, 2016 at 7:52 am

This helps a lot it makes me want to write more and more without stop Thank you

learn to write good

February 16, 2016 at 6:13 pm

I love this article. I think it might help make my budding freelance writing career become lucrative.

February 18, 2016 at 11:03 am

learn to write good

November 19, 2015 at 5:57 pm

I loved that you used a cooking metaphor to highlight each point. Even for the person who doesn’t cook it works. They know how to eat, or in this case, read and know what good content looks like. What is so often needed is just what you gave, good examples.

November 19, 2015 at 6:17 pm

Thank you, Joyce. I love using cooking metaphors (and examples!) in my writing. Thank you for stopping by!

learn to write good

October 21, 2015 at 3:16 am

The more I read about your rationale about writing, the more enchanted I get. Your teaming up with Julia is fascinating. I am doing the same with Mr Coco Suarez, I call him my companion and helper. But no, I do not know how to draw, I just take photographs with my cell. Someone might think I am crazy. Well I am, but not that much. Ha! I am not a blogger yet, but I am working on it. I have already a domain name. The topic nutrition and health. So you talking so much in your comparisons about cooking, restaurant and so forth… I identify so much with your menus. Thank you for your energies using it helping us. Great help! You say you’re blogging or 3 years… wao… and are so season it already. God bless!

October 21, 2015 at 11:00 am

Good luck with starting your blog, Aida. Sounds like you’ve picked a good topic!

learn to write good

April 30, 2015 at 6:28 am

Hi Henneke, These are awesome tips that will not only make the writing genius but also delicious “rotis”. Umm they are delicious. Thanks for the tips and I am waiting t using them in my freelance writing business.

April 30, 2015 at 3:48 pm

Happy cooking 🙂

learn to write good

March 26, 2015 at 2:41 pm

All good advice. That’s what I love about writing. You can always learn. There’s no end zone here. I doubt even Tolstoy said, “I’m done. I have nothing left to learn.”

March 26, 2015 at 10:38 pm

Yes, writing is a lifelong journey. Fortunately, it’s a fun journey 🙂

learn to write good

March 26, 2015 at 2:02 am

A great checklist Henneke! What I love about this post is that you have made it really simple to quickly read through. I keep learning from you every time I read one of your posts.

March 26, 2015 at 1:14 pm

I edit and format quite rigorously to improve readability 🙂

Glad you enjoyed it, Peter!

learn to write good

March 25, 2015 at 1:03 pm

I’m in awe of you! You are truly brilliant. I don’t post often here, but know that I read just about everything you write (I try. Being a SAHM to twin toddlers and a freelance writer give me very little time).

I’m going to bookmark this site so I can come back to it when I can spare a couple of minutes.

Thanks for sharing your insightful list.

March 25, 2015 at 1:15 pm

Twin toddlers? That sounds like far more than a full time job already.

I’m amazed you’re still finding time for freelance clients (and to stop by here now and then!).

March 25, 2015 at 3:14 pm

I’m surprised I have time to cook and clean! My husband works from home as well and I have great in-laws to help relieve me when needed (like every day!).

I recently acquired 4 clients in a row, so I’m working hard at being as productive and efficient as possible.

Thanks for these tips again!

learn to write good

March 25, 2015 at 12:38 pm

Great list, oh boy do I need some more “flavored words”. If I saw “awesome” one more time in an email or social media post I might just shoot myself lol.

Thanks Henneke!

March 25, 2015 at 1:13 pm

Please, please, don’t shoot yourself Sarah. Just delete the email (and unsubscribe if it’s an e-newsletter!) 🙂

Thank you for stopping by!

March 25, 2015 at 1:24 pm

lol I was talking about emails and social media posts that I WRITE. See how bad my writing is? 🙂

I guess I could delete them but my poor subscribers…I feel for them!

Seriously, your content is always really helpful to me as I strive to improve.

learn to write good

March 25, 2015 at 12:30 pm

Great post.

Creating fresh metaphors and mini-stories are things I still struggle with. The mini-stories especially because I don’t know what to write about. So, what I started doing was jotting down notes of interesting things that has happened in my life, or that I see (or hear) every day that I can then refer back to. And even weave it into my posts. Is that a good strategy? I think I need to read your mini-stories post again.

Anyway, loved the post and the practical tips, Henneke. And of course the illustrations as well. Keep up the excellent work.

– Andrew

March 25, 2015 at 1:12 pm

I usually start with the idea I want to communicate and then think about a story or metaphor I can use to illustrate it.

You might want to check out the book Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath, or The Tall Lady With the Iceberg by Anne Miller. The former is about story telling and using metaphors, the latter about using metaphors in sales situations, but most of the book applies to using metaphors in blog posts, too.

Glad you enjoyed the post!

learn to write good

March 25, 2015 at 4:50 am

This advice and tips are so practical and simple to learn. Good reading too.

Thanks Henneke 🙂

March 25, 2015 at 1:09 pm

Thank you, Busyra 🙂

learn to write good

March 25, 2015 at 1:45 am

I love the way you write your posts and have started to emulate your style. Thanks for this latest post – using sensory words while having “structured” writing can be difficult. You make it look easy. I can’t wait for your next post. Have a nice vacation.

I think the key is to do the writing in several steps. First structure your posts, then edit sentence by sentence to see where you can add a dash of creativity and personality.

learn to write good

March 25, 2015 at 12:39 am

Well on your way to a book for sure. Title is there. Outline is clear. Content is well in hand. Scribble in the connective tissue and bingo! Well, maybe that last Bingo part might take a little more than pixy dust. But, the Henneke magic will bring it off. 🙂

In the Bluebird world the female builds the nest. But, the male as suitor demonstrates his good provider role by being the first on scene with nesting material. To us, it looks like Leonardo, if he hasn’t yet won her heart, is making sure she doesn’t miss his efforts in that direction. http://www.poetslovebirds.com

March 25, 2015 at 1:05 pm

Haha! If it only was so easy, Curtis. Scribbling in the connective tissue seems much harder than it sounds 😀

But eventually I’ll get there!

learn to write good

March 24, 2015 at 11:26 pm

Hi Henneke, I have been reading a lot of blogs in the past year and your’s is just outstanding, for it’s ease on readability. Of course also on value of information. Love you Annamarie

Thank you for your loyal readership, Annamarie! 🙂

learn to write good

March 24, 2015 at 8:57 pm

Hey Henneke

I’m am truly inspired by the way you take a big topic like how to improve your writing and break it down into bite size pieces.

Plus your tips have given me a ton of areas that I can focus on one at a time to improve my writing.

#16 really hit home reason being because it works for me when a writer shows empathy in their content it helps me connect with them which in turn make them pop into my head every now and again to check if they have new content

Anyway great post thanks for sharing.

March 24, 2015 at 9:06 pm

Yes, #16 is my favorite tip, too.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of writing something just because we know it and not because we’re helping our readers. Empathy requires discipline.

I’m glad you enjoyed this post, Mark. Thank you for stopping by 🙂

learn to write good

March 24, 2015 at 8:52 pm

This is an awesome article and exactly what I needed to hear. I have been blogging for several years but I feel like I am just now beginning to understand how to make my blog posts more engaging. I really enjoy your style of writing and look forward to reading your articles. Thanks for your inspiration!

March 24, 2015 at 9:07 pm

Thank you, Sheri 🙂

Glad you enjoyed it!

learn to write good

March 24, 2015 at 8:07 pm

What a wonderfully breezy style you have, Henneke! Yet always so full of practical, powerful suggestions! Love the illustrations, too. your sweet, whimsical personality really shines through them 🙂 Keep up the great work!

March 24, 2015 at 9:02 pm

Thank you so much, Juliet.

You put a smile on my face 🙂

learn to write good

March 24, 2015 at 5:36 pm

Hey Henneke,

This was a great post and it shows that I’m on the right track. I like to add more descriptive emotional words when it comes to my headlines and content. But I will take your advice on studying more sales copy and direct mail. But this post definitely helps because you show the whole entire picture of great writing!

Thanks for the share! Have a great rest of the week!

March 24, 2015 at 8:58 pm

I’ve learned a ton from studying sales copy!

Glad you feel on the right track.

learn to write good

March 24, 2015 at 4:51 pm

And now all I want to do is write. . . and cook. 🙂

Thank you for the enchanting post, Henneke!

March 24, 2015 at 8:56 pm

Me, too. I want to cook! 🙂

Thank you for stopping by, Anna

learn to write good

March 24, 2015 at 4:03 pm

I love how you broke down the process into 4 distinct steps, Henneke. It makes it feel more doable and not so overwhelming when you can approach it in this step-by-step way.

My favourite tip was definitely this one: “Practice empathy—understanding how you can help your reader is the basic ingredient of nourishing content.” I couldn’t agree more.

March 24, 2015 at 8:55 pm

Yes, that’s my favorite tip, too 🙂

I was afraid that 27 ways would feel overwhelming, but I wanted to write an overview post. I’m glad you mention it feels doable!

March 24, 2015 at 9:27 pm

I hear ya, Henneke. 27 tips is a lot. But the way that you wrote it definitely made it feel achievable 🙂

March 24, 2015 at 9:30 pm

Great! That was my intention.

And it IS doable. 🙂

learn to write good

March 24, 2015 at 2:29 pm

Henneke, Love this article. Particularly apt as I am trying to improve both my writing and culinary skills. The cooking suffers because often I am trying to meet a deadline and get distracted by the keyboard. Your article is saved to pocket and pinned on the memory board. I will endeavour to master the mini skills in both areas of my life. Thank you and have a lovely Easter break. PS. I love the illustrations.

March 24, 2015 at 8:50 pm

I think my cooking has been suffering a bit since I’ve started to draw. It’s time to get creative in the kitchen again! 🙂

learn to write good

March 24, 2015 at 2:25 pm

What yummy tips. Thanks for your tasty offerings.

March 24, 2015 at 2:45 pm

Bon appétit 🙂

Thank you, Susan.

learn to write good

March 24, 2015 at 2:22 pm

Perfect timing, Henneke! Looking at all the writing I should be doing this week left me feeling rather drained this morning. But now, I’m inspired again and ready to go. Though, I do have to make sure I don’t end up spending most of my time reading all your practical tips and actually do the writing. Thanks!

March 24, 2015 at 2:44 pm

Yes, don’t hang around here for too long, Noreen 😉

Glad to hear you’re feeling inspired again. Good luck with your writing!

learn to write good

March 24, 2015 at 1:18 pm

Great article Henneke! Somehow, while reading this article, I had in mind how to write in social networks such as Twitter or Facebook. I think some of your tips can be applied to those too- so thanks for the double advice!

Happy holidays 🙂

March 24, 2015 at 2:43 pm

Yep, totally true. Writing for social media is writing, too, and a good way to practice! Twitter, for instance, is good for learning how to write soundbites 🙂

learn to write good

March 24, 2015 at 1:15 pm

Thank you for this invaluable post filled with so many helpful tips and suggestions. I’ll refer to this post many times when I am writing.

March 24, 2015 at 2:42 pm

Glad you enjoyed it, Marie 🙂

What happened to your avatar? You used to have a photo, didn’t you?

learn to write good

March 24, 2015 at 12:56 pm

“Read a lot, write a lot, and have a good mentor to guide you in the right direction.” Thanks for the practical, doable step by step guidance Henneke.

March 24, 2015 at 1:58 pm

Ha yes! The mentor is a good addition 🙂

learn to write good

February 3, 2016 at 7:30 pm

Dear Henneke…. Your tips are so inspirational and helpful for writing. you are our mentor here.

February 3, 2016 at 8:50 pm

Thank you. I do my best to help 🙂

learn to write good

March 24, 2015 at 11:59 am

Your tips make me want to write more and more. This is such an inspiring piece. Thanks for the good read.

March 24, 2015 at 12:54 pm

Write more and cook more? I see you’re into cooking, too! 🙂

learn to write good

March 24, 2015 at 11:58 am

Hi Henneke.

Thanks as always for all your helpful posts that wing their way to my inbox. I have implemented your advice to my blog posts and i feel my writing is getting so much better.

This is like playing my guitar, i know how to play musical scales but the notes are bland and boring if i don’t learn how to construct engaging music. Or like a painter who has a palette of colours but is not sure how to make an inspiring picture on his canvas.

The same with words. I’m learning to sort the wheat from the chaff and become a better writer.

I look forward to more of your posts after your Easter break and also look forward to escaping content mediocrity.

Thanks again, and all the best.

March 24, 2015 at 12:53 pm

I’m so glad to hear my blog posts are helping you improve your writing. That’s the cherry on the cake for me 🙂

learn to write good

March 24, 2015 at 11:45 am

Great post Henneke!

It truly helps to see the whole meal, not just one dish.

Is this picture an intro for an infographic? 🙂

March 24, 2015 at 12:50 pm

Yeah, perhaps I can do more with the picture.

I made the mistake to use watercolors as a background, so it’s hard to re-use (and in hindsight, I don’t like it so much you lose the subtle color variations after scanning). But I can always draw it again! 🙂

learn to write good

March 25, 2015 at 1:02 am

I think the graphic, and the way it communicates the structure of the content. The graphic creates a inquest image/brand which is unique to you. Fascinating, useful post.

March 25, 2015 at 1:07 pm

Thank you for your compliment, Roger. That’s what I’m trying to do – create images that aren’t simply decoration but that also add meaning to the post, while building a unique brand. The style is still evolving, but that’s only natural, I guess.

learn to write good

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Follow proven templates for specific writing tasks, practice your skills, and get professional feedback so you become a confident business writer. Take on any writing project with gusto. Learn more about books and courses

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About Henneke

I never saw myself as a writer, but in my early forties, I learned how to write and discovered the joy of writing. Now, I’d like to empower you to find your voice, share your ideas and inspire your audience. Learn how I can help you

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How to Write in English for Beginners: 12 Easy Tips for New Learners

Find a notebook and your favorite pen or pencil, then get comfortable.

We are going to write!

New learners often forget about English writing . They are usually focused on topics like vocabulary and grammar.

When you are beginning to learn English, however, it is really important to write regularly. Writing can help you learn English vocabulary, grammar, spelling and more!

Keep reading for 12 useful tips on how to write in English for beginners, so you can get the most out of your study time.

1. Practice writing in English every day

2. find the best time and place to write, 3. have a specific place to keep your english writing, 4. pick a topic to write about before you start, 5. keep a journal in english, 6. write more than one draft, 7. have a friend edit your english writing, 8. use an english dictionary when you study, 9. learn synonyms and antonyms in english, 10. make english vocabulary flashcards, 11. read english books (out loud), 12. translate songs and poems into english, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Repetition (doing the same thing over and over again) will really help you learn the skill of writing. Writing in English will be difficult at first, but if you write a little every day, it will start to get easier.

To make sure you never skip a day, use a system to track your progress. This could be writing it on your calendar, or using a site or app, such as Habit Daily Tracker .

You can also make use of techniques such as watching videos to inspire your writing. For example, this video from FluentU’s English YouTube channel has 50 common English verbs you can use later to write sentences:

Everyone has a best time of day to write. Maybe your head is the clearest in the morning. Maybe you’re a “night owl” (someone who likes to stay up late) and you are most creative at midnight. Try writing at different times of the day to find out what time works best for you.

After you know when to write, you will also want to know where to write. Maybe you have trouble writing where there is a lot of noise. In that case, try writing in a quiet place like a library. Maybe you need a little background noise, and so you write best in a busy coffee shop. Experiment and see what works for you.

If you need some background noise to write, you can use resources like Rainy Mood and Calm  for relaxing background noise.

Find a notebook to keep all of your writing in. By keeping it all in one place, you will be able to look back on your writing and see how much progress you’ve made. You will also be able to go through all of your writing at once to see if you keep making the same mistakes.

If you like typing on a computer instead, you might consider using  Evernote to keep your writing together. Evernote is a website (and smartphone app) that helps organize your life. You can keep all of your writing in Evernote, and you can also keep track of your writing schedule with the program’s calendar.

Another fun place to keep your writing is on  a blog . You can easily start a blog on Blogger or  WordPress , and you can either make the blog private (so only you can see it) or public (so others can read and comment).

When you’re ready to start writing, remember to choose a topic . Then, write anything you want about it .

If your topic is “fishing,” for example, it doesn’t matter if you write facts about fishing or a story about when you went fishing. Just write anything at all! Let your mind wander on the topic.

Set a timer for five minutes and write the entire time. Once you get used to this, write for 10 minutes at a time.

The point of this writing exercise isn’t to write a perfect story. The purpose is to get your brain thinking in English , and to see how much you are able to say about your topic.

If you can’t think of a topic, just start free writing . Free writing is when you put your pen on the paper and write everything that comes to your mind. It doesn’t matter if the ideas connect or not.

By keeping a personal journal (also called a diary) in English, you will make sure you write every day.

It is also a great way to practice writing multiple tenses . You will write in the past tense about all of the things you did during the day, and you will write in the future tense about the things you are planning to do tomorrow, for example.

When you know that you will write in your journal every day, you will probably start to think in English more often during the day. That’s because as you do things, you might think about how to write about them in English.

The first draft (copy) that you write is not going to be perfect. Write one draft, and then go back and review it for mistakes.

Remember the notebook you have for all your English writing? When you look for mistakes in your writing, you should make a list of your common mistakes in that notebook. Then, when you edit your first draft, check for those mistakes.

You can also use sites like  Hemingway Editor ,  WebFX’s Readability test ,  Grammar Check  or Reverso  to check spelling and grammar—but remember, these programs cannot find all mistakes.

Once you have reviewed your writing, go back and write the entire thing again . When you rewrite it with the correct grammar, spellings and tenses, you will learn the corrections.

You most likely will not find all of your own mistakes. After you check your own work, have a friend who is fluent in English edit your writing.

Having someone else look at your work will improve your writing and give you new, creative ways to express ideas in English. You can ask your friend to edit the whole document or just a part that you’re having trouble with.

It’s good to get a second opinion on your writing. If you don’t know anyone who can edit your writing, you can use HiNative to ask native English speakers short questions about your writing or how to say something in English.

If you want a more reliable way to have your writing corrected and are willing to pay for it, Editorr is a service that will edit a piece of writing within minutes.

You can then compare the edited piece to your original one, and learn from it for the next time you write. Editorr has real, qualified editors working for them, so you can feel assured (confident) that the corrections you receive are accurate.

When you are studying English and you hear or see a new word, look it up in your dictionary. Say the word a few times and write it down. Say it until it sounds familiar to your ear.

The next time you write, try to write at least one sentence with each new word. When you find words that you really like or that seem important, highlight them in the dictionary (it’s okay—it’s your dictionary).

If you don’t want to keep a physical (real-life) dictionary with you all the time, you can use online dictionaries like Merriam Webster or Dictionary.com . You can also use one of these dictionary apps for your smartphone .

Whenever you look up a new vocabulary word in English, try to learn at least one word with the same meaning (this is a synonym ), and one that has the opposite meaning (this is an antonym ).

For example, take the word “great.” Synonyms include “excellent” and “fantastic,” and some antonyms are “plain,” “ordinary” and “bad.” By learning more than one word for each concept, you will be able to communicate better when you write.

Here is a thesaurus , which is a dictionary full of synonyms and antonyms. On the website, you can type in a word and the thesaurus will give you a list of synonyms in orange, and antonyms in grey. A darker color means that synonym or antonym is more common.

Visual Thesaurus is another great resource you can use. It’s a little different from a regular thesaurus, because it shows you the links between words in a visual format, with lines between related words. This allows you to explore new words in an easy, fun way, while still seeing definitions and examples for context.

When you look up new words, their synonyms and their antonyms, make flashcards for them. On one side of the flashcard, write the word. On the other side, write the meaning, part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, etc.) and a sentence using that word.

Review your flashcards often. You can use a flashcard app to help you create and study them, if you want.

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

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After you make flashcards of your new words, remember to try to use those words in your English writing practice, too.

As I said earlier, reading and writing are connected. That means reading more often in English will help you become a better writer.

Start out with simple books . Write down any words that are new to you, and practice saying them. Work your way up to books like “Harry Potter” or “The Hunger Games.” These books are written for young adults and older adults, but the language is still quite simple.

To really improve your English skills, read the books out loud . Instead of only saying new words, you can practice your pronunciation and speaking abilities by reading everything. Both reading quietly and reading out loud will help your writing skills.

You can get a library card to access thousands of free books from your local library. You can also join websites like Audible and listen to any book you’d like. Please note that Audible is free for the first 30 days, and then you will need to pay a fee.

Choose your favorite song in your native language, and translate the lyrics into English. Then, try singing it in English . You can even try to rewrite some of the lines in English to make them rhyme.

You can do the same thing with poems you love. The words used in songs and poems will likely be very different from the words you see every day in books, newspapers and even your journal.

By practicing songs, you’ll be able to practice writing, and you will also learn new ways to talk about concepts like love, faith, fear, rejection (being told “no”) and other topics usually addressed in music.

Lyrics Translate is a fun website that lets you choose an artist or song title and get translated lyrics form a huge selection of languages. You can also select the language and the website will give you a list of translated songs in that language.

The most important part of all these tips is to write in English regularly.

Learning to write in English will take time. You need to build your vocabulary, learn proper grammar and learn how to spell correctly.

However, the more often you practice your skills , the easier it will become. Have fun writing!

If you like learning English through movies and online media, you should also check out FluentU. FluentU lets you learn English from popular talk shows, catchy music videos and funny commercials , as you can see here:

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If you want to watch it, the FluentU app has probably got it.

The FluentU app and website makes it really easy to watch English videos. There are captions that are interactive. That means you can tap on any word to see an image, definition, and useful examples.

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FluentU lets you learn engaging content with world famous celebrities.

For example, when you tap on the word "searching," you see this:

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FluentU lets you tap to look up any word.

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with quizzes. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning.

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FluentU helps you learn fast with useful questions and multiple examples. Learn more.

The best part? FluentU remembers the vocabulary that you’re learning. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. You have a truly personalized experience.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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learn to write good

Learn to Write: The Ultimate Guide to Get You Started

by Julia McCoy | Apr 3, 2018 | How to Write

Learn to Write: The Ultimate Guide to Get You Started

Quick, write an email.

(*or insert whatever it is in place of “email” that you need to write*)

I’ve seen people shudder faster at the idea of writing — anything — than they do when preparing to skydive.

Is this you?

The truth is, writing doesn’t have to be scary.

You already do it all of the time.

Not to mention, if you work online in any capacity (freelancer, marketer, running a business online) the need for knowing how to write goes up even more. Writing is considered one of the top ten industries for freelancers. Through blog posts, web pages and marketing copy, freelance writers take the reins as the voice of a company.

Learning how to write effectively is a skill that cannot be overlooked.

I’ve written three books , over 1,000 blogs, and led a writing agency in the completion of over 20,000 projects since 2011. I’ve also taught the internet’s first Unlearn Essay Writing course . Consider me your writing mentor.

Today’s guide is your ultimate roadmap to learning how to write better.

how to learn to write

Why Everyone Should Learn How to Write

Good writing is fundamental in any and every task you do online – seriously.

Even if you aren’t on the path to becoming a professional writer, writing is still a necessary skill needed to accelerate your career.

A survey of over 120 American corporations taken by Collegeboard on behalf of the National Commission on Writing, found that writing corresponds with employees’ ability to effectively communicate.

When applying for a job, 86% of the responding companies claim they hold “poorly written application materials” against candidates.

A stellar resume can get your foot in the door, but writing is a skill that must be proven throughout your performance.

Most companies require some form of written correspondence even if the position never calls for it.

Collegeboard Graph

Beyond emails and financial reports, the need for writing is still prevalent in our everyday lives.

Exhibit A: texting. Let’s be honest, does anyone actually use their phone to call their friends these days?

Even though Instagram and Facebook are dominated by photo-centric posts, the captions are how we express ourselves on social media. It’s even the way major news networks publicize breaking news.

Arnold Schwarzenegger had open-heart surgery to replace an old valve. The surgery was successful and he is in stable condition, his rep says. https://t.co/Ex0IeVmkc0 pic.twitter.com/XHVw59cr4q — CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) March 30, 2018

Learning to write is critical to your success online. Let’s dive into the “how!”

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The Difference in Writing for the Web vs. Just “Writing”

Now that we’ve established the importance of writing as a whole, we’ll tackle an entirely different beast: writing online content.

SUPER important.

Unlike a poet or an author, content writers must adhere to the rules of the web in addition to creating engaging content.

Yes,  Catcher in the Rye was impressive, but would it ever have gone viral online?

Web content, like blogs, web pages and marketing copy follow a different formula than the layman’s written word.

The content must be informative, highly researched, and persuasive all while being completely engaging to a wide audience.

If you ever thought writing a blog post was as simple as jotting down thoughts in your journal every night, think again.

Great content writers aren’t born, they practice  and become great after many late nights, sweat, and tears.

That’s a big reason why you see a lot of crappy writing around the web… because seriously good copy isn’t easy to write.

writing is hard

Writing is a skill that needs to be developed over time. Think of writing as any other professional sport, and you are a rookie player trying to reach the championships. As an athlete, you must train to perfect your craft.

Becoming a professional writer also takes extensive training, but the benefits will open up doors for every possible career in the future.

And this is why I took a year in 2016 and wrote a book with over 180 pages on this topic:  So You Think You Can Write? The Definitive Guide to Successful Online Writing.

And in 2020, just a few months ago, I created and launched a writing course   just  for teaching you internet writing standards. It’s a huge market need. Over 90% of our writing applicants at Express Writers don’t know how to structure and write for the internet.

Unlearn Essay Writing Course was born from this need, and so far, we’ve helped over 40 writers learn how to shape habits that will get read on the internet. ⭐️

Sign up for beta enrollment in Unlearn Essay Writing

Learn to Write Like a Pro: 9 Lessons that Will Help Your Writing Seriously Shine

Professional writing is more than always using the correct version of there/they’re/their.

It’s also more than the debate between whether or not to use semicolons. George Bernard Shaw says, “Do not use semicolons at all.” Other famous grammarians have agreed with his statement.

The secret recipe to becoming an expert professional writer isn’t so secret after all.

Like any skill, it takes practice and dedication to the craft.

Then… more practice.

And maybe a break… and practice again after that.

If the top of your to-do list proclaims “LEARN HOW TO WRITE,” you may find yourself staring at an empty Word document watching the cursor blink back at you with disappointment.

Learning to write seems like a daunting task when thought of as one goal. A more realistic approach is to break it down into smaller steps along the way.

1. Tools: How Writers Set Themselves Up for Success

The environment in which you write is vital to your success. It is the first step towards clarifying your thoughts.

As a professional writer, the computer is the vessel in which you communicate. Most jobs require using the classic Microsoft Word coupled with the internet for extensive research.

Read that last part carefully.

The internet is meant to be used for research purposes. I have personally never used videos of cats being scared by cucumbers for research, so you shouldn’t either. Well, until now.

It’s easy to be distracted for hours when another cat video awaits your click.

Luckily, there are a few tools to limit distractions and stimulate your focus.

Writing applications like Ommwriter have downloadable themes set in natural, minimal backgrounds complete with audio tracks to create the perfect writing atmosphere.

omwriter

Other extensions like OneTab convert multiple tabs into one list. Example:

onetab

A few other exercises you can practice to clear your mind are to play music or turn off your phone.

Customizing your setting allows you to spend time lost in your words without interruptions, and communicate more effectively.

2. Very Important: Set Routine for More Success

If you are just starting out, you should reserve a certain amount of time everyday to practice your craft.

Sticking to a routine, like writing for thirty minutes each day at 12pm, will keep you accountable and teach you discipline.

3. Before Writing: Research, Outlines and Structure

The writing process starts long before you ever type anything.

After setting the mood to write well, you must spend time in the before stage building the structure of your piece. This part is crucial to set yourself up for success.

One main difference between writing for pleasure and writing as a profession, is that the latter consists of a lot more dedicated planning.

Though my swim teacher advocated jumping into the deep end during my very first lesson, learning how to write by first tackling a novel will leave you drowning in words.

Creating an outline is the best way to get your thoughts in order before you delve into full sentences.

learn to write good

Outlines are the backbone of any written piece. They are a place to put down ideas and build on them with supportive evidence. They will also guide you through the writing process.

Outlining beforehand gives you a starting point, teaches structure and makes the whole process go a lot faster.

Like scientists, writers must also research to prove their theory.

Content writers often learn to write on a variety of different subject matter. As the author, you must become an expert on the topic at hand and adjust your tone as needed. Every professional writer also becomes a professional researcher. You start as a student, and then transform into the teacher. A main part of learning to write is sifting through the internet to source from new, relevant and informative information that applies to your topic.

So you think you can write book

4. During Writing: Creating Engaging Content

The time has come.

With a carefully crafted outline, all of your topics are waiting in line ready to be called next. It is time to start writing.

All it takes is one word to begin and you’ll find your fingers swiftly typing away, and for this stage of writing, you should let them. Try to avoid editing yourself as you go. You can refine after you get your ideas down.

Above all else, you must engage your reader.

Creating engaging content doesn’t mean succumbing to cheap tactics without providing any quality material. Solid content is the opposite of clickbait. While “50 Proven Ways to Lose 10 lbs by Next Week” is appealing, a reader quickly loses interest once they figure out it’s just an ad for a diet pill.

A social media marketing study from Keyhole, proved Buzzfeed’s “sharebait” argument false when analyzing their posts.

learn to write good

In fact, they found that non-clickbait posts were retweeted 390 times on average, versus a measly 183 retweets for their typical attention grabbing headlines.

learn to write good

The proof is in the data. Readers value content with substance.

The trick is to grab their attention immediately, and hold on to it by providing useful content that is not only informative, but fun to read.

Keep your readers engaged by practicing a few of these techniques during the writing process:

  • Put your audience first. You’ve probably heard the expression, “walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.” Try reading your blog through someone else’s perspective. Write for the reader above all else without getting bogged down by the latest SEO trends.
  • Use a persuasive (not overbearing) tone. Online content is written with the purpose of selling an idea, brand or object. However, as a content writer you are not the typical salesperson. There is no need to convince the audience with flashy gimmicks. Find out what’s important to your readers and use those factors to support your arguments.
  • Catch the reader with your hook. With the average attention span at eight seconds, you have limited time to keep your viewers reading on. Learning to write a killer intro for a blog or webpage, will grasp your reader’s attention. Don’t be afraid to make it conversational, be funny or start with a shocking statistic.
  • Make it personal. The small, intimate details are what will set your writing apart from anyone else. It brings your anecdotes to life and allows the reader to feel like you are sharing something with them. It’s the difference between writing, “I went to the grocery store to pick up some chips” and “I went to HEB to snag a bag of Salsa Verde Doritos.” The details are what makes your writing you.
  • Demonstrate your examples. Another common use of this phrase is “show your work.” If you say that popsicles are the number one snack for adolescents, then prove it. Provide readers with relevant links and sources to support your claims. Practice what you preach by giving readers no other choice than to believe you.

Unlearn Essay Writing Course  is a guided, one-week course created by yours truly to help you shape habits that will get read on the internet. ⭐️  Get in on this course now.

5. After Writing: Editing, Proofreading and Optimizing

You made it!

The pages are filled with text, the word count is met, and every idea swirling around your head has made it through the end of your fingertips onto the computer screen.

Take a break! Now come right back.

What comes after the big task of writing, distinguishes great writers from the rest. The after writing stage is just the beginning of the editing stage. Editing is a crucial part of every writing process, especially when it comes to creating online content.

The first draft of a blog is hardly the last. Every written piece goes through cycles of editing and proofreading to get it to that number one spot on Google.

Editing as you write will only slow you down. Resist changing your work until you’ve gotten all of the words out of your system.

Once your first draft is finished, take a breather, then go back and read it. You should perform several cycles of re-reading your content while taking breaks in between.

If there is a part that just doesn’t seem to work, try reading it aloud.

As a content writer, your work is two-fold. The content first and foremost needs to be high-quality, engaging writing . However, it also must be optimized to rank high in search engines. The editing process provides the time to refine headings, check your use of the keyword, hit the target word count and optimize the rest of the document based on the client’s needs.

Therefore, there are a few rules to adhere to when learning to write engaging online content.

  • Provide high quality, authoritative links. This is where time spent researching comes back into play. Always link to the original source and try to include specific statistics that support your argument.
  • Use the keyword properly. It’s best to follow the Goldilocks method when it comes to keyword use: not too much, not too little, but just right. Keywords and keyword variations should be used in the titles, headings and first paragraph of your copy. They should also be sprinkled into the content in a natural way, without keyword stuffing .
  • Link internally. Keep readers on your website by linking back to past, relevant pages.

Optimizing your content is a job within itself. Regardless of all of the rules and regulations, quality writing will always prevail.

However, continual training will take you to the top of the class.

Expert courses in content strategy teach entrepreneurs and freelance writers the tools they need to develop high-quality branded content.

6. Realize that Learning to Write Never Stops

Once you finish your first, expertly written piece, you’ll be singing Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now,” until you start again.

The good news is you’ll never have to stop. To put it plain and simple, writers never stop writing .

Writing is a consistent skill that needs to be developed.

Think of your newly formed writing mind in the same way as you would six-pack abs. Once you see definition, you don’t just stop and declare you’re done. Do that, and all of your hard work will quickly cease to exist.

Even without deadlines to meet or projects to finish, there are exercises writers can perform to keep their skills in shape. Along with continually writing, for example, by starting a blog or journaling, practice these other tips to stay on par.

7. Become an Avid Reader

Reading constantly sharpens your writing skills.

My nightstand, living room table, living room TV stand, reading room, office… constantly feature a pile of books I have my nose in.

Or, I have Audible up, listening to the latest in leadership, writing, and marketing through my headphones.

reading nook

Just one of my many reading nooks. This is in the front room we call the “reading room.” The Hogwarts quote completes it perfectly.

I’m always taking the time to read. This helps me so much.

Subscribe to your favorite blog, grab a newspaper or magazine, join a book club and take the time to read them. Exposing yourself to a wide variety of styles broadens your understanding of structure and how other writers choose to express themselves.

Try reading things that you like and don’t like and identify those reasons. What draws you to the lists section of McSweeney’s? Finding out why you like something will set you up to create work that you value.

learn to write good

8. Read About Writing

Though this sounds redundant, learning new skills as a writer will always help you improve. Read about becoming a better writer (I know, shameless plug here) and study those skills like you would for your AP English exam.

9. Make Writing a Group Effort

Seek feedback from peers, coworkers, clients and friends to give you another perspective on your writing. These are the people you are writing for, so asking for feedback is a vital opportunity to find out if your writing is truly engaging.

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Conclusion: Learn to Write with Today’s Guide & Don’t Be Afraid to Invest in a Pro if You Need To

By now, you know that writing isn’t easy.

Devoting yourself to learning how to write is quite a feat.

It’s not for the faint of heart.

I’ve written over 1,000 blogs , published two books at a culminative 450+ pages , and written many more words in guest blog content .

I  still  don’t think writing is easy. (Haha!) But it’s gotten easier for me, by far.

  • #1. Practice makes perfect.
  • #2. Write. A lot.

And if you need help, our professional writing team is here to back you up! Talk to us about your content needs  today — we’d love to help.

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Download your Free copy of Learn to Write: The Ultimate Guide to Get You Started

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A (Very) Simple Way to Improve Your Writing

  • Mark Rennella

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It’s called the “one-idea rule” — and any level of writer can use it.

The “one idea” rule is a simple concept that can help you sharpen your writing, persuade others by presenting your argument in a clear, concise, and engaging way. What exactly does the rule say?

  • Every component of a successful piece of writing should express only one idea.
  • In persuasive writing, your “one idea” is often the argument or belief you are presenting to the reader. Once you identify what that argument is, the “one-idea rule” can help you develop, revise, and connect the various components of your writing.
  • For instance, let’s say you’re writing an essay. There are three components you will be working with throughout your piece: the title, the paragraphs, and the sentences.
  • Each of these parts should be dedicated to just one idea. The ideas are not identical, of course, but they’re all related. If done correctly, the smaller ideas (in sentences) all build (in paragraphs) to support the main point (suggested in the title).

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Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here .

Most advice about writing looks like a long laundry list of “do’s and don’ts.” These lists can be helpful from time to time, but they’re hard to remember … and, therefore, hard to depend on when you’re having trouble putting your thoughts to paper. During my time in academia, teaching composition at the undergraduate and graduate levels, I saw many people struggle with this.

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  • MR Mark Rennella is Associate Editor at HBP and has published two books, Entrepreneurs, Managers, and Leaders and The Boston Cosmopolitans .  

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  • Knowledge Base

The Beginner's Guide to Writing an Essay | Steps & Examples

An academic essay is a focused piece of writing that develops an idea or argument using evidence, analysis, and interpretation.

There are many types of essays you might write as a student. The content and length of an essay depends on your level, subject of study, and course requirements. However, most essays at university level are argumentative — they aim to persuade the reader of a particular position or perspective on a topic.

The essay writing process consists of three main stages:

  • Preparation: Decide on your topic, do your research, and create an essay outline.
  • Writing : Set out your argument in the introduction, develop it with evidence in the main body, and wrap it up with a conclusion.
  • Revision:  Check your essay on the content, organization, grammar, spelling, and formatting of your essay.

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Table of contents

Essay writing process, preparation for writing an essay, writing the introduction, writing the main body, writing the conclusion, essay checklist, lecture slides, frequently asked questions about writing an essay.

The writing process of preparation, writing, and revisions applies to every essay or paper, but the time and effort spent on each stage depends on the type of essay .

For example, if you’ve been assigned a five-paragraph expository essay for a high school class, you’ll probably spend the most time on the writing stage; for a college-level argumentative essay , on the other hand, you’ll need to spend more time researching your topic and developing an original argument before you start writing.

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Before you start writing, you should make sure you have a clear idea of what you want to say and how you’re going to say it. There are a few key steps you can follow to make sure you’re prepared:

  • Understand your assignment: What is the goal of this essay? What is the length and deadline of the assignment? Is there anything you need to clarify with your teacher or professor?
  • Define a topic: If you’re allowed to choose your own topic , try to pick something that you already know a bit about and that will hold your interest.
  • Do your research: Read  primary and secondary sources and take notes to help you work out your position and angle on the topic. You’ll use these as evidence for your points.
  • Come up with a thesis:  The thesis is the central point or argument that you want to make. A clear thesis is essential for a focused essay—you should keep referring back to it as you write.
  • Create an outline: Map out the rough structure of your essay in an outline . This makes it easier to start writing and keeps you on track as you go.

Once you’ve got a clear idea of what you want to discuss, in what order, and what evidence you’ll use, you’re ready to start writing.

The introduction sets the tone for your essay. It should grab the reader’s interest and inform them of what to expect. The introduction generally comprises 10–20% of the text.

1. Hook your reader

The first sentence of the introduction should pique your reader’s interest and curiosity. This sentence is sometimes called the hook. It might be an intriguing question, a surprising fact, or a bold statement emphasizing the relevance of the topic.

Let’s say we’re writing an essay about the development of Braille (the raised-dot reading and writing system used by visually impaired people). Our hook can make a strong statement about the topic:

The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability.

2. Provide background on your topic

Next, it’s important to give context that will help your reader understand your argument. This might involve providing background information, giving an overview of important academic work or debates on the topic, and explaining difficult terms. Don’t provide too much detail in the introduction—you can elaborate in the body of your essay.

3. Present the thesis statement

Next, you should formulate your thesis statement— the central argument you’re going to make. The thesis statement provides focus and signals your position on the topic. It is usually one or two sentences long. The thesis statement for our essay on Braille could look like this:

As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness.

4. Map the structure

In longer essays, you can end the introduction by briefly describing what will be covered in each part of the essay. This guides the reader through your structure and gives a preview of how your argument will develop.

The invention of Braille marked a major turning point in the history of disability. The writing system of raised dots used by blind and visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use. As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind people’s social and cultural lives.

Write your essay introduction

The body of your essay is where you make arguments supporting your thesis, provide evidence, and develop your ideas. Its purpose is to present, interpret, and analyze the information and sources you have gathered to support your argument.

Length of the body text

The length of the body depends on the type of essay. On average, the body comprises 60–80% of your essay. For a high school essay, this could be just three paragraphs, but for a graduate school essay of 6,000 words, the body could take up 8–10 pages.

Paragraph structure

To give your essay a clear structure , it is important to organize it into paragraphs . Each paragraph should be centered around one main point or idea.

That idea is introduced in a  topic sentence . The topic sentence should generally lead on from the previous paragraph and introduce the point to be made in this paragraph. Transition words can be used to create clear connections between sentences.

After the topic sentence, present evidence such as data, examples, or quotes from relevant sources. Be sure to interpret and explain the evidence, and show how it helps develop your overall argument.

Lack of access to reading and writing put blind people at a serious disadvantage in nineteenth-century society. Text was one of the primary methods through which people engaged with culture, communicated with others, and accessed information; without a well-developed reading system that did not rely on sight, blind people were excluded from social participation (Weygand, 2009). While disabled people in general suffered from discrimination, blindness was widely viewed as the worst disability, and it was commonly believed that blind people were incapable of pursuing a profession or improving themselves through culture (Weygand, 2009). This demonstrates the importance of reading and writing to social status at the time: without access to text, it was considered impossible to fully participate in society. Blind people were excluded from the sighted world, but also entirely dependent on sighted people for information and education.

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The conclusion is the final paragraph of an essay. It should generally take up no more than 10–15% of the text . A strong essay conclusion :

  • Returns to your thesis
  • Ties together your main points
  • Shows why your argument matters

A great conclusion should finish with a memorable or impactful sentence that leaves the reader with a strong final impression.

What not to include in a conclusion

To make your essay’s conclusion as strong as possible, there are a few things you should avoid. The most common mistakes are:

  • Including new arguments or evidence
  • Undermining your arguments (e.g. “This is just one approach of many”)
  • Using concluding phrases like “To sum up…” or “In conclusion…”

Braille paved the way for dramatic cultural changes in the way blind people were treated and the opportunities available to them. Louis Braille’s innovation was to reimagine existing reading systems from a blind perspective, and the success of this invention required sighted teachers to adapt to their students’ reality instead of the other way around. In this sense, Braille helped drive broader social changes in the status of blindness. New accessibility tools provide practical advantages to those who need them, but they can also change the perspectives and attitudes of those who do not.

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Checklist: Essay

My essay follows the requirements of the assignment (topic and length ).

My introduction sparks the reader’s interest and provides any necessary background information on the topic.

My introduction contains a thesis statement that states the focus and position of the essay.

I use paragraphs to structure the essay.

I use topic sentences to introduce each paragraph.

Each paragraph has a single focus and a clear connection to the thesis statement.

I make clear transitions between paragraphs and ideas.

My conclusion doesn’t just repeat my points, but draws connections between arguments.

I don’t introduce new arguments or evidence in the conclusion.

I have given an in-text citation for every quote or piece of information I got from another source.

I have included a reference page at the end of my essay, listing full details of all my sources.

My citations and references are correctly formatted according to the required citation style .

My essay has an interesting and informative title.

I have followed all formatting guidelines (e.g. font, page numbers, line spacing).

Your essay meets all the most important requirements. Our editors can give it a final check to help you submit with confidence.

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An essay is a focused piece of writing that explains, argues, describes, or narrates.

In high school, you may have to write many different types of essays to develop your writing skills.

Academic essays at college level are usually argumentative : you develop a clear thesis about your topic and make a case for your position using evidence, analysis and interpretation.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

  • An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
  • Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
  • A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

  • It gives your writing direction and focus.
  • It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main point of a paragraph . Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

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Write Better Sentences: 9 Tips That Pro-Writers Swear By

Write Better Sentences: 9 Tips That Pro-Writers Swear By

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learn to write good

Writing well is a challenge.

Terrible sentences suffer from a lack of structure, clarity, and cohesion. 

On the other hand, some sentences suffer from too many words without substantial content. 

As a writer, you must ensure you’re clear on your message. The goal is to get your point across without rambling and losing the reader.

Write better sentences

This is why the words you choose and how you structure them is important. Each sentence plays a specific role so if you learn how to string them together correctly, you can write better sentences.

But that requires knowledge of grammar, sentence structure, and narrative-building.

In this guide, we’ll take you through the art of writing better sentences—and common pitfalls that prevent you from creating a solid sentence.

Let AI suggest better sentences > Let AI suggest better sentences >

better sentences

Why writing better sentences is important

No profession is free from the expectation of good writing. If nothing else, you’ll still be writing emails, Slack messages, and progress reports.

If you cannot communicate your ideas, how else will you be heard or collaborate with others?

And to be good at writing, you need to write better sentences. 

Sentences form the basic unit of a piece. While some say writing them is like writing music, others say it’s like doing math. A recent study by scientists at the Institute of Nuclear Physics in Poland found that sentences resemble fractals —a mathematical structure. Fractals are objects that, when expanded, have a structure resembling the whole.

So, when you build your sentences, keep the entire argument in mind. You need to know what the end goal is. If you don’t, it becomes hard to envision your piece’s direction, leading to unnecessary tangents.

Good writing is not only about writing a grammatically correct sentence or content. It hones in on the following: 

  • How do you communicate something
  • How do you choose the right words
  • How do you incorporate a specific style and flow

For example, you’ve bought a DIY bookshelf from Ikea that you now need to assemble. No matter how often you follow the instructions, you still end up with a half-built shelf that doesn’t look like the picture on the box.

This is what bad writing looks like.

The idea is there.

The words are there.

The visual imagery is there.

But the right structure isn’t.

The goal is to ensure that the reader comprehends what you’re saying—and can absorb that information. To ensure that, structuring your sentences the right way is crucial.

Here’s another way to look at it:

Since writing is integral to every job, you’d have a competitive advantage if you excelled at it. 

Think we’re being dramatic?

Here’s data that says otherwise:

  • The first point of contact for most job applications is a cover letter (even the resume comes second).
  • According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 73.4% of employers want a candidate with strong written communication skills.
  • Content ranks No.1 for jobs with the highest salary increases post-pandemic. 

So, investing the time to learn how to write better sentences could help you communicate well—and excel at whatever you’re doing.

What makes a sentence good?

A good sentence expresses a complete thought. Grammar rules say, “A good sentence contains a subject and a verb and forms an independent clause.” But there’s more to it.

"A scrupulous writer, in every sentence that he writes, will ask himself at least four questions, thus: 1. What am I trying to say? 2. What words will express it? 3. What image or idiom will make it clearer? 4. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect? And he will probably ask himself two more: 1. Could I put it more shortly? 2. Have I said anything that is avoidably ugly?” – Politics and the English Language (Essay), George Orwell

Half your work is done when you know what you want to say and how you want to say it. It’s more about saying the right thing with as few words as possible.

But this is easier said than done. Here are a few mistakes that hold you back from writing solid sentences.

Fix errors that weaken your sentence structure and make your sentence sound better

1. use of run-on sentences..

Run-on sentences occur when two complete sentences are joined incorrectly, i.e., without proper punctuation or conjunction. 

While they’re usually identified only when the sentences are too long, they don’t necessarily have to be for them to be considered incorrect.

Example: “ Yesterday was a great day my parents and I went out for dinner, ice cream.”

Why it’s wrong: The sentence combines two independent clauses (sentences) and doesn’t include punctuation or conjunction.

Corrected sentence: “Yesterday was a great day! My parents and I went for dinner and ice cream.”

2. Lack of subject-verb agreement.

If the subject of your sentence is singular, your verb should be singular too. If the subject is plural, your verb should be plural too. 

A common mistake writers make is describing singular words with plural verbs and vice versa.

Example: “ The list of ideas were at the top of my head.”

Why it’s wrong: As the subject is singular (list), the verb needs to be singular too (was).

Corrected sentence: “The list of ideas was at the top of my head.”

3. Use of unintentional sentence fragments.

When sentences miss a subject, verb, or complete thought, they’re called sentence fragments. 

This is a usual mistake because it’s typical to use them in a conversation—where the context is clear.

Example: “ She went to see the new museum. Even though she had a stomach ache.”

‍ Why it’s wrong: The second sentence doesn’t have a subject, and it’s unclear who the subject is and what they’re doing even though they had a stomach ache.

Corrected sentence: “She went to see the new museum even though she had a stomach ache.”

Pro tip: Pop this sentence into Wordtune and get it instantly corrected into a complete sentence (It'll also make it better):

Make your sentence sound better

4. Use of overloaded sentences.

A sentence cramming in too much information becomes difficult to follow—losing its clarity. Usually, you can split these sentences into multiple sentences to rectify the issue.

Example: “ Writers need to invest time learning the basics of language structure and grammar in order to ensure that they can create pieces that communicate an idea effectively but also ensure that the reader is able to walk away with strong takeaways from said pieces without the need for further clarification.”

Why it’s wrong: The sentence has 50 words which is way more than the recommended length of 20 words. It’s slightly difficult to follow because it communicates more than one idea—a need to learn the basics of writing and how it can help them.

Corrected sentence: “Writers need to invest time in learning the basics of language structure and grammar. It’ll help them create pieces that communicate ideas effectively and ensure that they’re also clear to their readers.”

Pro tip: Again, Wordtune can help you find and filter-out all those unnecessary keywords using the shorten feature. In the example below, the tool reduced the length of the sentence from 50 words to 33 words, all with a click of a button.

Find a better sentence alternative

5. Use of faulty parallelisms.

When you use the same grammatical form in two or more parts of the sentence, it’s called parallelism. The idea is to use the same structure to maintain consistency in the sentence.

Example: “ Every day, I spend two hours exercising and to meditate to help me relax.”

Why it’s wrong: The sentence uses two different structures (-ing and root form of the verb).

Corrected sentence:  

  • “Every day, I spend two hours exercising and meditating to help me relax.”
  • “Every day, I exercise and meditate for two hours to feel relax.”

The elements of a good sentence

According to Grammar rules, all of these are good sentences:

“Hydrophobic plants hate water.”

“The meeting starts at 9 am.”

“My grandmother is sick.”

This is the very basic definition. All these sentences contain a subject, a verb, and an independent clause. But is it enough? 

An actual good sentence has two more criteria :

  • It leads your narrative forward.
  • It is clear and concise . 

These two criteria, however, are harder to measure than checking for subjects and verbs. 

But you can learn to implement these, and we’re here to teach you. 

So let’s dig in. 

1. Drive your narrative forward

“Every short story must have a single mood, and every sentence must build towards it.” – Edgar Allen Poe

This is true for ALL narratives and, by extension, all sentences. 

Each section in your blog or each chapter in your book should have one mood, and every sentence should build towards it. 

But what keeps sentences from building a narrative?

Filler content.

Repetition. 

2. Trim the fat in your writing

This is what fluff looks like:

“When you write sentences that are long, drawn-out, and convoluted—only to get a simple point across—your readers will get frustrated and leave.”

See what I did there?

Here’s the alternative: “Unnecessarily long sentences frustrate and distance your readers.”

So, how do you get rid of fluff?

Step 1: Identify all the words that mean the same thing. 

For example, in the above sentence: 

‘Long, drawn-out, and ‘convoluted’ all mean the same thing.

Step 2: Pick the simplest word from the list.

In this case, “long.”

Step 3: See if you can find one word that condenses multiple words or ideas.

For example, the thought that something does XYZ “only to get a simple point across” conveys that the process is not required. 

One word: Unnecessary. 

Let’s look at this with another example: 

Fluffy example: “Creating content can be a laborious task with a thousand moving parts that don’t really belong there.”

Fluff-free example: Crating content can be cumbersome. 

“Laborious,” “a thousand moving parts,” and “[parts] that don’t really belong there” convey the same idea: cumbersomeness. 

After you’ve removed fluff and filler in your sentences, you need to vary sentence length to create a natural rhythm. 

3. Captivate your reader with a rhythm

Short sentences add spunk. Long sentences add value, examples, and context—even if they drag on sometimes. Use both, but strategically. 

Here’s an example:

“Music can delight. It has the power to transport you to a different world. But sometimes, when all is dark, and it’s quiet outside, I see this world through music—and it looks completely different. That’s what makes it great.” 

Alternating sentence length adds a lyrical quality to your writing and helps you keep the reader engrossed in your piece.

4. Evoke emotions with mental imagery

Your sentences need to drive the narrative forward. But that can only happen when you mix facts and emotions to create a powerful one that sticks with your reader.

In addition, the sentence needs to be informative enough to convey everything the reader needs to know.

“The loud barks of the rabid dogs sent a chill down the young man’s spine, freezing him on the spot.”

5. Clarity and Brevity

Clarity of thoughts comes through clarity of ideas. 

Whenever you’re writing about a subject, ensure that you spend at least twice the time researching it. It helps you form stronger ideas, back up opinions, and talk knowledgeably about a subject. 

Free AI Sentence Rewriter > Free AI Sentence Rewriter >

How to write better sentences

How to write better sentences

1. use relevant examples..

Examples make things crystal clear for your reader. It removes any ambiguity in their minds and helps you paint a vivid picture in their mind—without using visual imagery.

While examples are great, you know what’s even better? Definitions with examples. 

Here’s what this looks like in action:

Definition : “Low color contrast can make data visuals hard to understand.”

Definition with an example: “Low color contrast — like similar shades of blue paired together — can make data visuals hard to read.”

Here’s another example: 

Definition : “Intelligent workers get infuriated by mindless chores.”

Definition with an example: “ Intelligent workers get infuriated by mindless chores like updating calendars, sending check-ins, and scheduling emails.”

2. Avoid modifiers. 

Modifiers add a sliding scale to your claims.

Let’s say one of your children, Claire or Stella has lost the car keys. And your Husband says, “It can’t be Stella; she’s not irresponsible.”

This statement sounds more trustworthy than if he had said, “It can be Stella; she’s not very irresponsible.”

The second sentence induces the subconscious thought, “Stella might be irresponsible, but she’s only a little irresponsible.”

Pro tip (from Mark Twain ) for spotting that sneaky ‘very’: Substitute ‘damn’ every time you want to write “very.” Your editor will delete it, and your writing will be just as good. 

3. Avoid passive voice like the plague. 

This is crucial, especially if engagement is your goal. On the other hand, if you’re writing terms and conditions, you can add all the passive voice you want.

Why? It detaches your reader. 

Example of passive voice: “Detachment from readers is caused by passive voice.”

Active voice: “Passive voice detaches your readers.”

Let’s try one, 

Passive voice: “25 qualified leads were generated by the company from their latest blog post.”

Active voice: “The company generated 25 qualified leads from their latest blog post.”

The difference is considerable. Active voice makes you sit up and pay attention. Passive voice sounds like the radio running in the background. 

4. Ensure it has a good flow. 

Writing flows refers to the pace or rhythm of your piece. Good writing has a natural feel to it and avoids unnecessary breaks or repetitions.

Ideally, the reader should find it easy to read the piece without spending too much mental energy on it. 

If your text reads like a car stopping its brakes every five seconds, then it lacks a strong flow and cohesion.

Example: John likes traveling. He often travels for work. He has visited countries in Europe and Asia. His favorite destination is Paris. He loves Paris because of its exquisite food culture. He goes there three times a year.

Corrected example: John likes traveling, and he does so often for work. He has visited many countries in Europe and Asia, but his favorite destination is Paris. He loves it because of its exquisite food culture, so he visits it three times a year.

5. Split long sentences.

This error is similar to writing overloaded sentences, but there’s a distinction between them. The difference is that while overloaded sentences can go on tangents, not all long sentences do.

Long sentences become hard to follow, especially in digital writing. 

Readers tend to have an extremely short attention span, so they don’t want to spend time re-reading and comprehending your simple Slack message.

‍ Example: Technical content usually focuses on niche concepts that serve a specific audience which is why including foundational concepts makes no sense because your audience is already familiar with it, and if you do start at the basics, it will look like you’re patronizing them, which is not the goal.

Corrected example: Technical content usually focuses on niche concepts that serve a specific audience. So, it doesn’t make sense to include foundational concepts as they’re already familiar with them. Including them will look like you’re patronizing them—which is not the goal.

Checklist to refine clarity

‍ Refrain from using hyperbole. Terms like: ‍

  • regret missing out on
  • cannot do without

( Why can’t they do without? They absolutely can. The only must-haves are food, water, and air’. Everything else can be done without. )

Not “The ability to write is a must-have for everyone.” But “The ability to write ensures clear communication of ideas for professionals in the business world.”

Explain crucial terms when your audience might be unfamiliar with them. 

Not “Critical reasoning enhances your writing.” But “Critical reasoning, which is the objective analysis of ideas, enhances the clarity of thought.”

Take your readers on a journey. 

Not “Our product achieves reporting efficiency.” But “When you’re eyeballs deep in test results (and struggling to finish), XYZ product takes over. We ensure you have an overview while leaving the manual labor to XYZ’s automation.”

If you must use overly descriptive terms, back them with cold hard facts. 

Explain the descriptions. Don’t keep your readers guessing.

Not “Clarity enhancing checklist.” But “An internal report from our 3000 writers showed a 70% decrease in confusion after using ‘Bani's Checklist for Improving Clarity.'”

Expand abbreviations/acronyms in the first instance, as the same acronym could mean different things.

It clarifies who the subject is and removes any ambiguity in the reader's mind.

Not “The A/A program prevents the exclusion of underrepresented communities.” But “The Affirmative Action (A/A) program prevents the exclusion of underrepresented communities.”

Be specific. Clarify the why or how to make your sentences clearer.

Not “XYZ product can help you save hundreds of hours spent on manual data cleanup.” But “XYZ product can help you save hundreds of hours spent on manual data cleanup by automating the data collection and categorization processes.”

9 tips to continually improve your writing

1. read as often as you can. .

Good writing gets stored in your brain and finds its way out when you need inspiration. 

But also notice what you're reading—that's how you improve your writing. Summarize articles, rewrite bad sentences ; over time, you'll become so good at self-editing that it'll be second nature.

2. Write with your reader in mind. 

This is sometimes hard but always worth it. 

To make this a habit, paste your readers' pain points on top of your document. 

For example, if you're writing a piece on how to take notes and your readers are high school students, the top of your document should read:

"My readers have been taking notes for the last 8-10 years but haven't yet found a way to do it efficiently.  My readers need notes to make sense of their ever-increasing academic workload.  My readers need actionable checklists, not generic 'how to's."

Note: It's okay to ask questions and seek clarification when you don't understand something. 

3. Show, don't tell. 

Demonstrate the action of your story, don't just describe it. 

Example: “Lia sprinted down the pebbled street when she saw her father” is better than “Lia ran when she saw her father.”

It paints a vivid picture of Lia's actions without being too fluffy.

4. Practice thinking in threes. 

Three phrases make a good bullet list, complete a thought, and take up just enough space. 

The Rule of Three, a powerful copywriting principle, is based on our ability to retain information that comes in triplets. 

It builds a solid structure for your argument and helps your brain quickly record that information.

Example: “Jason found his passion for writing, quit his job, and launched his independent business in six months.”

5. Break your text down in bullets often. 

This helps you think clearly about your subject matter and add white space between your text blocks.

In this case, you can combine this with the Rule of Three principle to create effective and memorable lists.

  • Over-the-counter medication
  • Lots of warm fluids
  • Plenty of rest

6. Combine logic with emotion.

You need to create a healthy balance of facts and emotions. It needs to sound logical, which you can achieve by ensuring subject-verb agreement.

Example: “Dave drove himself into the ditch because it was raining cats and dogs—blurring his vision of the road.”

This sentence combines facts (driving into the ditch) and emotion (raining cats and dogs) in a way that paints a vivid picture while staying true to the facts.

7. Track your verbs.

When you're writing, it's hard to keep track of the various tenses. Plus, you might also use the wrong verbs. These issues can confuse your reader, so track your verbs to avoid them.

For example, if somebody is going to be questioned about their whereabouts, use the verb "questioned," not "asked" or "said".

“Lisa is going to be questioned by the police today about her whereabouts last evening.”

8. Work on your writing crutches.

Everybody (including me) has their own writing crutches. It could be an overuse of certain words, incorrect verbs or descriptors, or anything else you might think of.

The more you write , the better your chances of identifying your writing crutches. 

We recommend reviewing your previous pieces to see what mistakes you make or edits you're receiving from your editors/managers.

It'll help you identify where you're going wrong, and you'll become intentional about how you write.

9. Practice, practice, practice.

You can't become a great writer overnight. It takes months and years of intentional practice to get there. 

In his book, Building Great Sentences: How to Write the Kinds of Sentences You Love to Read, Brooks Landon mentioned:

"We will do this by studying the ways in which sentences combine information by coordinating it, subordinating it, or subsuming it in modification."

When you put in the time and effort to study the art of crafting a strong sentence, you'll be able to create them soon enough.

Writing good sentences is hard work

Great sentences often follow an obvious pattern. They incorporate the rules of writing with a tinge of creativity to get through to their readers. When you study the basics of sentence structure and practice it regularly, over time, it becomes second nature. 

The only way to get better is to hone your craft by doing three things: 

  • Identifying why your sentences are unclear
  • Making the necessary modifications
  • Refining it with ruthless editing

When you eliminate complexity and clarify what you want to say, crafting the right sentence becomes easier. 

It will not only help you write better sentences, but it can also improve the reader's understanding of what you're trying to say.

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How to Write Good

The first set of rules (1-23) was written by Frank L. Visco and originally published in the June 1986 issue of Writers’ Digest . The second set of rules (24-53) is derived from William Safire’s Rules for Writers .

My several years in the word game have learnt me several rules:

  • Avoid Alliteration. Always.
  • Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
  • Avoid cliches like the plague. (They’re old hat.)
  • Employ the vernacular.
  • Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
  • Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.
  • It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
  • Contractions aren’t necessary.
  • Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
  • One should never generalize.
  • Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.”
  • Comparisons are as bad as cliches.
  • Don’t be redundant; don’t use more words than necessary; it’s highly superfluous.
  • Profanity sucks.
  • Be more or less specific.
  • Understatement is always best.
  • Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
  • One word sentences? Eliminate.
  • Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
  • The passive voice is to be avoided.
  • Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
  • Even if a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.
  • Who needs rhetorical questions?
  • Parenthetical words however must be enclosed in commas.
  • It behooves you to avoid archaic expressions.
  • Avoid archaeic spellings too.
  • Don’t repeat yourself, or say again what you have said before.
  • Don’t use commas, that, are not, necessary.
  • Do not use hyperbole; not one in a million can do it effectively.
  • Never use a big word when a diminutive alternative would suffice.
  • Subject and verb always has to agree.
  • Placing a comma between subject and predicate, is not correct.
  • Use youre spell chekker to avoid mispeling and to catch typograhpical errers.
  • Use the apostrophe in it’s proper place and omit it when its not needed.
  • Don’t never use no double negatives.
  • Poofread carefully to see if you any words out.
  • Hopefully, you will use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.
  • Eschew obfuscation.
  • No sentence fragments.
  • Don’t indulge in sesquipedalian lexicological constructions.
  • A writer must not shift your point of view.
  • Don’t overuse exclamation marks!!
  • Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of 10 or more words, to their antecedents.
  • Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.
  • If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
  • Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
  • Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.
  • Always pick on the correct idiom.
  • The adverb always follows the verb.
  • Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.
  • If you reread your work, you can find on rereading a great deal of repetition can be by rereading and editing.
  • And always be sure to finish what

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Handwriting boosts brain connections and enhances learning, Norwegian study finds

A midst digitalization, electronic devices are progressively replacing traditional methods of writing with pen and paper. As a consequence, there is decreasing emphasis on handwritten notes in the education sector. Several arguments support this shift - typing is faster, and computer literacy is a necessity in the current job market. Nonetheless, even as they briefly constrained handwriting, countries such as Norway, Sweden, and Italy are now reintroducing practices and rules for handwriting in schools. Unsurprisingly, scientific evidence supports the benefits of handwriting, and the latest research from Norway adds further weight to this stance.

Handwriting benefits brain functionality

A team from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim undertook research to compare the engagement of neural networks in handwriting and typing. Prof. Audrey van der Meer, a neuropsychologist at the university and a co-author of the study published in "Frontiers in Psychology", explains that brain connection patterns are notably more intricate during handwriting than when typing. This increased brain activity plays a vital role in the formation of memory traces and encoding new information, which in turn boosts the learning process.

The team used electroencephalography (EEG) in a study involving 36 students. Participants were given words to write using a stylus on a touchscreen or to type using one finger on a keyboard. While they carried this out, a mesh cap fitted with 256 sensors recorded their brain activity. The findings revealed greater connectivity between different brain areas when participants were handwriting compared to typing.

According to Prof. van der Meer, "Our results imply that the visual and motor input acquired through precise hand movements during handwriting influences brain connection patterns positively, enhancing the learning process."

The researchers believe that these findings also apply when using regular pens and paper, even though the study utilized digital pens. Prof. van der Meer explains this conclusion by stating that handwriting involves careful letter formation and greater sensory involvement, thus promoting higher brain activity. Meanwhile, continually pressing a key using the same finger stimulates the brain less.

This research may also explain why children who learn to read and write using electronic devices might find it hard to differentiate letters like "b" and "d". Prof. van der Meer suggests that this happens because children do not physically experience writing mirror-image letters.

As per the Norwegian scientists, students should have ample opportunity to use pens and paper instead of just keyboards. Prof. van der Meer says that there is evidence to show that students learn more and remember better when they take handwritten notes during lectures. However, using keyboards can be more convenient for lengthy essays.

Past studies have suggested that handwriting fosters concentration, bolsters reading comprehension, stimulates creativity, and encourages clear thought and text structure. Psychotherapists argue that writing about stressful or traumatic events helps patients deal with negative emotions. Some immunologists even believe handwriting might bolster the immune system. Researchers have proven that writing to-do lists or resolutions by hand tends to be more effective than using digital tools. As such, experts recommend handwriting at least one page daily.

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Handwriting is good for our brain

Classroom Q&A

With larry ferlazzo.

In this EdWeek blog, an experiment in knowledge-gathering, Ferlazzo will address readers’ questions on classroom management, ELL instruction, lesson planning, and other issues facing teachers. Send your questions to [email protected]. Read more from this blog.

How to Help Students With Their Writing. 4 Educators Share Their Secrets

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Teaching students to write is no easy feat, and it’s a topic that has often been discussed on this blog.

It’s also a challenge that can’t have too much discussion!

Today, four educators share their most effective writing lessons.

‘Three Practices That Create Confident Writers’

Penny Kittle teaches first-year writers at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. She was a teacher and literacy coach in public schools for 34 years and is the author of nine books, including Micro Mentor Texts (Scholastic). She is the founder and president of the Book Love Foundation, which annually grants classroom libraries to teachers throughout North America:

I write almost every day. Like anything I want to do well, I practice. Today, I wrote about the wild dancing, joyful energy, and precious time I spent with my daughter at a Taylor Swift concert. Then I circled back to notes on Larry’s question about teaching writers. I wrote badly, trying to find a through line. I followed detours and crossed out bad ideas. I stopped to think. I tried again. I lost faith in my words. I will get there , I told myself. I trust my process.

I haven’t always written this easily or this much. I wouldn’t say I’m a “natural” writer because I don’t believe they exist. Writing is work. When I entered college, I received a C-minus on my first paper. I was stunned. I had never worked at writing: I was a “first drafter,” an “only drafter.” And truthfully, I didn’t know how or what to practice. I was assigned writing in high school and I completed it. I rarely received feedback. I didn’t get better. I didn’t learn to think like a writer; I thought like a student.

I’ve now spent 40 years studying writing and teaching writers in kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, and high school, as well as teachers earning graduate degrees. Despite their age, writers in school share one remarkably similar trait: a lack of confidence. Confidence is a brilliant and fiery light; it draws your eyes, your heart, and your mind. But in fact, it is as rare as the Northern Lights. I feel its absence every fall in my composition courses.

We can change that.

Confidence blooms in classrooms focused on the growth of writers.

This happens in classrooms where the teacher relies less on lessons and more on a handful of practices. Unfortunately, though, in most classrooms, a heap of time is spent directing students to practice “writing-like” activities: restrictive templates for assignments, with detailed criteria focused on rules. Those activities handcuff writers. If you tell me what to do and how to do it, I will focus on either completing the task or avoiding it. That kind of writing work doesn’t require much thinking; it is merely labor.

Practice creating, on the other hand, is harder, but it is how we develop the important ability to let our ideas come and then shaping them into cohesive arguments, stories, poems, and observations. We have misunderstood the power of writing to create thinking. Likewise, we have misunderstood the limitations of narrow tasks. So, here are my best instructional practices that lead to confidence and growth in writers.

1. Writing Notebooks and Daily Revision. Writers need time to write. Think of it as a habit we begin to engage in with little effort, like serving a tennis ball from the baseline or dribbling a basketball or sewing buttonholes. Writers need daily time to whirl words, to spin ideas, to follow images that blink inside them as they move their pen across the page. In my classroom, writing time most often follows engagement with a poem.

Likewise, writers need guidance in rereading their first drafts of messy thinking. I’ve seen teachers open their notebooks and invite students to watch them shape sentences. They demonstrate how small revisions increase clarity and rhythm. Their students watch them find a focus and maintain it. Teachers show the effort and the joy of writing well.

Here’s an example: We listen to a beautiful poem such as “Montauk” by Sarah Kay, her tribute to growing up. Students write freely from lines or images that spring to them as they listen. I write in my notebook as students write in theirs for 4-5 minutes. Then I read my entry aloud, circling subjects and detours ( I don’t know why I wrote so much about my dog, but maybe I have more to say about this … ). I model how to find a focus. I invite students to do the same.

2. Writers Study Writing . Writers imitate structures, approaches, and ways of reaching readers. They read like writers to find possibilities: Look what the writer did here and here . A template essay can be an effective tool to write for a test, but thankfully, that is a very small and insignificant part of the whole of writing for any of us. Real writing grows from studying the work of other writers. We study sentences, passages, essays, and articles to understand how they work, as we create our own.

3. Writers Have Conversations as They Work . When writers practice the skills and embrace the challenges of writing in community, it expands possibilities. Every line read from a notebook carries the mark of a particular writer: the passion, the voice, the experiences, and the vulnerability of each individual. That kind of sharing drives process talk ( How did you think to write about that? Who do you imagine you are speaking to? ), which showcases the endless variation in writers and leads to “writerly thinking.” It shifts conversations from “right and wrong” to “how and why.”

Long ago, at a local elementary school, in a workshop for teachers, I watched Don Graves list on the chalkboard subjects he was considering writing about. He read over his list and chose one. From there, he wrote several sentences, talking aloud about the decisions he was making as a writer. Then he turned to accept and answer questions.

“Why do this?” someone asked.

“Because you are the most important writer in the room,” Don said. “You are showing students why anyone would write when they don’t have to.” He paused, then added, “If not you, who?”

confidenceblooms

Developing ‘Student Voice’

A former independent school English teacher and administrator, Stephanie Farley is a writer and educational consultant working with teachers and schools on issues of curriculum, assessment, instruction, SEL, and building relationships. Her book, Joyful Learning: Tools to Infuse Your 6-12 Classroom with Meaning, Relevance, and Fun is available from Routledge Eye on Education:

Teaching writing is my favorite part of being a teacher. It’s incredibly fun to talk about books with kids, but for me, it’s even more fun to witness students’ skills and confidence grow as they figure out how to use written language to communicate what they mean.

A lesson I used to like doing was in “voice.” My 8th graders had a hard time understanding what I meant when I asked them to consider “voice” in their writing. The best illustration I came up with was playing Taylor Swift’s song “Blank Space” for students. Some students groaned while others clapped. (Doesn’t this always happen when we play music for students? There’s no song that makes everyone happy!) But when they settled down, I encouraged them to listen to the style: the arrangement, her voice as she sang, the dominant instruments.

Then, I played a cover of “Blank Space” by Ryan Adams. Eyes rolled as the song unfurled through the speakers, but again I reminded students to listen to the arrangement, voice, and instruments. After about 60 seconds of the Adams version, heads nodded in understanding. When the music ended and I asked students to explain voice to me, they said it’s “making something your own … like your own style.” Yes!

The next step was applying this new understanding to their own writing. Students selected a favorite sentence from the books they were reading, then tried to write it in their own voice. We did this a few times, until everyone had competently translated Kwame Alexander into “Rosa-style” or Kelly Link into “Michael-style.” Finally, when it was time for students to write their own longer works—stories, personal essays, or narratives—they intentionally used the words and sentence patterns they had identified as their own voice.

I’m happy to report this method worked! In fact, it was highly effective. Students’ papers were more idiosyncratic, nuanced, and creative. The only change to this lesson I’d make now is trying to find a more zeitgeist-y song with the hope that the groans at the beginning die down a little faster.

itsfun

Teaching ELLs

Irina McGrath, Ph.D., is an assistant principal at Newcomer Academy in the Jefferson County school district in Kentucky and the president of KYTESOL. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Louisville, Indiana University Southeast, and Bellarmine University. She is a co-creator of the ELL2.0 site that offers free resources for teachers of English learners:

Reflecting on my experience of teaching writing to English learners, I have come to realize that writing can be daunting, especially when students are asked to write in English, a language they are learning to master. The most successful writing lessons I have taught were those that transformed the process into an enjoyable experience, fostering a sense of accomplishment and pride in my students.

To achieve this, I prioritized the establishment of a supportive learning environment. At the beginning of each school year, I set norms that emphasized the importance of writing for everyone, including myself as their teacher. I encouraged students to write in English and their native language and I wrote alongside my English learners to demonstrate that writing is a journey that requires hard work and dedication, regardless of age or previous writing experiences. By witnessing my own struggles, my students felt encouraged to persevere.

My English learners understood that errors were expected and that they were valuable opportunities for growth and improvement. This created a comfortable atmosphere where students felt more confident taking risks and experimenting with their writing. Rather than being discouraged by mistakes, they viewed them as steppingstones toward progress.

In my most effective writing lessons, I provided scaffolds such as sentence stems, sentence frames, and word banks. I also encouraged my students to use translation tools to help generate ideas on paper. These scaffolds empowered English learners to independently tackle more challenging writing assignments and nurtured their confidence in completing writing tasks. During writers’ circles, we discussed the hard work invested in each writing piece, shared our work, and celebrated each other’s success.

Furthermore, my most successful writing lessons integrated reading and writing. I taught my students to read like writers and utilized mentor texts to emulate the craft of established authors, which they could later apply to their own writing. Mentor texts, such as picture books, short stories, or articles, helped my students observe how professional writers use dialogue, sentence structure, and descriptive language to enhance their pieces.

Instead of overwhelming students with information, I broke down writing into meaningful segments and taught through mini lessons. For example, we analyzed the beginnings of various stories to examine story leads. Then, collaboratively, my students and I created several leads together. When they were ready, I encouraged them to craft their own leads and select the most appropriate one for their writing piece.

Ultimately, my most effective lessons were those in which I witnessed the joyful smiles on my English learners’ faces as they engaged with pages filled with written or typed words. It is during those moments that I knew my writers were creating and genuinely enjoying their work.

To access a self-checklist that students and EL teachers can use when teaching or creating a writing piece in English, you can visit the infographic at bit.ly/ABC_of_Writing .

iprovided

‘Model Texts’

Anastasia M. Martinez is an English-language-development and AVID Excel teacher in Pittsburg, Calif.:

As a second-language learner, writing in English had not always been my suit. It was not until graduate school that I immersed myself in a vast array of journals, articles, and other academic works, which ultimately helped me find my academic voice and develop my writing style. Now, working as an ESL teacher with a diverse group of middle school multilingual learners, I always provide a model text relevant to a topic or prompt we are exploring.

When students have a model text, it gives them a starting point for their own writing and presents writing as less scary, where they get stuck on the first sentence and do not know how to start.

At the start of the lesson, prior to using a model text, I create a “do now” activity that guides my students’ attention to the topic and creates a relevant context for the text. After students share their ideas with a partner and then the class, we transition to our lesson objectives, and I introduce the model text. We first use prereading strategies to analyze the text, and students share what they notice based on the title, images, and a number of paragraphs. Then, depending on the students’ proficiency level, I read the text to the class, or students read the text as partners, thinking about what the text was mostly about.

After students read and share their ideas with partners and then the whole class, we transition to deconstructing the text. These multiple reengagements with the text help students become more familiar with it, as well as help students build reading fluency.

When deconstructing the model text, I guide my students through each paragraph and sentence. During that time, students orally share their ideas determining the meaning of specific paragraphs or sentences, which we later annotate in the model text using different colored highlighters or pens. Color coding helps visually guide students through similar parts of the model text. For instance, if we highlight evidence in paragraph 2 in one color, we also highlight evidence in the same color in the following paragraph. It helps students see the similarities between the paragraphs and discover the skeleton of the writing. Additionally, color coding helps students during their writing process and revision. Students can check if they used all parts of the writing based on the colors.

Furthermore, one of the essential pieces during deconstructing model texts that I draw my students’ attention to is transition words and “big words,” or academic vocabulary. We usually box them in the text, and I question students about why the author used a particular word in the text. Later, when students do their own writing, they can integrate new vocabulary and transition words, which enhances their vocabulary and language skills.

As the next step, I invite students to co-create a similar piece of writing with a partner or independently using our model text as their guide. Later, our model text serves as a checklist for individual and partner revisions, which students could use to give each other feedback.

Model texts are an essential part of the writing process in any content-area class. As educators, we should embrace the importance of model texts, as they provide a solid foundation upon which students can develop their unique writing skills, tone, and voice.

modeltexts

Thanks to Penny, Stephanie, Irina, and Anastasia for contributing their thoughts!

Consider contributing a question to be answered in a future post. You can send one to me at [email protected] . When you send it in, let me know if I can use your real name if it’s selected or if you’d prefer remaining anonymous and have a pseudonym in mind.

You can also contact me on Twitter at @Larryferlazzo .

Just a reminder; you can subscribe and receive updates from this blog via email . And if you missed any of the highlights from the first 12 years of this blog, you can see a categorized list here .

The opinions expressed in Classroom Q&A With Larry Ferlazzo are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.

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EU AI Act: first regulation on artificial intelligence

The use of artificial intelligence in the EU will be regulated by the AI Act, the world’s first comprehensive AI law. Find out how it will protect you.

A man faces a computer generated figure with programming language in the background

As part of its digital strategy , the EU wants to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure better conditions for the development and use of this innovative technology. AI can create many benefits , such as better healthcare; safer and cleaner transport; more efficient manufacturing; and cheaper and more sustainable energy.

In April 2021, the European Commission proposed the first EU regulatory framework for AI. It says that AI systems that can be used in different applications are analysed and classified according to the risk they pose to users. The different risk levels will mean more or less regulation. Once approved, these will be the world’s first rules on AI.

Learn more about what artificial intelligence is and how it is used

What Parliament wants in AI legislation

Parliament’s priority is to make sure that AI systems used in the EU are safe, transparent, traceable, non-discriminatory and environmentally friendly. AI systems should be overseen by people, rather than by automation, to prevent harmful outcomes.

Parliament also wants to establish a technology-neutral, uniform definition for AI that could be applied to future AI systems.

Learn more about Parliament’s work on AI and its vision for AI’s future

AI Act: different rules for different risk levels

The new rules establish obligations for providers and users depending on the level of risk from artificial intelligence. While many AI systems pose minimal risk, they need to be assessed.

Unacceptable risk

Unacceptable risk AI systems are systems considered a threat to people and will be banned. They include:

  • Cognitive behavioural manipulation of people or specific vulnerable groups: for example voice-activated toys that encourage dangerous behaviour in children
  • Social scoring: classifying people based on behaviour, socio-economic status or personal characteristics
  • Biometric identification and categorisation of people
  • Real-time and remote biometric identification systems, such as facial recognition

Some exceptions may be allowed for law enforcement purposes. “Real-time” remote biometric identification systems will be allowed in a limited number of serious cases, while “post” remote biometric identification systems, where identification occurs after a significant delay, will be allowed to prosecute serious crimes and only after court approval.

AI systems that negatively affect safety or fundamental rights will be considered high risk and will be divided into two categories:

1) AI systems that are used in products falling under the EU’s product safety legislation . This includes toys, aviation, cars, medical devices and lifts.

2) AI systems falling into specific areas that will have to be registered in an EU database:

  • Management and operation of critical infrastructure
  • Education and vocational training
  • Employment, worker management and access to self-employment
  • Access to and enjoyment of essential private services and public services and benefits
  • Law enforcement
  • Migration, asylum and border control management
  • Assistance in legal interpretation and application of the law.

All high-risk AI systems will be assessed before being put on the market and also throughout their lifecycle.

General purpose and generative AI

Generative AI, like ChatGPT, would have to comply with transparency requirements:

  • Disclosing that the content was generated by AI
  • Designing the model to prevent it from generating illegal content
  • Publishing summaries of copyrighted data used for training

High-impact general-purpose AI models that might pose systemic risk, such as the more advanced AI model GPT-4, would have to undergo thorough evaluations and any serious incidents would have to be reported to the European Commission.

Limited risk

Limited risk AI systems should comply with minimal transparency requirements that would allow users to make informed decisions. After interacting with the applications, the user can then decide whether they want to continue using it. Users should be made aware when they are interacting with AI. This includes AI systems that generate or manipulate image, audio or video content, for example deepfakes.

On December 9 2023, Parliament reached a provisional agreement with the Council on the AI act . The agreed text will now have to be formally adopted by both Parliament and Council to become EU law. Before all MEPs have their say on the agreement, Parliament’s internal market and civil liberties committees will vote on it.

More on the EU’s digital measures

  • Cryptocurrency dangers and the benefits of EU legislation
  • Fighting cybercrime: new EU cybersecurity laws explained
  • Boosting data sharing in the EU: what are the benefits?
  • EU Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act
  • Five ways the European Parliament wants to protect online gamers
  • Artificial Intelligence Act

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