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7 Ways to Improve Your Writing Skills

Writing, like any other skill, is something you can get better at with time and practice. Learn how.

[Featured Image]: A woman with curly hair and wearing a white long sleeve shirt, writing in her notebook, while sitting in front of her computer.

From sending emails to preparing presentations, writing is often a day-to-day task in many professions spanning diverse industries. Writing skills go beyond grammar and spelling. Accuracy, clarity, persuasiveness, and several other elements play a part in ensuring your writing is conveying the right message.

What are writing skills?

Writing is a technical skill that you use to communicate effectively through the written word. Though these may vary depending on what you’re writing, there are several that transcend categories. Writing skills can more specifically include:

Sentence construction

Research and accuracy

Persuasiveness

Each of these components can influence the quality of writing.

Why are writing skills important?

Being able to write well is a form of effective communication , which many employers see as a crucial job skill . In fact, strong communication—spanning written, verbal, non-verbal, and visual—is among the nine common employability skills that employers seek in job candidates.

Regardless of your role, with good writing skills, you can clearly transcribe your thoughts into meaningful messages, enabling you to share your ideas, build relationships, and strengthen your professional image.

Learn more: Important Communication Skills and How to Improve Them

How to improve your writing skills

Writing, like any other skill, is something we can get better at with time and practice. Here are some strategies for developing your own written communication:

1. Review grammar and spelling basics.

Grammar and spelling form the foundation of good writing. Writing with proper grammar and spelling communicates your professionality and attention to detail to your reader. It also makes your writing easier to understand.  

Plus, knowing when and how to use less-common punctuation, like colons, semicolons, and em-dashes, can unlock new ways to structure sentences and elevate your writing. 

If you’re looking to strengthen your grammar and spelling, start by consulting a writing manual. The Elements of Style by William Stunk and E.B. White has long been considered a staple for writers. You can find similar resources at your local library, bookstore, or online.

2. Read what you want to write.

Knowing what a finished piece of writing can look like can guide your own. If you’re trying to write a humorous short story, read humorous short stories. Writing a book review? Find a few and take note of how they’re structured. Pay attention to what makes them good and what you want to emulate (without plagiarizing, of course). If you’re working on a school assignment, you can ask your instructor for examples of successful pieces from past students.

Make reading a part of your everyday life to improve your writing. Try reading the news in the morning or picking up a book before you head to bed. If you haven’t been a big reader in the past, start with topics you’re interested in, or ask friends and family for recommendations. You’ll gradually begin to understand what subjects, genres, and authors you enjoy.

3. Proofread.

While it’s tempting to submit work as soon as you’re done with it, build in some time to revisit what you’ve written to catch errors big and small. Here are a few proofreading tips to keep in mind:

Set your work aside before you edit. Try to step away from your writing for a day or more so you can come back to it with fresh, more objective eyes. Crunched for time? Even allotting 20 minutes between writing and proofreading can allow you to approach your work with renewed energy.

Start with easy fixes, then progress to bigger changes. Starting with easier changes can get you in the rhythm for proofreading, allow you to read through your work once more, and clear distractions so you can focus on bigger edits. Read through your work to catch misspellings, inconsistencies, and grammar errors. Then address the larger problems with structure or awkward transitions. 

If you could say something in fewer words, do so. Being unnecessarily wordy can cloud your message and confuse the reader. Pare down phrases that are redundant, repetitive, or obvious.

Read out loud. Reading out loud can help you find awkward phrases and areas where your writing doesn’t flow well. 

Should you use computer spelling and grammar tools?

Many computer-based tools—like spell check on your word processor, or Grammarly — can help you find and fix simple spelling and grammar errors. These tools are not perfect but can help even the most seasoned of writers avoid mistakes. Take note of any frequently highlighted words or phrases so that you can avoid the same mistakes in the future.

4. Get feedback.

Whether you’re writing emails or essays, asking for feedback is a great way to see how somebody besides yourself will interpret your text. Have an idea of what you’d like your proofreader to focus on—the structure, conclusion, the persuasiveness of an argument, or otherwise. 

Approach a trusted friend, family member, coworker, or instructor. If you’re a student, your school might also have a writing resource center you can reach out to. 

You might also consider forming a writing group or joining a writing class. Find writing courses online, at your local community college, or at independent writing workshops in your city.

5. Think about structure.

Grammar and spelling keep your writing consistent and legible, but structure ensures the big ideas get across to the reader.

In many cases, forming an outline will help solidify structure. An outline can clarify what you’re hoping to convey in each section, enable you to visualize the flow of your piece, and surface parts that require more research or thought. 

Structure might look different depending on what you’re writing. An essay typically has an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. A fiction piece might follow the six-stage plot structure: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, and denouement. Choose what’s best for your purposes.

Like many skills, one of the best ways to improve your writing is to practice. Here are a few ways you can get started:

Start a journal or a blog.

Join a class or writing workshop.

Practice free writing.

Write letters to friends or family.

Put together an opinion piece for your local newspaper or publication you like.

7. Know some common fixes.

Even if a text is grammatically correct, you may be able to make it more dynamic and interesting with some polish. Here are some common ways you can sharpen your writing:

Choose strong verbs (for example, “sprinted,” “dashed,” or “bolted” instead of “ran”).

Avoid passive voice.

Vary sentence length.

Cut unnecessary words.

Replace cliches with original phrasing.

Showing your writing skills in a job search

Your writing skills will shine throughout the job search process , whether or not you intend to show them off. This is because job applications are largely written materials, including your cover letter , resume , and email communications . Use these opportunities to demonstrate your writing skills to prospective employers by submitting clear, accurate, and engaging materials.

Additionally, if you have specialized expertise, such as experience with legal writing, medical writing, technical writing, or scientific writing, you can note that in a resume skills section and further detail that experience within your cover letter or during your interviews .

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Whether you’re a scientist or a product manager, journalist or entrepreneur, writing effectively will enable you to communicate your ideas to the world. Through practice, exposure, and familiarizing yourself with basic rules, you’ll be able to use your writing to say exactly what you want to say.

If you’re looking for a structured way to expand your writing skillset, explore writing courses on Coursera —the first week is free.

Give your team access to a catalog of 8,000+ engaging courses and hands-on Guided Projects to help them develop impactful skills. Learn more about Coursera for Business .

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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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A (Very) Simple Way to Improve Your Writing

  • Mark Rennella

improve writing skills in english

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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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.

improve writing skills in english

  • 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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How to improve your English writing skills

By Rajul Goveas

31 august 2021 - 12:16pm.

Creative Writing adults

by Rajul Goveas

Are you the kind of person who picks up a pen to write and has words on the tip of your tongue, but they refuse to come on to the paper? Or maybe they quickly fall on to the paper, show up on your screen, but you don’t want to show anyone your writing? Don’t panic. Even the best writers get writer’s block or have had their work rejected many times.

Writing requires vocabulary, grammar, spelling, punctuation, structure and, most importantly, ideas.

But the first step is a simple one: Just sit down and get started.

In this post, we’ll look at some general tips to help you improve your writing, whatever you want to write. Then we’ll focus on some specific areas to help you get better at different types of writing.

These areas are:

  • Email and letter writing
  • Creative writing
  • Paragraph writing
  • Cohesion in writing

I’ll also share some useful links for some more practice below, so don’t forget to check those out too.

Why should you write? There are many reasons to write: Maybe you need to write emails or letters in English for work or business. You might be a creative person wanting to write stories in English or content for an advertisement. Perhaps you are a script writer wanting to write dialogues in English. Maybe you have an English exam coming up, such as IELTS, and want to get a high band score with that perfect essay.

On top of all this, you can also write for fun! Write because you like to use the words you know and see them on the screen or on paper. Writing for fun is also a great way to build your confidence and ability.

Tips for improving your all-round writing skills

There are some good ways to improve your all-round writing skills, whatever you want to write:

  • To write well, read a lot and read different things e.g. storybooks, newspapers, magazines. As you read, notice the words, their spellings, ideas in the writing and the message they are trying to convey. Try to use this in your own writing to build your range of expression.
  • You can improve your writing by reading texts in the style you want to write in (emails, stories, scripts and adverts all have different structures and rules). Look beyond the text and try to understand how they are structured – are headings used? How are paragraphs written? What kind of language is used?
  • Some people like to keep a diary. Do you keep one? Try making some notes in it often. This means you will get into the habit of writing which will help you improve.
  • Try expressing yourself when you message using words instead of using emojis. This will help you build vocabulary.
  • Remember what you heard in the news, or on TV talks etc. and recreate it in your own words. This will help you build your information-giving and storytelling skills.  
  • Be creative. Rewrite fight scenes into romantic or comedy scenes to enjoy your writing. Share with your friends to have a good laugh. Creativity is good to help you generate ideas and make your writing interesting.
  • Plan your writing and check what you have written after completing it. Read it as if you are the intended reader and not the writer. Will your reader understand everything?

I mproving your writing approach

It’s a good idea to follow the same approach whenever you write, whatever you are writing.

Well, here’s one simple and POWER ful technique:

POWER writing

Watch this video for some more great tips to help you improve your writing skills.

Improving specific writing skills

Now let’s look at how you can improve specific areas of your writing. We’ll cover:

Tips for emails or letter writing in English

Do you write emails and or letters? If the answer is yes, here are some easy to remember tips.

(Do note, there are many similarities between emails and letter; so, let’s put the two together and call it email writing as there are more emails written these days than letters.)

  • Write with the reader in mind – what message do you want to get across?
  • Write in an active voice instead of passive voice, this makes your message clear.
  • Avoid jargon to help your reader understand fully.
  • Develop a personal, warm tone – personal emails are usually informal and business emails are usually formal or semi-formal.
  • Avoid long sentences as these can be difficult to read.
  • Use short paragraphs so you reader can follow easily.
  • Write to the point and avoid unnecessary information.

Look at this email between colleagues. Notice the tips from above in action.

From : Sonika Gomez To : Simran Raj Subject : Request for new price list for Golden Glow face creams

Dear Simran,  

We are presenting to some new clients next Monday 10 December and they are interested in our Golden Glow face creams.

I understand from Anya that the prices have changed recently. She mentioned that you have the new price list. Do you think you could email it to me?

I would be grateful if we could have it by close of business on Thursday 6 December. That would give us time to prepare for our presentation.

Thanks very much for your help.

Best regards,

Finally, there are a couple of important things you need to remember; email etiquette and the ‘KISS’ rule.

Email etiquette means you choose the right approach and level of formality. Semi-formal or formal emails, for example, use the correct salutation and sign off and usually avoid using contractions (I’d, we’re, you’ll etc.)

Learn more about email etiquette here .

The KISS rule is: K eep I t S hort & S imple – your reader will thank you!

Tips for creative writing

Let’s turn our thoughts to some fun writing; story writing in English, or creative writing. Are you curious as to what I am going to say here? Good! Then you are on the right track as creative writers should always be curious. Why? Because that’s where you will get your ideas from.

Look around you for inspiration, your family and personal experiences are great sources for interesting stories. The ordinary or the extraordinary events and people you have experienced lend colour to your life, don’t they?

Think of other stories from movies or plays you have seen. Are there ideas from there you can borrow?

  • Think of stories that have different emotions. Step back into the past and think of your time in school, the friends you made and lost, your best friends in college and the ones you were so jealous of. Then the lovely warm moments, like being at home with wonderful grandparents you wished would live forever.

Turn your inspiration into a story. Think of the setting or backdrop of your story. All the people become the characters and all the emotions help you develop the narrative.

Develop your vocabulary, especially nouns, verbs and adjectives that will help you describe things and vary your language.

Are you starting out as a story writer? You can find some great beginner tips here .

Do you want to build your vocabulary to help your describe things? Start here with an activity on describing appearance.

Tips for paragraph writing

Why do we need paragraphs? Because they help the reader progress through your writing and understand your ideas. It is a good idea to write a new idea in each new paragraph. You can follow a basic paragraph structure to help you write clearly and logically.  

Note that is normal to leave a line between each paragraph to clearly mark the division.

Look at this example to see good paragraphing in action:

My last holiday was a 3-week trip to Cairns in North Queensland, Australia. I know Cairns well because I lived there when I was at university, more than fifteen years ago.

Instead of staying in a hotel, I stayed with two of my old friends in their lovely spacious home. It was so much fun, and a little bit like my old life. I wanted to do all the same things I did in my university days, so I visited all the familiar places and mainly the university. It has changed, is a lot bigger and looks more modern. I also cycled down to the supermarket near my old house. I loved seeing all the different foods. I was really happy to find my favourite Woodside cheese and double coated chocolate Tim Tam biscuits, but they were a bit more expensive than I remember!

  • Each paragraph has one central idea.
  • There is a topic sentence which tells you what the paragraph is about. This is usually the first sentence in the paragraph.
  • Add a few more sentences to give a supporting point or develop the idea written about in the topic sentence.
  • The last sentence in each paragraph sums up the main idea of the paragraph and it can also link to the next paragraph.

To find out more about writing about a holiday like the example above visit this site .

Tips for cohesion in writing

Cohesion is the use of various cohesive devices to link individual sentences and ideas. This is required to make our ideas flow naturally and help the reader follow what we are saying.

Look at this paragraph and notice how the underlined words and phrases link the text together:

It is true that these days everything you want to know is a few clicks away as long as you have internet access. However, not everyone has working internet all the time, for example in certain buildings or remote locations, so we do need to be able to remember information. Moreover, it takes time to look up everything you need to know online, whereas remembering something is immediate. The human memory is a much more efficient system.

Here are some ideas to help you link your text: 

  • Use linking words, devices and expressions (although, in addition, what’s more etc.) to link different parts of text.
  • Use signposting words like firstly, secondly, and finally.
  • Use pronouns to refer to things mentioned before or after (I went out with Jo on Sunday. She looked awful).
  • Organise or list your points (see how I use bullet points?)
  • Use examples to support your point
  • State contrasting ideas (on the other hand, however etc.)
  • Write about consequences if any (as a result, due to this etc.)

Find out more about linking words here and here .

Are you ready to write? Get started now!

  • Best ways to improve your English speaking skills

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Tips on How to Improve English Writing Skills

15 Jun 2017

Do you want to know how to improve your English writing skills? Do you want to know how to write correct sentences without it being a painful task?

Here are some tips to help you feel more confident with writing, and improve your English writing skills:

1. Read as much as you can

Just as we say that listening is closely related to speaking, reading is closely related to writing so our number 1 tip for improving your English writing would be to read as much as you can! This will help you improve your vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, and show you there are many different ways to communicate ideas. For example: If you need to write a description of a house or a bio of yourself, a great idea is to read some other bios or house descriptions, from books, magazines, brochures, the internet or whatever source you can think of. After having read others, then you can attempt to write your own. You’ll realize it’s much easier than trying to write without any previous input! Why not read some more posts on our blog  to start?!

2. Keep an English dictionary 

You’ll be able to look up words to clarify their meaning and to learn antonyms and synonyms so as not to repeat words or phrases, which will better your communication skills. 

3. Brush up your grammar

Even though you don’t have to “study” grammar, your English writing will improve a lot if you work on grammar exercises. Also, remember that grammar is more important when you write than when you speak because it is usually more formal and more structured.

4. Check your spelling before and after writing

How do you feel when you read something full of spelling mistakes in your own language? Poor spelling can spoil an otherwise interesting piece to read, and we generally write for other people to read what we’ve written.

5. Keep a diary in English

It will make you write every day to turn writing into a routine activity. Besides, you are “writing to yourself”, which can make you feel liberated and satisfied. You don’t need to write elaborate sentences: you can keep them as simple as you want.

6. Learn how to expand your basic sentences into more elaborate ones

There are five basic sentence structures in English:

  • Subject – Verb (John studies; My friend is playing )
  • Subject – Verb – Object (I like apples; Mary reads novels)
  • Subject –Verb – Adjective (Jenny is happy; Linda is pretty)
  • Subject – Verb – Adverb (She speaks fluently; These flowers are everywhere)
  • Subject – Verb – Noun (My father was a chemist, You are a student)

Here are a few examples of how you can expand them:

  • John, my brother, studies at home. My long-life friend is always playing.
  • These small white flowers are everywhere during the summer. My father, who passed away several years ago, was a well-known chemist.

7. Learn how to organize a paragraph

An useful way to improve your English writing skills is to start your paragraphs with a topic sentence: i.e. a sentence that explains what you are going to write about. Continue with supporting sentences : i.e. sentences that provide more information about the topic. Finish with a conclusion: i.e. it is generally a summary of the ideas developed in the body of the paragraph. Learn how to make transitions between paragraphs to signal relationships between ideas so as to create a fluent body of text.

8. Write an outline

Even in a very simple piece of English writing you have to keep some kind of an organization to convey the message you want in a clear orderly way. There are many different ways to write outlines and these have much to do with the way you organize things in your mind.

9. Try to get someone to read what you’ve written

A teacher, a tutor, a native speaker: whoever masters the language and can help you understand and correct whatever mistakes you may have made both in grammar or spelling and in the way your paragraph text has been organized.

Writing in English is not really something you can achieve immediately, but with hard, efficient work and gradual improvement you should definitely get there. Start writing very simple sentences and then get the challenge to write more elaborate pieces. Just give it a try!

Why not try our English Test to find out how good your English skills are? 

Do you want to teach English in China or South Korea? Read about a teachers experience of moving and Teaching English in South Korea and China.

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English Writing Practice: 16 Daily Ways to Improve Your Writing Skills

Writing will improve your vocabulary  and grammar , help you become a better reader  and teach you to express yourself clearly in English. 

So say goodbye to boring English writing assignments, because here are 16 fun ways to practice writing in English.

Note: Many of these will take less than five or ten minutes. So use a mix of these suggestions to write in English every day—even if it is just for five minutes.

1. Write Daily Lists and Calendar Items

2. keep a one-sentence journal, 3. comment on online content, 4. write a haiku, 6. decorate with inspirational quotes, 7. write love letters for your community, 8. participate in a postcard exchange, 9. dictation, 10. send a letter to your future self, 11. remember your dreams, 12. gratitude journal, 13. become a redditor, 14. start a blog, 15. create stories with strangers, 16. get corrections from native speakers, 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)

If writing in English is still scary for you, an easy way to start is with short lists.

Start by making  to-do lists in English of the things you need to do each day. This can be on scrap pieces of paper, or even on an app like Todoist .

Then, begin writing your  grocery lists in English. This is great practice for food items , and also to get you thinking in English when you normally do not. You will probably buy many of the same foods week after week, so the repetition will be really helpful. Beginners might like using this complete list of foods from grocerylist.org  when starting out.

Knock Knock All Out Of Pad Grocery List Note Pad, 6 x 9-inches (Blue)

There are also more grocery list pads of paper with 100+ common food items on each page, next to a check box. These pads of paper are called “All Out Of” pads . So when you are all out of apples, for example, you put a check mark next to the word “apples.” Simple!

If you love apps , use a grocery list app in English, such as this one . This app has a word prompter, which means it will suggest words as you type. For example, if I start typing “yog-,” the app will prompt “yogurt” and fill in the rest of the word for me.

If you keep a daily or monthly calendar , write your appointments and events in English. Like with the grocery list, you will probably use some of the same words over and over. And if you prefer apps, use your phone’s calendar app in English or download a free one .

Another easy way to start writing more is by keeping a one-sentence journal. The idea is simple: You write one sentence in a journal every day. You do not need anything special—just a notebook and a pen or pencil.

Put your one-sentence journal somewhere you will see it, and try to write at the same time every day. For example, you could keep your journal next to your bed and write before you go to sleep each night. Or you could keep your journal on your desk at work and write a sentence during your lunch break.

Writing one sentence does not take a lot of time, so this is a great habit for beginners. If you are more advanced or simply want to write more, you can definitely write more than one sentence each day. But you must try not to miss more than one day in a row, when you forget to write your sentence. It is better to write just one sentence every day than to write two pages once, and stop writing for weeks. You have to be consistent to make improvement!

If you would like, you can buy this five-year one-sentence journal , created by author Gretchen Rubin.

You watch YouTube videos , don’t you? Of course you do! The next time you watch a video on YouTube, write a short comment below. You could write a new comment, or reply to another user’s comment. (Hint: If you watch videos in English , the comments will likely be in English too!)

Start doing the same for other content online. Did you read a cool blog post ? Leave a comment in English. Did you see something awesome on Facebook , Instagram or TikTik? Comment on it!

A haiku is a poem with three lines. The first line must have 5 syllables, the second line has 7 syllables, and the last line has 5 syllables: 5-7-5. For example, here’s a funny haiku I like from the t-shirt company Threadless :

Haikus are easy But sometimes they don’t make sense Refrigerator

Let’s break it down into syllables :

Hai-kus are ea-sy = 5 But some-times they don’t make sense = 7 Re-fri-ger-a-tor = 5

If you are not sure how many syllables a word has, you can type it into this syllable dictionary at How Many Syllables? You can also use their handy guide to learn to count syllables on your own. The lightbulb at the bottom of each page will have a link to the next page with more information on it.

Until you get used to the format of haikus, you can write your haikus here at Write a Haiku . The simple online tool has a blank space for you to write your haiku. As you write each word, it tells you how many syllables you have.

For a big challenge, you could even write a haiku every day for 100 days, like Courtney Symons did !

Tweets (on Twitter ) are 280 characters long for a regular account and 4000 characters for subscribers to Twitter Blue. Writing tweets (or tweeting) is therefore another nice step to get you comfortable writing in English in small amounts.

You can definitely keep your account private if you want, but it might be more fun to make it public. That way, other people can see your tweets and reply to them. Remember, you do not have to use your real name when you create a username!

Twitter is meant to capture what is happening now . Here are some ideas of what you could tweet:

  • Your current thoughts
  • That haiku you just wrote
  • What you are doing today
  • Your opinion on the latest news story
  • How you are feeling
  • A picture of where you are, with a description
  • A sentence using your newest English vocab word

Here are 42 more ideas of things you could tweet about!

If you have a native English speaking friend, ask them to follow you. If you want to improve faster, ask him or her to please correct your tweets if they see any mistakes.

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

That quote by Mahatma Gandhi is perhaps one of the most well-known inspirational quotes to date. Inspirational  is used to describe something that gets you excited and gives you hope. Gandhi’s quote above inspires people to make positive changes in their actions.

Find some inspirational quotes that you really like, and then write them down. Here are some sites where you can find great quotes:

  • Goodreads Quotes : This link takes you directly to the “inspirational” category. Use the tags on the right-hand side to search other categories.
  • Brainy Quote : Scroll to the bottom for more categories, such as “Motivational Quotes,”  “Life Quotes” and “Positive Quotes.”
  • Keep Inspiring : Each quote on this page is written in plain text, and then as a graphic.

If you have a Pinterest account, that is another great place to look for these quotes. If you prefer quotes about happiness, friendship, love or another topic, that is okay. The point is for you to find quotes that you  like. You can also look for interesting quotes (not just inspirational) as you read in English.

Look up any unknown words and make sure you understand the quote’s meaning.

Then, the next step is to rewrite the quote by hand . If you want to get out the markers and crayons, feel free. If you prefer to write in black pen on a white notecard, go ahead. Do whatever you prefer.

Next, put up the quotes somewhere you will see them every day. You could decorate your bedroom walls, a notebook, your bathroom mirror—wherever you want. Every time you look at the quote, read it aloud or say it in your head.

It is really great practice to write these quotes out by hand, but you can also easily make beautiful quotes online.  Canva and  Quozio and are two sites that let you do this.

Then, you can set these as your computer background, share them on Facebook, pin them on Pinterest, etc. Add five new quotes to your collection every month.

Now that you are in an inspired mood, you can also participate in this letter-writing project:  The World Needs More Love Letters.

Created by Hannah Brencher, here is the main idea: The world needs more love letters, so write a love letter to a stranger.

Not a romantic love letter for couples, but a nice letter from human to human. Write a letter that will make someone happy. Then, leave the letter in a public space for someone to find. There are many sample letters on the site, so you can use them for ideas.

But what if no one speaks English where you live? Not to worry—there is another way you can participate in this wonderful project! Every month there are featured love letter requests .

You will see the person’s name, a paragraph about them and a mailing address for their “bundle” of letters. (The recipient does not know they will be receiving love letters; usually a friend requests it for them.) Send a love letter to that address before the mailing deadline. 

For more information about this project, you can read about how it works here or watch the creator’s short TED Talk here .

While it is nice to make a stranger happy with a letter, it is also fun to get a response to something you mail. A postcard exchange is a great way to send and receive mail in English!

Postcrossing  is a site that organizes international postcard exchanges. Here is how it works : You sign up and receive an address. Send a postcard to that address. Once the recipient receives your postcard, you will be the next person to receive a postcard.

One of the Postcrossing Community guidelines is to use English. So in addition to writing your postcard in English, you will also get to use English when you create your account and when you browse the website.

And there are some pretty interesting parts to the site, such as meetups (events), a forum  (where you can have written discussions with other members),  postcard statistics and more.

To combine writing and listening practice , you can do a dictation. (If you need to work on your spelling , listen up!) A dictation is when you listen to some audio and write down exactly what you hear.

To do this on your own, you will want to use audio that has a transcript (a written copy of all spoken words from a piece of audio). For example:

  • TED Talks  — These talks can be interesting, educational, funny, insightful (shows deep understanding), entertaining and more. Click the “interactive transcript” button below each video for the transcript.

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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  • NPR podcasts — NPR is the National Public Radio in the USA, and they make awesome podcasts . You might not see the transcripts right away, but they are there. Here is how to see them: Click on the title of a podcast episode which will take you the main article connected to the episode. Next to the play button you will see a row with links for “Playlist,” “Download,” “Embed” and lastly “Transcript” on the far right side.
  • Audiobooks  — You just need a copy of the book for your transcript. ( Try free e-books !)
  • Movies — Check this online database of free movie scripts to see if the script from your favorite movie is there.

Do not try to write out an entire TED Talk or a full book chapter. (That would take forever , even for a native English speaker!) Instead, do just a minute or two from the audio clip. If that is too difficult, try just 10-30 seconds of a recording to start.

When you are finished, compare what you have written with the transcript. Check for spelling errors or completely wrong words.

This next one is an activity that I like to do at least once a year myself. Using the site futureme.org , you can send an email to the future! You write an email to yourself, and then choose the date that it will be delivered. I recommend sending it six months or one year from the current date.

It is a fun surprise when the email arrives a year later. You can see how you have changed.

What could you write about in the letter to yourself? Really, whatever you want. But here are some ideas:

  • What do you hope to accomplish (do) in the next year?
  • What are you biggest worries and fears right now?
  • What is going on in the news?
  • What makes you happy?
  • Who are your closest friends?

If you want to get some fun reading practice too, you can read real letters  that people have written to themselves on the site.

For this idea, keep a small notebook and pen by your bed. You could even call this your “Dream Journal” if you want.

Then, if you wake up one morning and can remember parts of your dream, write it all down right away, in English. If you wait until later, you usually forget your dreams.

By writing down your dreams, you get in some English writing practice before you even get out of bed.

Dreams are often bizarre (crazy), so you will use a nice variety of vocabulary. Plus, I think it is super interesting to know what we dream about!

If you do not usually remember your dreams, deciding to do this will make you more likely to remember them. It is true—putting the notepad by your bed and thinking about remembering your dreams will actually help you remember your dreams !

Another type of journal you could keep is a gratitude journal.  Gratitude is a noun that means a feeling of thanks or appreciation. It has the same root as the word  grateful (thankful). So, a gratitude journal is a place where you write what you are thankful for.

In a notebook, write what you are thankful for every day. Just like with some of the other ideas on this list, it will help if you do this at the same time every day. Keep the notebook out where you will easily see it.

If you use a smartphone a lot, try  this Gratitude Journal app  to develop the habit. It will ask you every day for a quick list of five things you are thankful for. You can even add photos you have taken. It will be fun to look back and have positive memories every day.

Reddit is a website where members can post content and comment on it. Users can “upvote” or “downvote” any post or comment if they like or dislike it. On the front page of Reddit, you will see the content with the highest number of upvotes that day.

Content is organized into subcategories called “subreddits.” There are subreddits for every interest possible! For example, a few subreddits are  TIL (Today I Learned) , News , Jokes , DIY (Do It Yourself) , Science ,  Personal Finance —and even English . If you want to start with less text, begin by commenting in subreddits like Pics .

Create an account and then subscribe to subreddits that interest you. While this alone will be great reading practice, commit to commenting on at least one post a week. Comments do not have to be long, but they can be long if desired. Later on, challenge yourself to write five comments on Reddit each week.

When you are ready to write a bit more than a tweet or a short Reddit comment, start your own blog. Blogger is a really easy blogging platform to use and it is owned by Google. WordPress.com  is another site where you can make a free blog.

What should your blog be about? Here are a few ideas:

  • Your hobbies and interests
  • Your progress learning English
  • Your daily life
  • Fictional stories

But your blog does not need one central theme—you can write whatever you want any day! I do recommend starting with a schedule, though: Write at least one post per week.

If you are not sure what to write about, there is actually a subreddit called Writing Prompts  where you can get ideas!

Storium is a really neat online writing game. You write a story with a group of real people at the same time.

Here is how it works: Each player chooses a character and gets a set of cards that influence how the story develops. The players take turns using their cards and contributing paragraphs to the story. It feels like a board game or video game—but you’re writing a creative story together.

You are working with others and it is just a game, so it is low-pressure writing practice. Plus, at the end you will have a full story that you helped write!

You can learn more about the game here .

Finally, no matter what you have written, it is normal to make mistakes. As English learners, it is hard to spot these mistakes on your own. At HiNative you can share a piece of your writing and native English speakers will correct it for you! In return, you can correct writing from people learning your native language.

Submit a piece of writing to HiNative at least once every two weeks. After it is edited, make a list of the types of mistakes you made. Then, after you write your next blog post, journal entry or anything else in English, use that list to check for your common mistakes.

Keep all of your English writing together in one place. After three months of using HiNative, compare your level to when you started. You will very likely see improvements. Use this as motivation to continue learning English and writing. It is important to remember that even native speakers make mistakes, so make sure you understand why your mistakes are incorrect.

It may also help to use a professional online editing service like Editorr . They will accurately edit a piece of writing for you within a few minutes. Editorr uses real editors—most of them have a master’s degree or higher! You can use the changes they make to your writing to help you understand how to write better.

For the more informal writing you do every day, you can use Grammarly , an online grammar checker. Grammarly corrects some of the most common grammar mistakes you make while you are typing online (writing emails, tweeting or doing anything else on the internet). No automatic grammar checker will be able to help you with your writing as much as a native speaker, but Grammarly can still help you develop good writing habits without too much effort.

So grab a pen, find some paper and get writing.

There are new friends to meet, people to make happy and a world to change!

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:

learn-english-with-videos

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.

learn-english-with-subtitled-television-show-clips

FluentU lets you learn engaging content with world famous celebrities.

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

learn-conversational-english-with-interactive-captioned-dialogue

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.

practice-english-with-adaptive-quizzes

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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improve writing skills in english

Dear Duolingo: How do I get comfortable writing in a new language?

Dear Duolingo: How do I get comfortable writing in a new language?

Welcome to another week of Dear Duolingo, an advice column just for language learners. Catch up on past installments here .

Hello, learners! I’m Nora Gordon , filling in for Dr. Cindy Blanco this week, and I’m so excited to share some learning advice with you. But first, a little bit about me! I’m a Curriculum Designer here at Duolingo. I work on our courses teaching English to speakers of Spanish and Portuguese, and I also work with Duolingo for Schools, our tool for teachers. I’m a former language teacher myself (I’ve taught both Spanish and English) and I love supporting both teachers and learners!

Now, onto this week’s topic:

Dear Duolingo, Help! How do you become comfortable enough to write in the language that you’re learning? How do you break that insecurity and uncertainty that many of us have with a new language? Sincerely, Worried to Write

Thanks for your question, Worried to Write! (But first of all: don’t be worried!)

You don’t have to be a budding novelist to want to improve your writing skills in the language you’re studying. Writing is a huge part of how we communicate in everyday life, from sending a text message to a friend, to emailing a coworker, to posting an update on social media. But writing in a new language can be intimidating! Lucky for you, I have a few practical tips up my sleeve that will help you feel more confident while writing in the language you’re learning and improve your overall writing skills .

Duolingo character Lily writing on paper with pages flying around her

Use what you know

Maybe you’ve experienced that familiar moment when you put pen to paper and realize the word that you need is just… not coming to mind. Here’s a tip: If you don’t know how to say something, try phrasing it a different way. Instead of “overjoyed,” just be “very happy.” Instead of “fascinating,” try “interesting.” You will likely not be able to express yourself with the exact precision or eloquence that you would in your first language, and that’s OK! You can probably still find a way to get your message across. What’s the core of what you want to communicate? Focus on that.

If you’re just starting out with writing in your new language, this may also mean starting with very short and simple sentences. Eventually, you’ll be able to build up to making your writing more nuanced and complex!

Finally, if you happen to be learning a language with similarities to your own, take advantage of those! For example, if you’re an English speaker learning Spanish, you can use your knowledge of English vocabulary to make guesses about Spanish. Once you know that Spanish conversa ción means "conversation" and that condi ción means "condition," you may be able to guess that the word for "exception" is excep ción ! (Though beware of pesky false cognates!)

Duolingo owl holding a pencil

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Sometimes you just get stuck and need a little assistance! There’s absolutely nothing wrong with looking up a word or phrase when you need to. One of the great things about communicating through writing is that you usually have more time to organize your thoughts, do some light editing of your message, consult with an expert (like a friend or relative who speaks the language you’re learning), or use online translators and dictionaries if you need to !

No need to be perfect

It can sometimes feel like, because you’re putting your message down in writing, it has to be perfect. But small mistakes with spelling, grammar, accent marks, and punctuation seldom make your writing hard to understand. You can still get your message across and communicate what you need to. Of course, you should consider your audience: are you writing a quick message to a friend on WhatsApp? Type away and don’t worry about mistakes! Are you writing an email to a colleague? Re-read your message and edit it for clarity and formality. Publishing an article for an online magazine in your new language? First of all, good for you! In this case, you’ll probably want to write several drafts and incorporate feedback from multiple people on your writing before publication. Just like in your first language, writing in your new language will take lots of forms and have different styles and levels of formality, depending on your audience and purpose for writing.

Read a lot!

One great way to improve your writing skills is actually through lots and lots of reading. While reading, you’re exposed to vocabulary, grammar structures, and other writing conventions that you’ll eventually be able to use in your own work. Duolingo Stories are a fun and easy way to practice reading in your new language! A great strategy to get started in writing in your new language is to model your writing on the things you read. French and Spanish learners can practice this strategy after reading a Duolingo Story through a new feature on Duolingo’s site ! At the end of a story worth at least 28 XP, you’ll see the option to earn bonus XP by completing a writing exercise: you’ll summarize parts of the story in your own words. Don’t worry, we’ll give you hints to help you get started! While writing, don’t hesitate to scroll back through the story to remind yourself of the vocabulary that you might need. You’ll also have an opportunity to incorporate feedback to make your response sound more natural!

Duolingo writing exercise

Don’t fear writer’s block

Hope that helps! And remember: expressing yourself through writing in your new language can (and should!) be rewarding and fun! But you don’t have to be an advanced learner to get started. Even beginners can start writing in the language they’re learning. Be creative, write in the medium that’s most comfortable to you, and don’t be afraid to put pen to paper (or fingers to keypad) and get writing!

We'll be back in two weeks with the next installment of Dear Duolingo, where we'll be answering more questions about language learning! You can submit your questions via email to [email protected] or by tagging us on social media with #DearDuolingo.

Español: Querido Duolingo: ¿cómo puedo escribir en otro idioma con confianza?

¡Hola a todos los que están aprendiendo idiomas! Les damos la bienvenida a una nueva edición de Querido Duolingo. Soy Nora Gordon y estoy reemplazando a la Dra. Cindy Blanco esta semana. Estoy emocionada por compartir con ustedes algunos consejos para su aprendizaje... ¡pero primero voy a contarles un poco acerca de mí! Soy una diseñadora de currículo en Duolingo. Trabajo en nuestros cursos para enseñar inglés a hablantes de español y portugués y también en Duolingo for Schools, nuestra herramienta para maestros. ¡Incluso, fui maestra de idiomas (tanto de español como de inglés) y me encanta poder apoyar a maestros y estudiantes por igual!

Bien, vamos al tema de esta semana:

Querido Duolingo, ¡Ayuda! ¿Qué debes hacer para sentirte lo suficientemente cómodo para escribir en el idioma que estás aprendiendo? ¿Cómo se supera la inseguridad y la incertidumbre que puedes tener sobre ese nuevo idioma? ¡Gracias! Preocupación por escribir

¡Gracias por tu pregunta, Preocupado por escribir! (Antes que nada: ¡no te preocupes!)

No hace falta ser un novelista en ascenso para querer mejorar tus habilidades de escritura en el idioma que estás aprendiendo. Escribir es una parte muy importante de la forma en que nos comunicamos en nuestra vida cotidiana, desde enviar un mensaje de texto a un amigo, enviar un correo electrónico a un colega o escribir una publicación en redes sociales. ¡Sin embargo, escribir en otro idioma puede ser intimidante! Por suerte para ti, tengo algunos tips prácticos bajo la manga que te ayudarán a sentir más confianza al escribir en el idioma que estás aprendiendo y a mejorar tus habilidades de escritura en general.

Lily escribiendo con papeles volando a su alrededor

Usa lo que sabes

Quizás hayas experimentado ese momento tan familiar en el que pones tu bolígrafo sobre la hoja de papel y te das cuenta de que la palabra que necesitas simplemente… no viene a tu mente. Aquí tienes un consejo: si no sabes cómo decir algo, intenta decirlo de una forma diferente. En lugar de “deleitado” puedes estar “muy feliz”. En lugar de “fascinante” prueba “interesante”. Es probable que no puedas expresarte con la precisión o elocuencia exactas con las que lo harías en tu lengua materna ¡y eso está bien! Seguramente encuentres una manera de hacer llegar tu mensaje. ¿Qué es lo principal que deseas comunicar? Enfócate en eso.

Si recién empiezas a escribir en tu nuevo idioma, esto también puede significar que empieces con oraciones cortas y simples. Eventualmente podrás avanzar hasta lograr que tu escritura tenga más matices y una mayor complejidad.

Por último, si estás aprendiendo un idioma que tiene similitudes con el tuyo, ¡aprovecha esa ventaja! Por ejemplo, si eres un hablante de español hablando inglés, puedes usar tus conocimientos del vocabulario español para adivinar palabras del inglés. Una vez que sabes que la palabra en inglés conversa tion significa “conversación” y que condi tion significa “condición”, ¡podrías adivinar que la palabra para “excepción” es excep tion (¡pero ten cuidado con los tramposos falsos amigos!).

Duo con un lápiz

No tengas miedo de pedir ayuda

¡A veces simplemente te quedas atorado y necesitas un poco de asistencia! No hay nada de malo en buscar una palabra o frase cuando lo necesitas. Una de las mejores cosas de comunicarnos a través de la escritura es que solemos tener más tiempo para organizar nuestros pensamientos, editar un poco el mensaje, consultar con un experto (como un amigo o familiar que hable el idioma que estás aprendiendo) o usar traductores en línea y diccionario si lo necesitas .

No hace falta ser perfectos

Algunas veces puede sentirse que, porque estás escribiendo tu mensaje, este debe ser perfecto. Los pequeños errores de deletreo, gramática, acentos y puntuación pueden hacer que tu escritura sea difícil de entender, pero aún puedes transmitir tu mensaje y comunicar lo que deseas. Por supuesto, debes tener en cuenta a tu audiencia: ¿estás escribiendo un mensaje rápido a un amigo en WhatsApp? ¡Simplemente, escribe y no te preocupes por los errores! ¿Estás escribiendo un correo electrónico a un colega? Vuelve a leer tu mensaje y edítalo para que sea claro y formal. ¿Vas a publicar un artículo en una revista en línea en tu nuevo idioma? Antes que nada, ¡felicitaciones! En este caso, lo más probable es que quieras escribir varios borradores y tomar en cuenta los comentarios de varias personas sobre tu escritura antes de publicarlo. Tal como sucede con tu primer idioma, al escribir en tu nuevo idioma, este tomará muchas formas y tendrá diferentes estilos y niveles de formalidad según la audiencia y el motivo de la escritura.

¡Lee mucho!

Una excelente forma de mejorar tus habilidades de escritura es leyendo mucho. Al leer, estarás expuesto a vocabulario, estructuras gramaticales y otras convenciones de la escritura que eventualmente podrás usar por tu cuenta. ¡Los Cuentos de Duolingo son una forma sencilla y divertida de practicar lectura en tu nuevo idioma! Una buena estrategia para empezar a escribir en tu nuevo idioma es modelar tu escritura según las cosas que lees. Los usuarios que están aprendiendo francés y español pueden poner en práctica esta estrategia después de leer un Cuento de Duolingo con la nueva funcionalidad en la página web de Duolingo . Al final de cada cuento que otorgue al menos 28 EXP, verás la opción de completar un ejercicio escrito para ganar EXP: deberás resumir partes del cuento en tus propias palabras. ¡No te preocupes! Te daremos pistas para ayudarte a empezar. Mientras escribes, puedes volver y volver a leer el cuento para recordar el vocabulario que necesitas. ¡También tienes la oportunidad de agregar comentarios para que tu respuesta suene más natural!

Ejercicio de escritura de Duolingo

No temas al bloqueo del escritor

¡Espero que eso te ayude! Recuerda: ¡expresarte por escrito en tu nuevo idioma puede (y debe) ser gratificante y divertido! Sin embargo, no necesitas estar en un nivel avanzado para empezar. Incluso quienes recién están empezando pueden comenzar a escribir en el idioma que están aprendiendo. ¡Usa tu creatividad, escribe en el medio que más cómodo te resulte; no temas poner el bolígrafo sobre el papel (o los dedos sobre el teclado) y empieza a escribir!

Nos vemos dentro de dos semanas en la próxima edición de Querido Duolingo, donde respondemos todas sus preguntas sobre el aprendizaje de idiomas. Pueden enviarlas a través de un correo electrónico a [email protected] o pueden escribirnos y mencionarnos en redes sociales con el hashtag #DearDuolingo.

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How to improve writing skills in English

How to improve writing skills in English

Writing is one of the most important skills English as a second language learners must master, particularly for students and working professionals. That’s because unlike in speaking exercises, when you write you leave a lasting record of your language.

Mistakes in spelling, grammar and word choice are immediately evident. And while literacy skills are not a reflection of intelligence or knowledge, poor writing can cause a student to receive lower marks, even if they know a lot about the subject of the assignment. In a professional context , people may judge you as lazy or untrustworthy if you send poorly written emails full of mistakes.

They are also likely to assume your spoken ability in English is quite low, though this may or may not be the case. That’s why it is important to improve writing skills in English before they prevent you from reaching your full potential at school or in the workplace.

Fortunately, the more often you write, the easier it will be to access the English you are looking for and express yourself accurately and fluently. Researchers know that if you are a strong writer in your first language, chances are you will also be a strong writer in English.

That’s because strategy use transfers. However, you can always learn to be more strategic as a writer and improve your skills by signing up for a class.

A composition course, even one aimed at native speakers, will help you improve the way you react to different texts, organize your ideas and bring together vocabulary, grammar and tone to enhance your writing. Spelling and fluency, when it comes to the actual process of putting words on paper, can be improved by taking an online course.

Keep in mind that you can’t learn how to write overnight. It’s a process and the more you write and receive feedback on your written work, the stronger you will become.

How writing works

Reading is a receptive skill that requires an individual to make meaning from the language input to which they are exposed. In writing, learners must actually create meaning and produce their own language. That’s why writing is so hard, even for native speakers.

It begins with translating ideas into language and moving them around so the reader can follow your train of thought. Next, comes the process of revising to find the most precise and convincing wording that renders ideas clearly and concisely. Finally, you need to make sure there are no grammar, spelling or formatting errors which will distract the reader from what you are saying.

Top tips to improve English writing

Top tips to improve English writing skills

  • Start with a mind-map. A great way to set the stage for a piece of writing is by brainstorming ideas related to your topic and activating all of the English you will need to express yourself. Try creating a mind-map in which you write down any prior knowledge you have on the subject in bullet points and specify facts or opinions you would like to include. You may also choose to make a list of English vocabulary words that will help you articulate your thoughts.   
  • Use an outline. A blank page can be intimidating, even for the most seasoned writers. Give yourself something to work with by laying out the structure of your piece in advance. Leave placeholders for an introduction, several paragraphs that provide support for your thesis, and a conclusion, then use your mind-map to fill in the details.  
  • Learn how to type. Did you know that we think a lot faster than we write? Translating ideas into language can be slow and cumbersome if you are handwriting or hunting for individual letters, one key at a time. You can lose your train of thought and or experience frustration with the mechanics of writing. But you can automatize the process and help your thoughts flow freely through your fingertips and onto the screen by learning how to touch-type . You’ll not only be faster, but more accurate too.  
  • Revise, revise and revise some more. Writing is a process that involves crafting a sentence then going back to re-read what comes before. You want to be sure your ideas make sense in a particular order and that you’ve used a variety of different vocabulary words and phrases to express yourself. When you write on a computer, you can use the same document for your mind-map, outline and initial draft. Being able to copy, paste and delete means revisions are a lot easier to make. Continue to write and revise until you are happy with your draft.  
  • Have a native-speaker proofread your work. Everyone makes mistakes in writing. This is because when you’ve been focused on a text for so long, it becomes hard to see the errors. Leave your work for a day or two before you come back to it to proofread. It’s also helpful to ask an English speaker to take a look as they are likely to catch awkward phrasing and may even be able to provide you with some more native-like solutions when it comes to re-wording and presenting your ideas. Depending on the length of your piece, you can sign up for a language exchange and help someone with their writing in your native language at the same time.  
  • Use spelling and grammar checks. Some learners may feel that relying on automatic spelling and grammar checks is cheating because it prevents you from catching your own errors and allows you to be less accurate. However, these checks can help call attention to problems with your English grammar and/or spelling skills. Use the content that they bring up as a learning experience and decide on how to revise each error by weighing their suggestions. You’ll be surprised at how much you learn.  
  • Build your productive vocabulary. Most English language learners have a larger receptive vocabulary than a productive one. This means you may understand a word when you see it but it won’t necessarily show up in your writing. Purposefully using words you have recently learned is one way to increase your productive vocabulary. When you use a word in your writing, it makes it more likely it will be available the next time you sit down to compose a sentence. Another strategy is to use a thesaurus to look up alternatives to the words you have chosen. Just be sure you don’t pepper your text with awkward word-choices that don’t fit the context or your original phrasing.  
  • Spend more time reading in English. Good writers tend to be avid readers. The more you read in English , the more you are exposed to different ways of expressing ideas. The grammatical structures and style of the writer will eventually start to show up in your own writing and you may learn some new vocabulary at the same time.  
  • Familiarize yourself with different text types. Not all writing assignments require the same kind of English. A factual article for the newspaper, an email to a potential employer and an essay for a literature class will all necessitate a unique format and different elements. You can improve your writing by familiarizing yourself with a diverse range of text types. For example, read the newspaper, look up sample essays and make your way through an English novel or two.

4 Tips for English teachers

Help students overcome their fear of a blank page by starting off your lesson with an activity that helps them generate language and ideas for their writing. This is a top down strategy that will allow them to activate prior knowledge and personal experiences that relate to the topic. 

Research shows that strategy use transfers from a learner’s first to second language after they have reached a certain ability level. For those learners who are not strong writers in their first language, introduce and model writing strategies.

Be on the lookout for learning difficulties. You may think spelling mistakes and poorly organized text are a result of lacking English skills but there may be another issue such as dyslexia , dyspraxia or dysgraphia that is causing the problem. The earlier a learning difficulty is diagnosed, the sooner a student can learn strategies to overcome it.  

Go over the difference between written and spoken English. Every language learner eventually discovers that not everything we say in conversation is acceptable in written form. Beginner learners might need you to call their attention to some common examples (such as writing going to instead of gonna) . 

Learn to type

Taking a touch-typing course like Touch-type Read and Spell's can be a great way for an English language learner to improve his or her writing skills.

Not only does touch-typing provide a more automatized way of expressing thoughts in English, but the process of learning the keys can involve dictation exercises which reinforce phonics and spelling. As English is a notoriously difficult language to spell, this can be important in building confidence in writing and facilitating sight-reading at the same time. 

Touch-type Read and Spell takes a modular and multi-sensory approach and is also a solution for English students who struggle with learning difficulties, such as dyslexia. 

Learn more about helping English language learners in the classroom.

Do you have any tips on improving writing skills? Join the discussion in the comments!

I began using the TTRS course after my English literacy level was tested and seemed low. I'm originally from South America and I work as a doctor in the UK. I also have dyslexia. Before TTRS, I used to type slowly and inaccurately with two-fingers. Now I am faster at the computer, make fewer errors, and write more professionally. My vocabulary has noticeably expanded too. I learned new words by looking up vocabulary using the dictionary tool inside TTRS.

Maria, Doctor and English language learner

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For teachers

TTRS is a program designed to support educators in teaching students touch-typing, with additional emphasis on reading and spelling.

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Testimonials and reviews

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Maria, Adult learner

Maria used to type with two-fingers, slowly and often inaccurately. Now she types faster, with fewer errors, more competently and professionally. This has boosted her confidence in the workplace tremendously. She now recognises individual sounds in words much better, due to the auditory aspect of the multi-sensory approach in TTRS. Her vocabulary has noticeably improved and she has found she can explain things and express herself more clearly in English after completing the course.

Read more of Maria’s story

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Bolton College, Adult Education Program

At Bolton College we offer the TTRS course to self-study adult learners who have returned to education to improve their spelling, increase their familiarity with technology, and use word processors. We find that for many adult learners in our program, the conventional ‘look-cover-spell-check’ approach they were taught at school had a detrimental effect on their learning. In contrast, Touch-type Read and Spell provides a rewarding and positive experience for them when it comes to spelling.

Read more of Bolton College’s story

TTRS has a solution for you

An award-winning, multi-sensory course that teaches typing, reading and spelling

improve writing skills in english

How does TTRS work?

Developed in line with language and education research

Teaches typing using a multi-sensory approach

The course is modular in design and easy to navigate

Includes school and personal interest subjects

Positive feedback and positive reinforcement

Reporting features help you monitor usage and progress

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Dyslexia at work: Strategies for working from home

Dyslexia at work: Strategies for working from home

A guest post by journalist David Hayter.

I have dyslexia and have long been aware that the challenges of dyslexia tend to be magnified in the remote workplace. During lockdown, I took the opportunity to change career and study law while.

As such, I was given a bird’s eye view of the profound effects the work-from-home landscape can have on both dyslexic employees and learners. Through this experience I developed a repertoire of remote work strategies that helped me overcome the wide array of challenges I faced.

What does dyslexia mean to me

What does dyslexia mean to me?

My life and livelihood are entirely dependent on those skills most severely affected by dyslexia. I work as a journalist: reading, writing, editing and organising are my passion, and they are the very things that I was told, as a child, that I would forever struggle with.

Rather than holding me back, receiving a dyslexia diagnosis at a young age not only helped me come to terms with and develop strategies to cope with my dyslexia, but to master the very skills that were the source of so much frustration and anxiety in my school years.

Dyscalculia in adults

Dyscalculia in adults

Dyscalculia is a learning difficulty that affects an individual’s ability to do basic arithmetic such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Adults with dyscalculia often take longer when working with numbers and may be more prone to making mistakes in calculations. 

They can also experience higher levels of anxiety and frustration. It may be harder for adults with dyscalculia to learn and recall math facts, such as times tables. 

Estimation skills can also be affected. Dyscalculia is not a reflection of low intelligence, nor does it mean an adult will not be successful working through higher order mathematical reasoning. However, many people with dyscalculia believe they are simply bad at math. 

Because math is involved in various areas of the school curriculum, from chemistry to physics, as children these individuals may have felt they were less capable of achieving success in the classroom. Over time these feelings can develop into low self-confidence and low self-esteem. 

Adults with poor math skills are more likely to suffer in terms of career opportunities and management of personal finances. There’s additionally a greater chance they are struggling with more than one learning difficulty, such as dyslexia or ADHD.

Understanding dysgraphia in adults

Dysgraphia in adults

Dysgraphia is a learning difficulty, also sometimes referred to as a learning disability or a learning difference, that primarily affects writing skills. Adults with dysgraphia have a hard time writing by hand and may struggle with letter formation, letter, word and line spacing, staying inside the margins, neatness, capitalization/punctuation rules, spelling, word choice, and even grammar.

As opposed to agraphia , in which writing loss is acquired, individuals with dysgraphia are typically born with the condition. As children they may have found school particularly challenging, given the importance of literacy skills and the emphasis on having neat handwriting at the elementary/primary level.

Thankfully, technology exists that can help both children and adults with dysgraphia overcome the challenges they experience and take positive steps toward achieving their full potential in the classroom or workplace.

Signs of dyslexia in adults

13 Signs of dyslexia in adults

Studies suggest that 1 in 10 adults in the US and UK has dyslexia , a learning difference that can affect working memory, reading, writing and spelling skills. In 60% of cases the dyslexia may be mild to moderate, but the remaining 40% of people can struggle with a severe form that interrupts literacy skills development when early support is not put in place.

Dyslexia is still called a learning disability in some countries, but in the UK it is increasingly referred to as a specific learning difference. The reason for this is dyslexia does not make you less able than your peers, it is simply a different way of processing language in the brain.

It’s also not related to intelligence, but dyslexia can prevent an individual from being successful due to the central role of reading and writing in mainstream education. Moreover, having earned poor marks at school or losing a job because of literacy skills can limit career options for adults, and may affect an individual’s confidence and self-esteem for years to come.

Fortunately, most problems can be overcome, even in adulthood, with the right literacy intervention, strategies and accommodations .

How to improve spelling skills

How to improve spelling skills

Spelling is one of those skills that a lot of people find challenging to master. This is particularly true if English isn’t your first language. One of the main reasons spelling is so hard to learn is that English is a highly irregular language. It has borrowed words from many other tongues and anglicized their spelling in an inconsistent way.

Spelling rules such as “i before e except after c” do exist in English, as in the words receive and receipt . But there are also plenty of exceptions to these rules, such as in species and science . Moreover, knowing a rule doesn’t always mean you can operationalize it in an automatic fashion when you need to write words quickly and accurately, for example during interviews, sales-meetings or timed assessments.

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C1 writing

Are you a learner at C1 English level (advanced) ? This section offers writing practice to help you write clear, well-structured texts about complex subjects. Texts include essays, proposals, articles, reports, reviews and emails.

Each lesson has a preparation task, a model text with writing tips and three tasks to check your understanding and to practise a variety of writing skills. Make a start today.

Choose a writing lesson

A music review

A music review

Learn how to write an album review.

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A proposal for a digital newspaper

A proposal for a digital newspaper

Learn how to write a proposal.

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A report on a research study

A report on a research study

Learn how to write a report on a research study for your company.

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A response to a complaint

A response to a complaint

Learn how to write a response to a complaint.

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An email explaining an incident

An email explaining an incident

Learn how to write an email to explain an incident to your manager.

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An email request

An email request

Learn how to write a formal email to make a request.

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An email to a friend

An email to a friend

Learn how to write an email to a friend.

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An essay about women in science

An essay about women in science

Learn how to write an essay that suggests reasons for and solutions to a problem.

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An opinion essay

An opinion essay

Learn how to write an opinion essay.

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Conference bios

Conference bios

Learn how to write a short biography for a conference programme.

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Describing a table

Describing a table

Learn how to summarise information in a table and write a report on the main features.

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The changing workplace

The changing workplace

Learn how to write about changes in the business workplace.

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Learn to write in English with confidence

Our online English classes feature lots of useful writing materials and activities to help you develop your writing skills with confidence in a safe and inclusive learning environment.

Practise writing with your classmates in live group classes, get writing support from a personal tutor in one-to-one lessons or practise writing by yourself at your own pace with a self-study course.

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12 Exercises to Improve Writing Skills (Proven to Help Writers)

12 Exercises to Improve Writing Skills (Proven to Help Writers)

Table of contents

improve writing skills in english

If you’re anything like me, you have good writing days, but most days are quite the opposite. Unfortunately, relying on the random bursts of inspiration at 3AM combined with five shots of espresso with varying sleep deprivation is just not a sustainable strategy.

Whether you’re a creative writer working on your next novel, you’re running out of creative social copy, or you started your essay an hour before your deadline, becoming a better writer will help you save time and maximize your output. 

Instantly improve your writing skills with this FREE AI writing tool > Instantly improve your writing skills with this FREE AI writing tool >

writing skills

The good news is that everyone can become a better writer simply by practicing the right exercises. That’s why we’ve compiled the very best ones to help you write more clearly, quickly, and creatively. 

Let’s get started!

1. Find your perfect writing environment

improve writing skills in english

Let’s first talk about finding the right writing environment for you. Like finding the right gym with the right machines, price point, and crowdedness, finding the optimal writing environment can make a huge difference.

You might be used to working at your desk while listening to free form Jazz. Others may enjoy working in complete silence with dimmed lighting. The first step is to experiment and challenge your writing habits. Look at your current writing space and answer the following questions:

  • Do you prefer writing on a computer or by hand? 
  • How is the lighting? Do you prefer dimmer or brighter environments?
  • At what time do you work best? Morning, afternoon or evening? Does it depend on the day?
  • What music do you listen to (if at all)?
  • Do you prefer writing in nature, in complete private, or in a public cafe?

Try writing at the park today and see how you like it compared to being in a bustling cafe. The ultimate goal is to keep things fresh and get your creative juices flowing! So don’t worry if things don’t click right away. Experimenting takes time, but it will make you more in tune with how your external environment affects your writing.

2. Warm up with freewriting

Now that you’ve found the right writing environment, it’s time to finally start writing. One of the most effective ways to start is to warm up with freeflow writing. Grab your pen and paper (or laptop of course), and set a timer for 10 minutes.

improve writing skills in english

Once the timer starts ticking, write about everything that is on your mind - without stopping. Let it be a natural stream of consciousness.

You can write about literally anything, from describing what you see in front of you or gushing about your newly adopted puppy. Whatever it may be, don’t think twice and just write. Forget about grammar, spelling, and cohesiveness - no one is going to read this but you!

This famous exercise was coined by Peter Elbow in 1973 to improve brainstorming. He is quoted as saying "The consequence [of writing] is that you must start by writing the wrong meanings in the wrong words; but keep writing until you get to the right meanings in the right words. Only in the end will you know what you are saying.”

To his point, you’re never going to write a masterpiece on your first try. It’s important to practice transferring the thoughts in your mind to the piece of paper in front of you. 

3. Write metaphor lists

This next exercise will be helpful for both creative and prose writers alike. Similes, metaphors, and synecdoches are all wonderful ways to tell stories and express ideas more colorfully. Metaphor lists are one of the best and most fun exercises to take your writing to the next level.

How to start:

  • Create two columns
  • In one column, write only nouns like grass, a cat, glass, a tea kettle. This can be anything that can be perceived with your senses.
  • In the other column, write down intangible and abstract ideas such as peace, war, love, happiness, knowledge, hate.

improve writing skills in english

  • Take one word from the noun column and one word from a concept column and create a metaphor or simile. For example, “Happiness is like glass - it can be around you but remain invisible until you change your perspective."

4. Copyworking: transcribe your favorite author

Transcribing your favorite author’s work, also known as copyworking, is an exercise to help you internalize an author’s syntax, diction, tone, flow, and cadence, until their “voice is in your bones.”

improve writing skills in english

We’re not saying to go out and plagiarize someone’s work and claim it as your own. Take your favorite pieces of writing and copy them word for word as a learning exercise. This may be more effective when copying by hand.

Isn’t this cheating?

Famous authors such as Jack London and Hunter S. Thompson have used copywriting to develop their own unique writing styles. Monks in the middle ages copied religious texts by hand to both preserve ancient writing and deepen their understanding of religious texts.

Pro Tip: Find new ways to reword phrases with Wordtune

There are many uses for Wordtune , but one simple task you can use is to simply take any sentence from your favorite piece of work and choose from a list of different ways it can be better worded. Discover new ways to phrase sentences, and practice recognizing better sounding sentences.

improve writing skills in english

5. Master the outline with "Jeopardy!" questions

Starting a new writing project from scratch is very intimidating. One of the best ways to overcome the mental hurdle of just getting started is to create an outline. In this exercise, you’ll learn how to create great outlines with a fun little twist.

If you’re unfamiliar, Jeopardy is a classic game show where contestants compete to answer a series of difficult trivia questions. The questions are uniquely formatted as statements.

improve writing skills in english

In this exercise, choose a topic that you are interested in and gather ten facts about it. Let’s take the dog breed Shih-Tzus for example. After reading an essay about Shih-Tzus, here are the ten facts I’ve gathered about them:

  • Shih Tzus are a Tibetan breed that was sent to Chinese royalty as gifts
  • Shih Tzus have a life expectancy of 10 to 16 years
  • Shih Tzus are also known as Lion Dogs
  • Shih Tzus are closely associated with Buddhism
  • Shih Tzus were brought to the United States in the late 1940s
  • Shih Tzus are hypoallergenic 
  • Shih Tzus are known for their companionship and calm temperament
  • Shih Tzus were officially recognized by the AKC on September 1st 1969
  • Chinese traders refused to trade Shih Tzus with Western nations because they were so revered
  • Shih Tzus are a cross between Lhasa Apso and Pekingese

The second step is to format them into Jeopardy questions. The fact “Shih Tzus are a Tibetan breed that was sent to Chinese royalty as gifts” would become “This Tibetan dog breed was gifted to Chinese royalty.”

This exercise will ultimately help you rephrase sentences in a style that you may not be comfortable with.

6. Edit other peoples’ work

Editing is not easy by all means, but you can be a fresh pair of eyes for another writer and improve your proofreading skill. Editing means carefully proofreading someone’s work and actively finding ways to improve on it, which is a transferable skill to help you identify how to become a better writer yourself.

But before you agree to edit someone else’s work, be sure to carefully set expectations from the get-go. Practice giving constructive feedback, which is an integral skill when it comes to creative work where they can be very defensive of their work.

The challenge in editing a draft is that sometimes we accept the initial version we get simply because of a cognitive bias. The anchoring bias causes us to rely too heavily on the first piece of information we are given. It skews our decisions when we are presented with numbers , or texts.

Whenever you're not sure whether a sentence is phrased correctly or you are under the spell of the anchor bias, use Wordtune to conjure different alternatives. If you are a non-native English speaker , editing others' work can teach you through examples how to improve your fluency, and drastically up your skill.

7. Limit yourself: write without adverbs

Psychologists agree that constraints make us more creative . In this exercise, start by imposing limitations to your writing. 

You may choose to start by writing without adverbs, which are modifiers that alter meanings of verbs. This includes work like quickly, very, unfortunately, very, well, tomorrow, today, even, already, afterward, near, and lowly.

While adverbs have a time and place, they can be overused and weaken your writing. When eliminating adverbs, you are forced to utilize stronger verbs. 

For example, “she ate her pizza quickly” can turn into “she inhaled her pizza.”

Here are a few other ways to limit your writing:

  • Write without adjectives
  • Exclude words that start with a certain letter
  • Try to write a story using only six words

8. Describe your dream in detail

Let’s explore a new part of your brain in this exercise - your hippocampus to be exact. Your dreams can be extremely mysterious,  fascinating, and even terrifying.

Is there a better topic to write about?

If you’re able to remember your dreams, consider starting a dream journal. Put a journal by your bed and immediately document everything you remember from your dream as soon as you wake up in the morning. 

While there are added advantages of keeping a dream journal, this can be a creative way to explore new ideas to write about!

9. Write a fake ad

Time to put on your sales hat and get your creative juices flowing. Grab a random idea from Random Idea Generator or the top of your head and create a fake ad for it!

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Be concise: nobody wants to read long walls of text
  • Think about your core audience and how you are solving their needs
  • Focus on your one unique selling point
  • Be controversial and stand out

10. Write a letter to your younger and future self

Over the course of your life, you’ve gathered a tremendous amount of stories. Stories of love, heartbreaks, and new experiences. Take a moment to look at all the lessons you’ve gathered along the way and write a letter to your younger self. In this writing exercise, focus on transcribing your emotions on paper. The more clear and concise you are, the more effective your stories will be.

improve writing skills in english

On the flipside, you can write a letter to your future self. What are you looking forward to? What are you dreading? What values do you want to remind yourself in ten, fifteen, twenty years? To make it extra fun, consider using a service to actually receive the letter in the future.

11. ELI5: Explain Like I’m Five

Popularized by the reddit community Explain Like I'm Five , ELI5 is the exercise of condensing complex topics and boiling them down into terms a five year old can understand. Distilling complicated topics into simpler terms forces you to gain a deep understanding of a difficult subject. Converting that into a 1st grade level of understanding also helps you think deeply about your core audience. 

improve writing skills in english

Pro tip: Make your writing more casual with Wordtune

With Wordtune, you can change any formal language into something more casual with just one click. Let’s take an explanation of the James Webb telescope for example.

improve writing skills in english

Ready to work out your writing muscles?

By practicing these exercises on a regular basis, you'll soon find that your writing skills have improved significantly! So what are you waiting for? Start practicing today and become the best writer you can be!

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How to Improve English Writing Skills (While Having Fun)

improve writing skills in english

Why is it important to practice writing in English?

Writing is often overlooked in ESL teaching and learning. At a beginning level, it may be seen as a task for the intermediate and advanced stages. Students will also shy away from writing due to its many complicated rules, structures, and idiosyncrasies. However, placing importance on English writing skills is essential and has long-term benefits. 

For one thing, practicing your writing can help you to better express yourself. When you’re able to communicate your thoughts and feelings clearly, it’ll be easier for others to understand you. Additionally, English writing practices can also improve your grammar skills. By honing your craft and taking the time to edit and revise your work, you’ll be able to produce error-free writing that sounds natural and fluid. Below are some useful habits and techniques on how to improve English writing skills. 

improve writing skills in english

How to Improve English Writing Skills

For international students, learning to write in English can be a daunting task. Not only is English a notoriously difficult language to master, but academic writing requires a level of precision and formality that can be unfamiliar to non-native speakers. However, there are a number of strategies that international students can use to improve their writing skills.

Habit #1: Write Every Day

One way to become a better writer is to write every day. This can help you build up your skills and improve your writing fluency. Even if you only write for a few minutes each day, it will all add up and make a difference. Writing is like playing an instrument – the more you practice, the more you will improve. Many people say that it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill , so take every opportunity you get!

Habit #2: Keep a Journal

Another way to improve your English writing is to keep a journal. This is where you can practice writing about different topics and expressing your thoughts and feelings. It can be anything from a diary entry to a letter to a friend. Just make sure that you write in complete sentences and try to use as many different structures and vocabulary items as you can.

Habit #3: Read a Lot

Reading is also important for improving your writing skills. When you read, you’ll come across new words and phrases that you can use in your own writing. You’ll also get a better sense of how to structure sentences and paragraphs. It’s important to read a range of different materials, including fiction and non-fiction, so that you can see how English is used in different contexts.

English Writing Practices to Master

In today’s world, being able to communicate effectively in writing is becoming increasingly important. Email and social media have replaced many traditional forms of communication, and the ability to write clearly and concisely is now more important than ever. For non-native speakers of English, this can present a challenge. However, there are some simple writing practices that, once mastered, can make a big difference. Of course, using proper grammar and punctuation is essential for ensuring that your message is clear. In addition, using simple, direct language can help to ensure that your message is not misunderstood. While mastering English writing practices may take some time and effort, doing so can help you to communicate more effectively in today’s world.

Most people don’t put a lot of thought into their writing practices. However, whether you’re writing a school paper or a professional email, it’s important to use proper English and follow the standard conventions of grammar and punctuation. While it may seem like a tedious exercise, mastering these basics will make you a more effective and persuasive writer. In addition, it will also give you a greater degree of credibility. If you’re seen as someone who doesn’t know how to write correctly, people are less likely to take your arguments seriously. On the other hand, if you’re known for being a clear and concise writer, people will be more likely to listen to what you have to say. In today’s competitive world, being able to communicate effectively can give you a significant advantage. Whether you’re trying to get a job or advance in your career, mastering the basics of English writing is essential.

Of course, using grammar and vocabulary correctly is important, but what are some other practices you should pay attention to in order to make your English writing more effective? Here are two tips on how to improve English writing skills:

Tip #1: Vary Your Sentence Structure

Most people are aware that it is important to use varied sentence structures in their writing, but why is this the case? First, using a variety of sentence lengths helps to keep your writing interesting. If every sentence were the same length, your writing would quickly become dull and monotonous. Second, varying your sentence structure makes your writing more readable. Short sentences are easier to digest than long, complicated ones, and using a mix of both makes your writing more accessible to a wider audience. Finally, using different types of sentences can help to emphasize certain points or ideas. For example, starting a sentence with a participle can add drama or excitement, while ending a sentence with a prepositional phrase can create a sense of finality. Ultimately, varying your sentence structure is key to creating compelling and effective writing.

Tip #2: Use the “Active Voice”

Whenever possible, try to use “active voice” in your writing. The “active voice” occurs when the subject of a sentence performs the action. For example, “I am writing a paper.” In contrast, the “passive voice” happens when the subject of a sentence is acted upon. For example, “A paper is being written by me.” Many people believe that the passive voice is more formal, but this is not always the case. In fact, using an active voice can actually make your writing sound more authoritative. In addition, while the passive voice is not always incorrect, it can make your writing sound vague and unnecessarily complicated. Furthermore, using an active voice can help to ensure that your writing is clear and concise.

Many people believe that the “active voice” is always better than the “passive voice.” While it is true that the active voice can make your writing more concise and easier to read, there are times when the passive voice is actually a more appropriate choice. The passive voice can be used to good effect when you want to emphasize the subject of the sentence, downplay the importance of the actor, or avoid naming the actor altogether. In addition, the passive voice can be helpful when you are dealing with complex subjects or topics that might be difficult to explain in the active voice.

Improving at Writing Academic English

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, it is more important than ever for students to be able to communicate effectively in academic English. Good writing skills are essential for success in college and in the workplace, and international students who want to study in an English-speaking country need to be able to write well in order to compete with native speakers. Even if a student is a strong speaker of English, they may still need help with their writing and could benefit greatly from an English writing course . This is because academic writing is different from everyday conversation. It requires a different set of skills and knowledge. For example, academic writing is usually more formal and objective than conversational English. It often uses specialized vocabulary and complex sentence structures. To write effectively in academic English, students need to be able to understand and use these features of the language.

Tip #1: Avoid Contractions, Unusual Vocabulary, and Slang

When you’re writing for school or work, it’s important to avoid using contractions (ex: can’t, won’t, didn’t) and rarely-used vocabulary. While it can be tempting to use big, obscure words to sound smart, using simpler language will actually make your writing easier to understand. When you’re writing informally, such as in a blog post or email to a friend, you can use contractions and slang.

Tip #2: Read Academic Texts

While it may not be the most enjoyable thing to do, reading academic texts can really help you to see how other people write academic English articles. This can be textbooks, science magazine articles, blogs, or anything else that you enjoy reading. A great website to read real articles focused on academic topics is The Conversation . As you read, pay attention to the way the author uses language and try to imitate their style in your own writing.

how to improve writing skills in english

English Creative Writing Tips

One kind of writing, “creative writing”, is where you write stories to entertain. Creative writing isn’t just about being able to communicate effectively. It’s also a great way to exercise your imagination and explore new ideas. When you do creative writing, you have the freedom to create anything you can dream up – there are no limits!

Tip #1: Use Your Senses

When you’re writing creatively, it’s important to describe what you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. This will help to create a more vivid picture for your reader and make your writing more interesting.

Tip #2: Show, Don’t Tell

When you’re writing creatively, it’s also important to “show,” not “tell.”This means using descriptive language to paint a picture for your reader. For example, instead of saying, “I was angry,” you could say, “My heart was pounding and my face was red.”

Tip #3: Use Strong Verbs

Another way to make your writing more interesting is to use strong verbs. This means choosing words that are specific and descriptive. For example, instead of saying “I walked”, you could say “I strolled” or “I wandered”.

Tip #4: Use Metaphors and Similes

Using metaphors, similes, and other types of figurative expressions make your writing more interesting. For example, you could say, “her laugh was like music” or “the room was a zoo”.

Other Ideas for How to Improve Writing Skills in English

Here are a few other tips on how to improve writing skills in English:

Tip #1: Write Same Story in Past, Present, & Future Tenses

It is important to practice writing in English to improve your language skills. A great way to do this is by writing the same story three times; once, as if it happened in the past, then as if it is happening right now, and lastly as if it will happen in the future. This will help you to become more familiar with past, present, and future verb usage. In addition, it will also allow you to see how the same story can be told in different ways. 

Tip #2: Practice Writing LinguaSkill & IELTS Letter Responses

Another great way to build greater fluency in using the correct tone, formality, and organization in English writing is to study techniques for writing letters for the LinguaSkill General & IELTS General tests. Both of these tests have a ‘letter writing’ section, where you need to understand how to write in a formal, semi-formal, or informal tone. 

You can find sample IELTS General letters on our PELA Online blog , with samples for Formal , Semi-formal , and Informal letters. Study the sample letters there and try to write your own letters to LinguaSkill or IELTS questions!

Learn How to Write in English with PELA!

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improve writing skills in english

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The premier test of academic English communication

Learn more by selecting any step in your TOEFL iBT ®  journey.

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No other English language test provider has a prep offering like this — designed for you, with you. TOEFL ® TestReady ™ combines the best TOEFL iBT prep offerings with exclusive features and deeper insights to enhance your English communication skills. All feedback, recommendations, personalized insights and tips are developed by the same teams that write and produce the TOEFL iBT test.

Whether you’re just embarking on your TOEFL iBT journey or aiming to boost your scores, TOEFL TestReady can help you get further, faster, with tailored study solutions for your skill level and goals.

Your Free TOEFL TestReady Account

Create or log in to your free account now to get instant access to your personalized, one-stop prep portal and explore all of the benefits TOEFL TestReady has to offer.

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Practice a complete section at your own pace and receive immediate scores, feedback and insights to help you improve.

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Build the skills you need to communicate in English in an academic environment with this self-paced course. With the 6-month subscription, you’ll be able to:

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1 Source: Statistics gathered from 765 users who also took the TOEFL iBT test (China, India, and the U.S.)

2 Source: Survey of 765 users across China, India and the U.S.

improve writing skills in english

How To Improve Communication Skills In English

  • February 16, 2024

Table of Contents

Why english communication matters, speak clearly and slowly, focus on pronunciation, read aloud for better fluency, learn useful sentences, practice with a friend, record and review your conversations, learn from videos and music, improve your listening skills, take online english courses, master non-verbal communication, the bottom line, what are the 5 skills in english communication, what is the best way to improve english communication skills.

Of all languages in the world, English is one of the most widely spoken. Knowing how to communicate in English properly presents a rich tapestry of opportunities for both personal and professional advancement. It also enables interactions with people on the internet and while traveling, as English is becoming a global language.

In this blog post, we will take a closer look at how to improve communication skills in English by elaborating on 10 practical skills for effective language acquisition. This guide is your golden ticket to mastering the English language!

That English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world is not up for debate. According to recent data , more than 1.5 billion people speak English, which is a testament to why learning the language can get you far. As such, improving communication skills in English is essential in different facets of daily life, including career, education, and personal development.

English speaking skills help you succeed in your career by enabling you to express ideas clearly and work well with others. Besides, in our globalized world, more and more businesses are expanding their reach beyond borders, with English being the main communication link between the stakeholders.

In education, good English skills improve your ability to learn and share knowledge. That’s because there is a lot more educational material online that you can access in English compared to other languages, which helps expand your knowledge.

Proficiency in English also allows individuals to participate in activities and engage in discussions globally. In the interconnected online world we live in, conversing and discussing with people globally expands our knowledge about different cultures and ideologies. For personal development, they boost confidence and help you connect with people from various backgrounds. All in all, English communication matters today more than ever!

4 Basic Communication Skills

A strong command of English means proficiency in four primary skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Together, these skills are essential for everyday interactions in personal, educational, and professional settings. Let’s explore each one in more detail.

Speaking involves articulating ideas and information verbally in a clear, concise manner. These are essential for everyday conversations and professional communication.

Some people hesitate to practice their speaking skills, thinking that their accent is not up to par with that of native speakers. And while this can be true, it shouldn’t stop you from communicating in English. The beauty lies in the diversity of accents worldwide, which each individual should cherish.

Listening, on the other hand, is the ability to receive and interpret messages accurately, which is crucial for effective interaction and learning. To practice and enhance listening skills, individuals can engage in active listening exercises and explore a variety of spoken content, such as podcasts, lectures, and discussions on different topics and in various accents.

Reading involves understanding and interpreting text and enhancing knowledge and vocabulary. Good English reading skills improve career opportunities, critical thinking, and cultural understanding, broadening personal and professional horizons. With the internet on the tip of our fingers, it is so easy to access written materials in English. The easiest way to practice your English reading skills is by reading online articles on topics you are interested in.

Writing is another essential skill, as it is about expressing thoughts clearly and coherently, which is critical for conveying messages and formulating thoughts. Having good writing skills enables you to enhance your communication with others by fostering credibility and persuasive power. This will open doors to career advancement and facilitate meaningful connections across diverse cultural and professional landscapes.

One of the easiest ways to practice writing in English is journaling about your experiences, thoughts, or reflections. This way, you learn how to organize your thoughts, expand your vocabulary, and improve sentence structure.

Practical Steps to Improve Your Communication Skills in English

They say practice makes perfect. And while non-native speakers of English might struggle at first, enhancing communication skills to perfection is indeed possible.

Here are some practical steps to help you improve your English and thrive in the outside world.

Adjusting speaking is paramount for effective communication. Speaking slowly and clearly allows for your thoughts to be properly translated into words, avoids any mishaps or mispronunciations, and, as such, enhances understanding among the people you are conversing with. Moderating speed can help you articulate and express in English just as you would in your mother tongue.

English can be confusing for foreign learners. For example, the word queue being pronounced as [kju:] is totally uncanny, right? That’s why pronouncing words correctly ensures people understand what you’re trying to say.

This skill can be improved through various techniques, such as exposure to authentic language use through movies or TV shows, recording yourself speaking, or using online pronunciation tools and apps.

Reading aloud is a powerful tool for improving fluency and pronunciation in language learning. This is because you’re engaging with the text both in sight and sound.

This technique enables you to listen to yourself speak and make immediate corrections actively. Over time, this method helps build confidence in speaking and enhances overall language comprehension and expression.

Besides, reading aloud can also benefit your writing skills. For example, if you are writing a text in English and read it out loud, you can notice grammar or word order mistakes..

Just like with any other language, there are specific phrases and sentences that English speakers use on a daily basis. Learning these sentences can be helpful in natural and effective communication.

Instead of learning new words and struggling to use them in a sentence, it is better to take some time to memorize a couple of sentences that contain the word. Next time, you won’t have to think twice before uttering a sentence out loud.

Language acquisition is an interactive activity. Practicing with another individual, especially one with good English, will help you identify your strengths and areas that need more attention.

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This becomes even easier when practicing with a friend who won’t judge if you make any speaking mistakes. This way of practicing will enable immediate feedback and help reduce language misuse. At the same time, it allows you to gain your flow in English without the stress of being in front of other people.

A great tip for correcting mistakes is to record and review verbal and written conversations afterward. Through this technique, you can keep track of your progress and identify weaknesses in your English language use.

By listening to the recordings, you can become more aware of mistakes, accent nuances, and the rhythm of speech. It’s okay to look back and laugh at yourself; what’s essential is performing a thorough self-assessment and working toward improving your skills over time.

Using multimedia, like videos, music, and games, to learn a language is super helpful. It makes learning fun and keeps you interested. From watching YouTube videos with subtitles to reading the lyrics of your favorite English songs and interacting with others while playing online games, there is a lot you can access online in today’s technology-driven world.

With this technique, you learn how English is spoken, gaining insight into its sounds and rhythms from native speakers. Plus, you get to witness the culture behind the language, which makes everything more meaningful.

Active listening means really paying attention when someone is talking, not just hearing them. This is highly important for language learning because as you listen actively, you also learn English subconsciously.

Knowing how to focus and listen to others speak helps your brain automatically pick up pronunciation and replicate it. Try not to think about other things while listening, and avoid other distractions. It’s just you and the person in the front.

Structured online courses are great for learning English because all you need to know is meticulously curated and well thought out. You can follow courses designed for beginning up to advanced levels of English. These courses often have videos, quizzes, and practice exercises, making learning interactive and fun. One such option is taking an online English as a Second Language class, which is an excellent opportunity to master English in a short period of time.

Online courses are convenient because you can study anytime, anywhere. Also, you get feedback on your progress, so you know what you’re doing well and what you need to work on.

Sometimes, how something is said is just as important as what’s said. Body language plays a crucial role in effective communication. We use our bodies while speaking, and each movement can impact how our message is received.

For example, if you smile and make eye contact, it shows you’re friendly and listening. Standing straight can make you look confident. Nodding your head can show you understand what someone is saying. Mastering these skills enhances communication and fosters engagement.

English communication is important for sharing ideas and connecting with people. While learning English is challenging, there are tips and techniques you can employ to improve your communication skills. While you may want to give your best in mastering English, keep in mind that this process is also meant to be fun and interactive. So, take things lightly and enjoy every step of the journey.

If you are looking to enhance your English skills, our Mentora College (ESL Program) is the best option for you! Immerse yourself in a cultural experience today.

The 5 skills in English communication are listening, speaking, reading, writing, and non-verbal communication (body language).

The best way to improve English communication skills is to immerse yourself in the language through regular practice, including speaking with native speakers, reading English literature, and listening to English media.

Manaferra Team

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How English Immersion can Help you Prepare for IELTS

By grace brennan, 12 february 2024 - 11:55.

Smiling students speaking in English

People often say that the best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in it. But what does that mean? 

Immersion is an educational strategy where you have to communicate in English every day, in real-world contexts. It is very effective when you are preparing for IELTS because it forces you to speak, listen, read, write and think in English continuously. 

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Here’s why English immersion is so important, and how you can create an immersive English learning experience. 

How important is English immersion in English language learning?

Immersion is a useful learning strategy for language students. By constantly exposing yourself to English, you start to organically think, speak, read, and write in English, and are more likely to remember new vocabulary and grammar because you learned it in a practical, meaningful way. 

Some theories suggest that English immersion works so well because learners progress when they are repeatedly exposed to English that is slightly too difficult for them. As a result, when immersed in English, you can pick up new terms and expressions faster while still understanding the majority of what is communicated around you. It’s no surprise that research shows language immersion can improve learners’ language level. 

Is English immersion a good way of preparing for IELTS?

When preparing for IELTS, it’s important to thoroughly review the test format and test tasks. However, English immersion is also a useful preparation strategy. It can help you to prepare for your test in the following ways:

1. Develop language proficiency

English immersion focuses on real-world language rather than isolated grammar and vocabulary, and so boosts your ability to understand, communicate, and interact in English.

2. Sharpen listening skills

Being immersed in English means hearing different accents, speaking speeds, and dialects, which will prepare you for the Listening section of the IELTS test.

3. Practise speaking

Full immersion prompts you to speak in English more regularly and to express your ideas more coherently. With this practice, you’ll feel more confident in your IELTS Speaking test.

4. Expand vocabulary

English immersion will expose you to lots of new vocabulary, which will be useful in every section of IELTS. 

5. Improve reading comprehension

Total English immersion includes reading newspapers, online content, and other written material in English. Doing so helps you become more adept at extracting information and understanding ideas in English – a core skill tested in the IELTS Reading section.

6. Build confidence

English immersion can help you feel more confident when speaking, writing, listening, and reading in English. You’ll feel more confident on test day, too! 

How can I create an immersive English environment?

You don’t have to live in an English-speaking country to enjoy an immersive English environment. You can create your own English immersion by building a daily routine that involves lots of language practice: 

Set aside dedicated time to read in English every day . Then select a mix of content that you find interesting to read – this could be a favourite novel, magazines or an online blog. For fluency purposes, try reading aloud too – this can improve your pronunciation and understanding of the narrative.

Writing daily can have a big positive impact on your English. Whether a journal entry or a short paragraph, writing in English advances your language skills significantly. You could use writing prompts to stimulate your creativity. Collect feedback wherever possible – you could ask English-speaking friends or colleagues to review your work. Don’t take corrections personally, editing is part of the process and ultimately pushes your English abilities forward.

To practise your writing skills for IELTS, check the online practice tests here . 

3. Speaking

Commit to speaking English for at least a few minutes per day. You can do so with other people or by yourself, but the key is to maintain regular practice. Find language exchanges or language partners for conversations in English or use a language app where you can record yourself speaking. 

Look for activities that you can do in English, in order to grow your vocabulary and have designated time where you know you only talk in English. For example, joining an English-speaking sports team or a film club that reviews movies in English. If you feel ready, you could even look for opportunities to speak in English in public – giving a presentation at work or joining a toastmasters club – to put your English into action.

4. Listening

You should practise your listening skills every day with a range of diverse resources. Podcasts, audiobooks, radio shows, interviews, and online lectures in English are all helpful, and many are available for free online. Choose content that appeals to you and ensure that you’re actively listening by summarising the core themes and points once the audio has finished. Where possible, turn on subtitles, so you can read as you listen and identify complex phrases.

Look for content that has a mixture of accents from the UK, USA, Australia, and other regional accents – that way you won’t be reliant on hearing only one type of English.

After practising your listening skills for some time, you can try taking an  IELTS Listening practice test and assess your performance. 

Immersion is a reliable learning strategy

Immersion has long been a trusted tool to learn English – and for good reason. Surrounding yourself with English makes you feel more at ease with the language and enhances your capacity to think, speak, and act in English. The trick is to blend English content into your life so that it feels natural, and you become accustomed to both producing and processing information in English. 

Not to mention, English immersion can prepare you for specific scenarios. If you’re moving to an English-speaking country, want to apply for an English-speaking job or study at a higher education course in English, being immersed in the language beforehand can make the transition much smoother and it can also help you get a high score in the English proficiency test required, like the IELTS test.

Get your English immersion started now. Prepare for IELTS with IELTS Ready and our free IELTS preparation webinars .

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18 Tips on How to Improve Your Business English Writing Skills 2024

  • Last updated on February 14, 2024
  • Author: Anjali Wilkins

Improving your Business English writing skills is like learning to ride a bike. At first, it might seem hard, and you might stumble a few times, but with practice and the right techniques, you’ll be zooming along in no time.

Whether you’re writing emails, reports, or proposals, conveying your ideas clearly and concisely in English can open many doors in the international business world.

Let’s explore 18 practical tips to enhance your writing prowess.

Table of Contents

Why focus on business english.

Why Focus on Business English?

Business English differs from everyday English in its formality, structure, and vocabulary. Mastering it means you can communicate your ideas effectively, impress clients and colleagues, and avoid misunderstandings.

For comprehensive guides on writing perfect documents and accessing customized sample papers without plagiarism, visit this site . It’s an excellent resource for improving your writing skills, with online support available 24/7.

1. Expand Your Vocabulary

  • Read regularly: Business articles, reports, and books introduce you to formal vocabulary and phrases used in the corporate world.
  • Use a dictionary and thesaurus: Not just for look up words you don’t know but also to find synonyms that can make your writing more varied and interesting.
  • Practice new words: Try incorporating them into your writing and speaking to make them stick.

2. Master Business Writing Format and Style

  • Keep it professional: Use formal language and avoid slang or overly casual phrases.
  • Be concise: Get straight to the point without unnecessary words or details.
  • Focus on clarity: Structure your sentences and paragraphs in a way that makes your message easy to follow.

3. Practice Writing Regularly

Practice Writing Regularly

  • Set aside time each day for writing: Practice makes perfect. Regular writing hones your skills.
  • Experiment with different types of business writing: Emails, proposals, and reports each have their style and requirements.

4. Use Online Tools and Resources

  • Grammar checkers and writing aids can highlight errors and suggest improvements.
  • English language learning apps often have specific modules for business English.

5. Learn the Basics of Grammar and Punctuation

  • Understand common grammar rules: Subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, and proper use of articles.
  • Punctuation marks are your friends: They guide the reader through your sentences. Learn how to use commas, periods, and semicolons correctly.

6. Seek Feedback on Your Writing

Seek Feedback on Your Writing

  • Ask for feedback from peers or mentors: A fresh set of eyes can catch mistakes you missed and offer valuable suggestions.
  • Join a writing group or workshop: Engaging with fellow learners can provide motivation and new insights.

7. Edit and Revise Your Work

  • Take a break before revising: Coming back with fresh eyes can help you see what needs to be improved.
  • Edit for clarity, conciseness, and coherence: Ensure each paragraph supports your overall message.

8. Set Specific Goals

  • Start with small, achievable objectives: Like writing a well-structured email or a brief report.
  • Celebrate progress: Recognizing improvements in your writing can be a powerful motivator.

9. Incorporate Writing into Your Daily Routine

Incorporate Writing into Your Daily Routine

  • Write daily emails in English: Even if it’s just to a friend or yourself.
  • Keep a journal in English: Reflect on your day, jot down ideas, or plan your tasks.

10. Analyze and Learn from Professional Writers

  • Study good examples of business writing: Pay attention to their choice of words, sentence structure, and how they organize their ideas.
  • Attend workshops or online courses: Many are specifically designed to improve business English writing skills.

11. Read Diverse Business Materials

  • Explore different sources: Don’t limit yourself to reading in your specific field. Broaden your horizons by exploring materials from various industries.
  • Analyze the writing style: Notice how arguments are presented, the flow of information, and the persuasive techniques used.

12. Participate in Writing Challenges

Participate in Writing Challenges

  • Join online challenges: Websites and forums often host writing challenges that can push your skills further.
  • Create your own prompts: Base them on real-life business scenarios to make your practice as relevant as possible.

13. Leverage Writing Apps and Software

  • Explore apps designed for business English: Many apps offer exercises tailored to business writing, from composing emails to drafting reports.
  • Use project management tools: Tools like Trello or Asana can help you organize your writing tasks and set deadlines , mimicking real business environments.

14. Reflect on Your Writing Journey

  • Keep a log of your writing: Note what you find challenging and track your progress over time.
  • Set aside time for reflection: Regularly review your past writings to identify patterns, improvements, and areas needing more work.

15. Embrace Mistakes as Learning Opportunities

  • View mistakes as a natural part of learning: Recognize that every error provides a chance to improve .
  • Seek constructive criticism: Encourage colleagues and mentors to point out errors and suggest improvements, not as a critique of your skills but as a way to enhance them.

16.  Engage in English Conversations

  • Find language exchange partners: Platforms like Tandem or HelloTalk connect you with native speakers who can help you practice business English in exchange for learning your native language.
  • Participate in English-speaking business networks: Online forums, LinkedIn groups, and local meetups can provide valuable practice and feedback.

17.  Take Specialized Business English Courses

  • Enroll in courses offered by universities or online platforms: Look for programs that focus specifically on business English and offer practical assignments.
  • Attend workshops and seminars: These can provide insights into specific areas of business communication, such as persuasive writing or report drafting.

18. Follow Industry News and Developments

Follow Industry News and Developments

  • Subscribe to business news outlets: Keeping abreast of current events and industry trends can provide topics for discussion and writing, as well as help you understand the context in which you’re communicating.
  • Read industry reports and white papers: They not only contain valuable information but also examples of professional business writing you can learn from.

Can Watching English Business News Improve My Writing?

Yes, it familiarizes you with professional vocabulary and current industry trends, indirectly influencing your writing quality.

Is It Helpful to Translate My Native Language Business Documents Into English for Practice?

Absolutely, this practice can enhance your translation skills and deepen your understanding of business terminology in both languages.

How Often Should I Practice Business English Writing to See Improvement?

Daily practice is ideal, but even 3-4 times a week can lead to significant improvement over time.

Can Social Media Be Used as A Tool for Improving My Business English Writing?

Can Social Media Be Used as A Tool for Improving My Business English Writing?

Yes, following English-speaking business influencers and engaging in discussions can improve your informal business writing skills.

Should I Focus on American or British Business English?

Choose based on your target audience or region of operation, but being familiar with both can be advantageous.

Is Keeping a Vocabulary Journal Effective for Learning Business English?

Yes, it’s a great way to track new words and expressions, making it easier to review and incorporate them into your writing.

Final Words

Improving your Business English writing doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With these tips, you’re equipped to start enhancing your ability to communicate your ideas clearly and professionally.

Keep in mind that the key to success is practice, feedback, and a continuous desire to learn and grow. Start small, stay consistent, and watch your writing skills soar to new heights.

Anjali Wilkins

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