How To Improve English Writing Skills

Let's be honest, when beginning to learn the English language, writing takes a back seat. Teachers and students firstly focus on oral and listening skills, as those are the main skills which allow you to communicate in real-life with others and carry a conversation. We must not forget though, that English writing is crucial in today's job market! From being able to send professional emails and proposals to writing papers or exams (IELTS anyone?), having good English writing skills will set you apart from others and bring your English fluency to the next level.

Let's take a look at some easy yet efficient ways to improve your English writing skills!

Use Better Vocabulary

We are creatures of habit, so it is normal that there are many words and expressions that we like to use often. The problem with this is that our English writing becomes very casual and almost amateur. To impress those you are writing to, it is highly recommended that you begin to increase your vocabulary and learn more intricate words (see what I did there). You can do this by reading more advanced English books to increase your vocabulary, take some lessons or courses, and of course, join our Glish English Community here on LinkedIn to receive advanced English expressions and words every day.

This is an easy step but goes a long way. Think of a little baby or a young child. At that age, they do not have the vocabulary needed to explain what they are thinking or feeling. As a result, they cry in order to seek assistance or attention. In a way, new language learners are sort of like babies. Now I am not saying that offensively! This simply means that we are beginners and need to grow and expand our vocabulary through life experience. As you begin to expose yourself to various forms of English content (e.g., podcasts, music, books, articles, social groups, etc), your brain will absorb all this new information and vocabulary that will be ready for you to use in your writing!

Work on Your Grammar

I know this is not the most fun part of learning a new language (unless you're one of the few who genuinely enjoys practising grammar), however, it really does become important when we are looking to improve our English writing skills. While grammar is not always noticeable in speech, it is very easy to detect grammar mistakes in writing. This is why after you've got a pretty good level of English speaking and listening, move on and spend some time practising grammar.

Start off with the basics. Review the various tenses (e.g., past, present, future) and look at punctuation rules. The great thing about languages is that many of the same grammar rules exist in various languages, meaning the more you know, the easier this part becomes!

You should also remember to proofread your written work. Read things over one or two times. You'll be surprised to notice small errors that can be improved to sound more professional and fluent in the English language.

There are some free (and paid) web tools that can help proofread your grammar and give corrections, however, knowing how to properly write in English without relying too much on those apps and browser add-ons will help you down the road, let's say for an exam, where you don't have access to all the little tricks that a computer provides.

Avoid contractions and over-used words

For those who don't know, an English contraction shortens the letters and sounds of two (or more) words into one, which is easier and quicker to say. We have an entire article all about English contractions over on our Glish blog.

It's important to remember that contractions are heavily used among native English speakers in conversations however, they are NOT recommended in English writing. Contractions will make you sound very informal and "lazy", which I am sure is not your intent. Even if it feels like you are being TOO formal, writing is always a bit more advanced and formal than how we would speak in our day-to-day lives. It's better to be overly formal than too casual when it comes to proper English writing.

You should also avoid over-using common words such as very, really and a lot, use stronger vocabulary words. It can get very tiring to read writing that uses the same exact adjectives and descriptive words. For example, instead of saying very hard, you can say difficult. Or instead of saying really important, you can say crucial. Think of all the ways that you use these simple words and research better, more advanced English words to improve your writing skills.

Plan and practice!

As a final tip, make sure you are taking the time to plan out what you want to write about and brainstorm beforehand. Good writing requires some planning. We normally do not simply write the first things that come into our minds. Take this article for example. I made sure to do some planning before writing, by deciding what are the main ideas that I want to write about. Planning ensures that you gave your writing some extra thought and attention. It will allow you to write more clearly and efficiently. A simple idea is to take some sticky notes and write down some short sentences, ideas or notes about what you want to write about. This is especially useful for when you need to write long English texts, such as essays or papers.

Another great way to plan and practise your English writing is by purchasing a notebook. These are very affordable and easy to find in any store. Make it a daily habit to write down some ideas, reflections and thoughts in your English notebook. You will be amazed to see the progress in your writing skills after just about a few weeks. They say that the more you write, you actually become a better thinker and speaker too, so it's worth trying!

I hope these English writing tips help you on your journey with the English language! Nothing worth having comes easy so remember to make a plan and follow it. If you'd like to hear (and listen to) more daily English tips, check out The English Journey Podcast by Glish and our Instagram page!