Writing is a craft, and like any other craft, it relies on different aspects such as skills, natural talent, training, and best practices. Students that are not native speakers, often have trouble with writing. Most of the time, these issues are caused by a lack of self-confidence but there are numerous other reasons why ESL students can’t write as well as they can in their native tongue.
If you’re struggling with improving your writing skills, here are a few suggestions that should help you write as well as any native English speaker.
Contact professionals for assistance
Grammar mistakes, stylistic errors, and the wrong use of idioms are among the main weaknesses of many ESL students. Many students are aware of their weaknesses so they rather hire professional essay writers for their literary assignments than risk a poor grade due to grammar or spelling mistakes they would make on their own. These online agencies hire professionals who are native English speakers and have advanced degrees in different areas, so they can also help you improve your content through editing or minor rephrasing, not only writing the whole thing for you.
Read English texts
Reading through books, magazines, or other textual content can help with identifying grammar or stylistic mistakes that you make without being aware of them. It also helps improve one’s vocabulary and understanding of the proper use of certain idioms, which is extremely important if you wish to write in native English level. Keep in mind that not all publishers are dedicated enough to hire lectors that would make sure the text is impeccable, so choose only the best publishers.
A lot of people try to improve their English through music, films, and TV shows which is a mistake because the language used it is not always grammatically correct, and there are many local or outdated slangs that are not widely used in English-speaking territories.
Use proofreading tools
Many students use proofreading tools that identify and resolve grammar and spelling errors. Software solutions such as Grammarly, Hemingway App, and others allow ESL students to upload their content and fix their writing mistakes in a matter of minutes. Most advanced pieces of software also provide plagiarism checking services which help students avoid authenticity issues.
While most proofreading software is free, more advanced editions cost a certain monthly or one-time fee.
Keep a thesaurus close by
An extensive vocabulary is one of the most potent weapons in a writer’s arsenal, disregarding the language used for writing. Versatile phrasing is not only a demonstration of one’s linguistic proficiency it also plays a role in creating a flow that’s easy to follow, improves the style, and makes the content easier to understand. It hurts the reader’s eyes when the same words are repeated constantly.
Use a thesaurus to find synonyms or interesting stylistic figures that would enrich your phrasing. However, make sure you don’t overdo it and end up with a piece of text that’s too advanced for your audience. Keep in mind who you’re writing for and use this weapon cautiously.
Be mindful of the dialect
English is not the same in every country where it’s officially used as a native language. It’s not even the same in the same country for that matter. It’s very important to pay attention to spelling, phrasing, and the use of phrasal verbs that belong to different English dialects. Nowadays, almost every word processor includes a spell checker that you can adjust according to the dialect you wish to use. Using this feature while writing your content helps you prevent mixing different dialects, which is a dead giveaway that the text is not written by a native speaker.
Conclusion
These few pieces of advice should be enough to guide you through the improvement of your English writing skills. Although writing is a craft that requires numerous tools for perfection, it’s all in vain if there’s no talent and creativity to drive the entire process forward. We hope these tips we provided for you will help you improve your English writing skills and help you deliver inspirational content to your audience.
I am passionate about my work. Because I love what I do, I have a steady source of motivation that drives me to do my best.
I’m not comfortable with settling, and I’m always looking for an opportunity to do better and achieve greatness. I have a keen interest in the technical field. Apart from this, I am a social media influencer.
