The English language is difficult and complex, and writing proper English can be very difficult for many. In reality, Language is something that some people are naturally good at. However, others struggle, and if English isn’t your first language, getting to grips with it as a writer is even, more tricky.
Fortunately for you, we’ve compiled a list of six tips for writing great content, focusing on grammar, spelling, and vocabulary.
Some of these tips may sound obvious, but it’s always a good idea to go back to basics and make sure you’re approaching your writing the right way. We’ve also set out and explained three of the most common errors in writing and explained how best to avoid these particular mistakes.
1. Understand the purpose of your writing
The first tip is to understand the purpose of your writing. Of course, good grammar is good grammar, and spelling mistakes are never acceptable, but certain styles or writing can allow for more grammatical freedom than others, and it’s always important to know who you’re writing for when you’re selecting your vocabulary.
For example, if you’re writing for children, the vocabulary you use will be very different from the vocabulary you’d use if you were writing an academic article or essay.
Similarly, if you’re writing a piece of creative fiction, you might be able to play around with grammar and sentence structure a little more than if you were writing an article for a serious news website.
2. Always use a spell check tool
This may sound obvious, but it’s really important to use spellcheck, especially if you struggle with your spelling.
Believe it or not, it can be easy to ignore spellcheck. If you’re writing something that uses people’s names or other words that may not be recognized by a standard dictionary, you may begin to discount other errors that spellcheck flags up for you.
Regardless, make sure you go through the spellcheck suggestions, even if you just keep hitting ignore.
Here is the best spell checker tool that you can use online and where you’re, all you need is Internet access, and let the system does the job for you. It’s the number one grammar, spell checker, and proofreader tool in the world.
A Spell check is also a great tool if you’re writing in American or British English. If you know British English well but are writing in American English, change your spellcheck settings to American English, so you pick up on words that are spelled differently.
3. Make the most of the online tools
There are literally dozens of free tools and software downloads online that are specifically designed to help with grammar, spelling, and vocabulary. If there’s an area you particularly struggle with, be sure to check it online.
For example, if you find it difficult remembering when to use apostrophes and when not to, google it just to be sure. Grammarly is the best choice for online grammar correction, try it out, and it will take your writing to the next level.
4. Use a thesaurus
If you struggle with vocabulary, or you find yourself often repeating the same word, be sure to use a thesaurus. This way, you can look up words that work in the same context and mean the same thing.
As an example, if you’re looking for a better word than ‘big’ use a thesaurus to find more options. Just make sure you don’t use a thesaurus for every word, as you may interrupt the flow of your writing. Also, always make sure you understand the word you’re using.
5. Hire a proofreader
It’s always a good idea to have an extra pair of eyes to take a look at your work. Using a proofreader tool means that you’ll be able to correct any mistakes you didn’t see yourself.
Sometimes, when you’ve spent a long time on one piece of writing, you’re so close that you can’t see where you might be going wrong, or where you might be able to make improvements.
If you don’t know anyone appropriate, it may be worth hiring a proofreader. Although this will cost money, it’ll be well worth it to ensure that your finished piece is completely grammatically correct, with no spelling mistakes, using the best vocabulary possible.
On the other side, if you want to save time and money at once, I recommend this amazing proofreading tool. In a matter of seconds, it will scan your writing and it finds mistakes and suggests the right corrections.
6. Reread your work
Rereading your work is the most important piece of advice when it comes to writing the best quality content possible. Also, don’t be afraid to read your work aloud. It’s only through reading your work aloud that you’ll notice any grammatical errors or punctuation mishaps.
It often helps to take a break from your piece of writing before rereading it. That way, you can approach it with a clear mind and a fresh pair of eyes.
Now that you have some basic advice, let’s have a look at some of the most common errors made when writing. The three sets of words below all sound identical, but are spelled differently and have entirely different meanings.
Most common writing errors to avoid
Lots of students make these common essay writing mistakes. They forget adding punctuation, spelling correctly, and even using the wrong grammar and vocabulary. In addition, there are many professional writers who use the wrong sentence structure sometimes. So, it’s better to know these writing problems and ix theme no matter if you want to fix your essays or others.
- To, too and two
- ‘Two’ is the written number 2 – e.g. I’ll have two biscuits.
- ‘To’ is when something’s going somewhere, or being sent somewhere – e.g. I’m going to the shops.
- ‘Too’ represents an excess – e.g. There’s too much sugar in this tea.
- Their, there and they’re
- ‘Their’ is when an item belongs to someone – e.g. That’s their cake.
- ‘There’ refers to a location – e.g. I’m going over there.
- ‘They’re’ is the abbreviation of ‘they are’ – e.g. They’re really kind.
- “Your” and “you’re”
- ‘Your’ is referring to something belonging to the person being spoken to – e.g. That’s your car.
- ‘You’re’ is the abbreviation of ‘you are’ – e.g. You’re really good at cycling.
These are just a few tips for writing great content without grammar, spelling, and vocabulary mistakes. Make sure to follow them and avoid using low-quality tools when you write.
It’s recommended to use Grammarly as a full grammar, vocabulary, spell checker, and also a great proofreader software that thousands of people use. Also, it’s the software used by universities around the U.S and the world. Happy writing!