{"id":1011,"date":"2019-10-28T12:16:39","date_gmt":"2019-10-28T16:16:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/linguix.com\/blog\/?p=1011"},"modified":"2020-05-17T16:04:18","modified_gmt":"2020-05-17T20:04:18","slug":"how-to-become-a-better-writer-through-improved-grammar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/linguix.com\/blog\/how-to-become-a-better-writer-through-improved-grammar\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Become a Better Writer Through Improved Grammar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Grammar is not everyone\u2019s cup of tea, and it\u2019s also quite polarizing. While some may get apoplectic with rage to see a misplaced comma, others will just shrug their shoulders and not see what all the fuss is about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are others still who are nervous about grammar: they fear that their grammar is inadequate, and therefore fear the criticism that will come their way if they reveal their work to others. This can be hugely detrimental in terms of exposure to that person\u2019s writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But what does it take to become a better writer? Teachers will often point to grammar being central to the point, whereas the students themselves may feel that too much emphasis is placed upon such concerns: after all, in the world we live in, the ideas of how we communicate are more fluid, and the lines between what is correct and what is not is becoming more blurred than ever before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But contrary to what some students believe, teachers do not sacrifice the quality of ideas and content at the altar of grammar readily. It\u2019s just that, on occasion, bad grammar simply gets in the way of good writing. So how can you improve it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Learn what good grammar really is<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When we say that people have bad grammar, what we are really saying is that they probably don\u2019t know how to express their idea in what would be considered the correct way using the laws of written English. It is not a lack of ability holding someone back, but just a lack of instruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The solution, then, is to learn. There are fantastic grammar books available on the likes of Amazon, or you could even avail of a composition class which will cover the important points. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In every single person\u2019s writing there are things that the individual does well, and others things that they do not so well. It\u2019s a really good idea to get your writing assessed so your most common grammar mistakes can be identified, and examples highlighted. From there, with the help of a good self-reference book such as English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy, you can seek to fix the mistakes that are specific to you. Starting at the beginning of a huge grammar book and working though can be overkill, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead, seek out the grammar that really applies to you. Look at the examples, and then complete the exercises. From there you should then attempt your own sentences applying the rules, because it\u2019s only through application of your learning that you can see if the necessary lessons have been learned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n
Combine sentences<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There is a place and a time for short sentences. They can be powerful through their brevity. But short sentences do not help you learn how to improve your grammar. The solution is to complete activities where you combine sentences in ways that are grammatically correct. Note that there is always more than one way to go about it, but combining sentences into larger ones is a great way of assessing if you have the necessary tools in your English grammar toolbox to complete the task at hand. Let\u2019s look at an example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019d never been there before. I loved it anyway.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Now, of course you could combine these two sentences easily with a word such as \u2018but\u2019, yet this hardly challenges your grammar:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019d never been there before but I loved it anyway.<\/em><\/p><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
So why not see what else you can do \u2013 something a little more sophisticated, perhaps, such as inverting the clauses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I loved it anyway, despite having never been there before.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
In this particular example you are applying a knowledge of several grammatical points, namely clauses, conjunctions, complex sentences, and punctuation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As another example, write out three or four sentence using I. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I live in Chicago.<\/em><\/p>
I like ice cream.<\/em><\/p>
I\u2019m 22 years old.<\/em><\/p>
I\u2019m a vegan.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Now, can you produce a single sentence that combines all of these ideas. As always there will be more than one way to do this. Here\u2019s an example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m a 22-year-old native of Chicago who loves ice cream despite being vegan. <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
What could you come up with?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remember that long sentences are definitely not always better. But the reality is that they are sometimes required, especially in academic writing, and it is the practice that you get in combining the sentences that is valuable here.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep on writing<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
Studying grammar and completing grammar-focused exercises is important, but the only way you can truly apply what you have learned is by writing. And it really doesn\u2019t matter what.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
It is no coincidence that most of the best writers are or were voracious readers. Through reading we truly get a sense of the language and all its intricacies. Read as diversely as you can, and you will begin to appreciate the limitless number of styles that exist, and the mastery that great writers have over the written word. It inspires, and it teaches us in equal measure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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