General Writing
How Long Should a Paragraph Be?
Paragraphs, and the sentences that shape them, are perhaps the most important way to give writing direction. Every paragraph needs to have a main point, idea, or focus. This applies to both fiction and non-fiction alike. While fiction will traditionally use paragraphs to direct the reader, develop characters and themes, and move the story along,…
Four Steps to Edit Your Writing
Editing your writing can be difficult even for professional writers. For those whom English is a second language, it can be twice as hard. Deciding what needs to be done to make your writing more readable can seem overwhelming. Whether you are writing fiction or an essay, editing is the most important step in the…
How to Use Adjectives and Adverbs
Adjectives: Adjectives are words that describe nouns or pronouns. Generally an adjective that comes before a noun will be written right next to the noun. In the sentence “The black cat ran,” cat is the noun and the adjective black comes directly before it. An adjective that comes after the noun will also usually follow…
Differences Between British and American English
If you’re learning to speak English in the British form, you may have noticed that there are differences in the way that Americans speak the language. You’d notice the same thing if you were learning American English and listened to a conversation between two British people. Although it’s the same language, there are differences in…
Commonly Confused Words
Misusing similar sounding or similarly spelled words is one of the most common writing mistakes made, and not understanding the differences can significantly impact your grades or credibility in written communication. The following is a list of the most common word choice errors that are often confused in writing and tips for how to use…
