How to Write Conversationally
Speaking is a skill that comes fairly naturally to most people. However, writing often seems to be more difficult. It’s not always easy to put your thoughts into writing, but if you can make you tone conversational, it will be easier for you to formulate your thoughts and for others to understand what you are…
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…
Writing a Formal Essay
The key ingredient to a formal essay is the thesis. A thesis is a statement that expresses the main idea of your paper. It explains the goal or purpose of your formal essay so that your readers know what to expect. A strong thesis should state the main idea of your essay and some points…
English Spelling Rules
The most basic spelling rule you need to know is the distinction between consonants and vowels. Vowels include a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y and w. Consonants are all the remaining letters that are not vowels. If you hear a one-syllable word with a soft vowel, the vowel is usually in the middle….
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…
Short Story Writing Tips
For many, writing a short story is difficult because it’s short and needs to have a theme. The space doesn’t leave a lot of room for rabbit trails. If you’re trying to write better short stories and want to improve your writing, you can. Continue reading for some suggestions about ways to improve your writing…
The Use of Commas
Commas are one of the most frequently used and misused punctuation marks in the English language. The English language has 8 key rules that you need to know about using commas: 1. One of the most common uses of commas is to separate two independent clauses that are connected by one of a special set…
Quick Guide to Business Letters and Press Releases
In the course of business, you may find yourself responsible for specific types of formal writing. Business letters and press releases are two of the most common types of business writing, so let’s look at how you can write both. Business Letters Business letters are used in all types of work-related situations, so you may…