English Writing Tips
Improve your writing. Join EnglishLeap. Click here to know more.
Writing is one of the most critical English language skills. Many English learners struggle with writing error-free sentences. We have noticed some common mistakes made by learners. Here is a list of things to keep in mind while writing in English
1. Consistency in the usages of tenses
- Make sure that you do not switch tenses while conveying the same idea.
- I went to my friend's house yesterday and we play football. (Incorrect)
- I went to my friend's house yesterday and we played football. (Correct)
- I wake up every day at 6 a.m. Then I had breakfast with my parents. (Incorrect)
- I wake up every day at 6 a.m. Then I have breakfast with my parents. (Correct)
2. Subject Verb Agreement
- This is one of the most common errors made in written English. It is important to choose the correct word form which agrees with the subject of the sentence.
- He like Chinese food. (Incorrect)
- He likes Chinese food. (Correct)
- Ilivesin Jaipur. (Incorrect)
- I live in Jaipur. (Correct)
3. Usage of Articles
- Since many foreign languages do not require the use of articles as much as the English language, this is another common mistake in English writing made by learners.
- I saw movie yesterday. (Incorrect)
- I saw a movie yesterday. (Correct)
- He liked book written by my father. (Incorrect)
- He liked the book written by my father. (Correct)
4. Capitalisation
- The first word of a sentence and proper nouns usually start with capital letters.
-
he needs to see a Doctor. (Incorrect)
-
He needs to see a doctor. (Incorrect)
- Will you meet amit tomorrow? (Incorrect)
- Will you meet Amit tomorrow? (Correct)
5. Spellings
- There are some words in English which have confusing spellings. It is important to use spell-check to avoid unnecessary mistakes.
- The principle of the school asked the students to keep quiet. (Incorrect)
- The principal of the school asked the students to keep quiet. (Correct)
- The bus was stationery for a long time. (Incorrect)
- The bus was stationary for a long time. (Correct)
6. Placement of Adverbs
- Some English learners find it confusing to place adverbs correctly within a sentence.
- I go to the library on Thursday usually. (Incorrect)
- I usually go to the library on Thursday. (Correct)
- My son everyday goes to school. (Incorrect)
- My son goes to school every day. (Correct)
7. Prepositions after Adjectives
- There are no rules to ascertain which preposition will follow a particular adjective. Therefore, the incorrect use of prepositions is a common thread in the writings of English learners.
- I am allergic of roses. (Incorrect)
- I am allergic to roses. (Correct)
- He is accused for theft. (Incorrect)
- He is accused of theft. (Correct)
8. Usage of 'I' and 'me'
- 'I' and 'me' are both personal pronouns and are often used incorrectly.
- My friends and me went to Paris. (Incorrect)
- My friends and I went to Paris. (Correct)
- She came from Rome to meet I. (Incorrect)
- She came from Rome to meet me. (Correct)
9. Comparison of Adjectives
- There are two rules that need to be taken care of while making the comparative and superlative form of adjectives.
- He is more tall than me. (Incorrect)
- He is taller than me. (Correct)
- She is the beautifullestgirl in the class. (Incorrect)
- She is the most beautiful girl in the class. (Correct)
10. Showing Possession
- In English, possession can be shown by using possessive nouns and pronouns.
- I went to my parents's house. (Incorrect)
- I went to my parents' house. (Correct)
- This book is her. (Incorrect)
- This book is hers. (Correct)
These are a few mistakes that are often committed by the learners of the English language while writing. By keeping a note of these pointers, the learners can very easily overcome the mistakes they make in written English. Remember to write regularly to improve your writing skills.
Frequent searches leading to this page