Basic literacy and grammar skills are essential for any knowledge. In the case of English, these skills are necessary for success in both academic and professional settings. Fortunately, there are many tools available to help people improve their grammar skills, regardless of their age or origin. Learning any language comes in stages, and once you reached a level that is intertwining basic grammar like spelling, sentence, and tense structure, it means you know this language at a level where you should be comfortable communicating in it.
Unfortunately, many people tend to forget the language they learn because they don’t practice it on a regular level. The lack of practice may be due to a lack of motivation or because you simply can’t find the time. Luckily, there are ways in which one can practice despite their busy schedule and this article will provide tips on how to improve your grammar without too much effort.
Online tools
There are many online tools available as an aid to help you improve your grammar. The first one is a simple online grammar checker, which will analyze your text for any structural errors and then point out the error made. This tool saves time that could have been dedicated to re-reading through your work multiple times to find those errors. Websites like https://grammarhow.com (as per the name) cover various topics on writing, grammar, etc. This can become a daily routine where you simply remind yourself about some rules that are not as frequent in your speech, even if you are native English.
Another way of practicing online is to sign up for a class. More often than not, you can find free classes that will allow you to practice your knowledge of the English language, while also learning new things. Of course, this depends on which country you reside in and what options are available where you live. Many of these classes have online groups on various social media platforms that you can join for this purpose.
Finally, many online writing communities will help you practice your grammar while also sharing tips with other writers. The only downside of joining these communities is that it’s easy to get distracted by the plethora of information being shared daily. However, if you manage to keep up with the community, you will surely improve.
Old fashioned techniques
While most of the time you would find people using their smartphones or computers to practice, there are some old-fashioned ways in which you can remind yourself and learn new things. One such example is a simple list with all the rules and guidelines you should follow when writing your thoughts down on paper. If you want to learn the rules, keep this list next to your desk and you can ask yourself if you remembered each rule correctly. If not, simply glance at the list again until you become confident in your writing abilities.
Another old-fashioned technique is using flashcards or even an app that will offer the same service. There are many apps out there for this purpose, but chances are you will become too reliant on the app and stop using it after some time. This is why it’s better to use an actual piece of paper where you can write down all the rules that you practice for one week or month (depending on your schedule). After practicing them enough, erase them from your list and add new ones.
For language learners
As you can imagine, there are many ways in which language learner can practice their skills. In some cases, people choose to take on small writing projects to improve their writing skills. If you notice your grammar isn’t up to par with what it should be, then doing a research project might be the best way to get your mind working again. After all, research papers are one of the many writing projects you can do if you want to start improving your grammar.
Another option is signing up for a local course where people offer free assistance in learning how to improve your language skills. If there aren’t any courses available in your area, then you can always take to the internet and look for a course online. Yes, this means paying a small fee, around $10, but it’s worth it if you want to improve your grammar efficiently. Finally, one of the old-school techniques is looking up examples of good writing done by professional writers. There are many websites out there where you can find examples of writing done by professionals in all fields, from journalism to business. Find a writer whose style is similar to yours and study their work every day until you improve your skills.
Expose yourself to the language
The best way to improve your grammar is by exposing yourself to the language. After all, you can learn a lot about grammar if you read books and news articles. Another great option would be listening to podcasts or watching movies where people speak English. It doesn’t matter if the movie is in English with subtitles because it will help you pick up on words that you might not know how to pronounce or spell correctly. Listening and reading will also help with mastering vocabulary and speech patterns that are specific for this language, like idioms and phrases which might sound funny coming from someone who isn’t fluent yet.
Try a new practice and look up a new word every day, learn its definition, spelling and write it in a sentence or two. This can be a great practice for you to expand your vocabulary as well. With the variety of techniques, the last thing holding you back can only be your lack of organization or will. Break a bad habit and start building a new one in a new year.
