Review grammar and spelling basics. Grammar and spelling form the foundation of good writing. Writing with proper grammar and spelling communicates your professionality and attention to detail to your reader. It also makes your writing easier to understand.
Read what you want to write. Knowing what a finished piece of writing can look like can guide your own. If you’re trying to write a humorous short story, read humorous short stories. Writing a book review? Find a few and take note of how they’re structured.
Proofread. While it’s tempting to submit work as soon as you’re done with it, build in some time to revisit what you’ve written to catch errors big and small
Get feedback. Whether you’re writing emails or essays, asking for feedback is a great way to see how somebody besides yourself will interpret your text. Have an idea of what you’d like your proofreader to focus on—the structure, conclusion, the persuasiveness of an argument, or otherwise.
Think about structure. Grammar and spelling keep your writing consistent and legible, but structure ensures the big ideas get across to the reader.
Write. Like many skills, one of the best ways to improve your writing is to practice. Here are a few ways you can get started: – Start a journal or a blog. – Join a class or writing workshop. – Practice free writing.
Know some common fixes. Even if a text is grammatically correct, you may be able to make it more dynamic and interesting with some polish.