The English language is full of contradictions and confusing grammar rules, making learning to write with proper English difficult. If you’re looking for ways to improve your writing but are struggling with using correct English grammar, there are several tools at your disposal. From personal editors and tutors to AI programs that can scan your documents and point out errors, here are some tips to help you improve and perfect your English writing and grammar.
The Importance of Using Correct English Grammar Online
The online world has made the use of correct English grammar more challenging. Many people use conversational English grammar online, even falling victim to common grammar mistakes in their online conversations. When you use proper English grammar in your online communications, you’ll become a better communicator. Thankfully, there are several ways you can improve your grammar and tools to help you communicate more effectively online.
How to Improve English Grammar
To improve your grammar, you must first get a solid basis for foundational grammar skills. Reading well-written English is the first place to start. Start with print publications, which tend to have fewer mistakes than online sources, then move to online publications from trusted places such as newspapers or government sites.
After reading, practice writing, actively looking for mistakes to fix. Consider having other people read what you write and provide suggestions. Then, take advantage of online tools that leverage AI to provide grammar correction suggestions, but don’t just accept the suggestions. See why you need to change what you need to change so you can learn from them.
Try to find errors in other people’s writing to get even more practice. Take a piece of writing you find online and rewrite it to improve the grammar. Visiting blogs and forums, less likely to contain edited writing, is a great way to find content for this exercise. Then, after you’ve tried to improve the writing, send the original work through an AI grammar-correcting tool, and see how many errors you caught on your own.
Common Grammar Corrections in English Sentences
While there are many mistakes you can make when writing in English, some are more common than others. Some of the common issues to watch for include:
- Run-on sentences: Don’t join two independent clauses into one sentence without a comma and conjunction, subordinating conjunction, or semicolon.
- Misuse of common words: Some words, like accept and except, sound similar but have different meanings and uses. Learn these to avoid this mistake.
- Parallel structure: When listing things, use a similar structure in wording each item. For example, if you use a gerund for the first two, use a gerund for the final one.
- Subject-Verb agreement: Make sure singular subjects and plural subjects have plural verbs. For compound subjects joined with “or” or “nor,” use the number of the subject after the conjunction, even if it’s singular.
- Verb tense agreement: In most cases, you’ll need to use the same verb tense throughout your piece. Only change tense when the writing requires it for clarity.
- Fragments: Fragments are dependent clauses presented as independent clauses or complete sentences. Sometimes, these seem accurate because we often speak in fragments, but written sentences should be independent clauses that can stand alone.
- Punctuation errors: The most common punctuation errors involve commas or apostrophes. Apostrophes need to be used in contractions and to indicate possession with nouns. Commas have many uses, so study comma rules as you work to improve your grammar.
English Grammar Editing with AI
Spotting all of your mistakes can be difficult unless you are highly trained in English grammar. Today, writers have many AI tools they can use to edit their work. Websites such as Grammarly.com use powerful AI software to provide grammar suggestions, pointing out errors and making suggestions for improvement in areas that aren’t necessarily wrong but could be better. Leverage these tools to edit your writing.
How to Practice English Grammar Online
Through a combination of reading online works and editing online with AI, you can use the Internet to improve your English. As you gain confidence, you can spend time posting in forums or writing blog posts. Publishing these will give you even more practice in your English grammar skills. Remember to use online AI programs to check your grammar before posting, or consider installing a plugin that will scan for grammar issues as you write.
Correcting Grammar Mistakes in English
When correcting grammar mistakes in English, particularly when using AI, it’s important to remember that some suggestions may be incorrect. You may know that you have a problem with parallel structure, but the AI program or your friend who is proofreading for you may suggest a change that’s not parallel. Or, you may see a suggestion to add a comma to what appears to be a list, but when you read your sentence, you realize it isn’t a list. Always double-check the corrections you are making to avoid adding more mistakes to your writing.
English Grammar and Paraphrasing
One important skill to learn when writing in English is the art of paraphrasing. Paraphrasing involves taking someone’s written copy and putting it in your own words. While you still need to credit the original author for their idea to avoid being guilty of plagiarism, you can use paraphrasing to craft your own work and bring in the ideas of other writers who came before you.
When paraphrasing, grammar still counts. Even if the original writer used poor grammar, but had good ideas, your writing should have correct grammar. Make sure you utilize the tools at your disposal to revise and improve your writing, even when you’re paraphrasing.
Proper Grammar Usage Help
Practicing your English grammar is a rewarding skill, but sometimes doing your own practice isn’t sufficient, especially if your grammar skills are particularly weak. In these cases, you may need to get additional help. Some options include:
- Online English grammar classes
- Online or in-person grammar tutoring
- AI-based English grammar correction tools
- Human editors to proofread and edit your work
The more you practice and edit your English writing, the better your grammar will become. With the right tools and perseverance, you can create written works with proper English grammar that make you proud.
