23 Tips All ESL Writers Need to Know(1)

8/12/2019 23 Tips All ESL Writers Need to Know(1)

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Copyright 2014ProofreadingServices.com.All rights reserved.

23 Tips All ESL Writers Need to Know

Brought to you by Luke Palder, Founder of ProofreadingServices.com
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Hi!

Luke Palder here, Founder of ProofreadingServices.com.

Thanks so much for downloading this guide for ESL

writers. As the founder and CEO of the worlds largest

proofreading service for ESL writers, Ive learned a lot

about what it takes to produce great writing when

English isnt your first language.

In this guide, youll find23 of my top tips for ESL

writerssome for beginners, some for advanced

studentsbased on my experiences working with thousands of ESL writers across the world. Once

youve mastered thesetips, youll be well on your way to writing like a native English speaker.

As youre reading this, if you have any questions, pleasereach out to me and my teamor comment on

our blog,The ESL Inquirer.Id love to hear from you. Also, feel free to share this guide with your friends

and family members who are ESL writers.The more the merrier,as we say in English!

All the best,

Founder of ProofreadingServices.com, the worlds leading proofreading service for ESL writers
http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/pages/contacthttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/pages/contacthttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/pages/contacthttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/eslhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/eslhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/eslhttp://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/the_more_the_merrierhttp://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/the_more_the_merrierhttp://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/the_more_the_merrierhttp://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/the_more_the_merrierhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/eslhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/pages/contacthttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/


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Contents#1: Capitalize proper nounsbut not common nouns ................................................................................ 4

#2: Learn count and non-count nouns ......................................................................................................... 5

#3: Beware unclear pronoun references ...................................................................................................... 6

#4: Identify stative verbs .............................................................................................................................. 7

#5: Maintain a consistent verb tense ........................................................................................................... 8

#6: Make sure each sentence contains a complete, independent thought ................................................. 9

#7: Modify the right word .......................................................................................................................... 10

#8: Avoid over-nominalization ................................................................................................................... 11

#9: Know SVOPT ......................................................................................................................................... 12

#10: Tell us whos doing what .................................................................................................................... 13#11: Learn the four main sentence types ................................................................................................... 14

#12: Learn more advanced sentence types ................................................................................................ 15

#13: Dont start multiple sentences with the same word or phrase ......................................................... 16

#14: Avoid faulty parallelism ...................................................................................................................... 17

#15: Avoid plagiarism by paraphrasing ...................................................................................................... 18

#16: Avoid plagiarism by quoting ............................................................................................................... 19

#17: Get to know idioms ............................................................................................................................ 20

#18: Learn commonly confused terms ....................................................................................................... 21

#19: Read your written words aloud .......................................................................................................... 22

#20: Shorter is better ................................................................................................................................. 23

#21: Select the right dictionary for your audience ..................................................................................... 24

#22: Search for examples on Google .......................................................................................................... 25

#23: Expand your writing horizons ............................................................................................................. 26

BONUS TIP: Double-check your spelling and grammar checker ................................................................ 27

You made it! ............................................................................................................................................... 28


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#1: Capitalize proper nounsbut not common nouns

A common ESL writing error is overcapitalization, particularly with nouns. Lets clearly go over what needs to be

capitalized:

The first letter of a new sentence The word I Weekdays, holidays, and months of the year Proper nouns

So what exactly is the difference between a proper noun and a common noun?

A proper noun names a specific, often one-of-a-kind item. Proper nouns include the names of people, states,

cities, streets, rivers, oceans, countries, companies, and institutions.

Below are a few examples to help you understand the difference:

PROPER NOUNS COMMON NOUNS

Charles Dickens

Texas

Taco Bell

Brazil

Google

Best Buy

writer

state

restaurant

country

company

store

One common mistake that people make is capitalizing business titles, such as chief executive officeror vice

president.These terms may seem like proper nouns, but theyre actually common nouns and should be written

in lowercase. Why? Because many people can hold these positions at various companies.


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#2: Learn count and non-count nouns

Typically, count nouns are things that are easy to

count.

For example, you can easily tell me exactly how many trees you

see, apples youve eaten, or pencils youre holding.

But how easy is it to count things like water or progress? Not

very. For that reason, these terms are considered one

undividable whole. Non-count nounssuch as these often

include abstract ideas or substances in liquid or mass form, and

theyre always written in the singular formnever plural.

Practice is the key to mastering this tip, and its important to

note that there are regional differences in how count and non-

count nouns are approached.

Check out the count/non-count grammar exercise inthis ESL

Inquirer blog postto test yourself on a few common words.
http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/11541597-5-esl-grammar-exercises-you-can-use-to-improve-your-skills-todayhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/11541597-5-esl-grammar-exercises-you-can-use-to-improve-your-skills-todayhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/11541597-5-esl-grammar-exercises-you-can-use-to-improve-your-skills-todayhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/11541597-5-esl-grammar-exercises-you-can-use-to-improve-your-skills-todayhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/11541597-5-esl-grammar-exercises-you-can-use-to-improve-your-skills-todayhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/11541597-5-esl-grammar-exercises-you-can-use-to-improve-your-skills-todayhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/


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#4: Identify stative verbs

You need to master two main categories of verbs: stative and action. Confusing the two types can lead to errors

in your writing since action verbs can be used in the continuous tenses, while stative verbs cannot.

CORRECT: The boy is walking the dog right now. [action verb: walk]

INCORRECT: She is believing in true love. [stative verb: believe]

CORRECT: She believes in true love.

So whats the difference?

Action verbs describe actions or things that occur,

whereas stative verbs describe a status, which is an

objects appearance or someones state of being.

There are four main categories for stative verbs:

Thought/Opinion Possession Sense Emotion

believe

know

think

understand

belong

have

own

possess

hear

feel

see

taste

hate

love

need

want

Check outthis grammar exerciseyou can use to master stative verbs.
http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/11541597-5-esl-grammar-exercises-you-can-use-to-improve-your-skills-todayhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/11541597-5-esl-grammar-exercises-you-can-use-to-improve-your-skills-todayhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/11541597-5-esl-grammar-exercises-you-can-use-to-improve-your-skills-todayhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/11541597-5-esl-grammar-exercises-you-can-use-to-improve-your-skills-todayhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/


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#5: Maintain a consistent verb tense

Many writers bounce back and forth between tenses, which is not only incorrect but confusing.

So what tense should you choose?

Scholarly work in MLA or APA style

usually requires the past tense, while

business writing is usually in the

present tense, and the tense used in

creative writing varies widely. In short,

verb tense is tough to keep track of.

If youre submitting your writing to a

specific publication, check the tense of

their published articles. For a school

assignment, you can always confirm

your professors preference.

Worried you might be jumping back and forth? Circle every verb in your paper, and check each one. Most should

follow the same format. For example, each may have -ed written at the end, so if you run across one that ends

in -ing, read the sentence that contains the word. Be aware that the verb still may be correct, though, since it

may be part of adependent clause.
http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependent_clausehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependent_clausehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependent_clausehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependent_clausehttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/


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#6: Make sure each sentence contains a complete, independent

thought

If it doesnt, then its not a sentence, its a sentence fragment. For a sentence to be complete, it needs to

contain three things:

A subject A verb A complete thought

So how might your sentence be missing one of the three?

The boy liked sweets. For example, raspberry donuts.

In this example, the second sentence is actually a fragment since it doesnt contain a verb.

And jumped up and down in excitement.

This fragment doesnt contain a subject. Who or whatjumped?

After she went to the recital.

This fragment contains a subject and

a verb, but its not a complete

thought. What did she do after the

recital?

Sentence fragments are easy to fix

once youve identified the issue.

Figure out which of the three

elements is missing from your

sentence, and add it in.


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#7: Modify the right word

A modifier is a word or group of words that provides description. Its an optional element, which means that if

you remove it, the sentence or phrase will still retain its meaning.

The brown horse ran a race.

(Brownis a modifier describing the horse.)

The horse ran quickly.

(Quicklyis a modifier describing how the horse ran.)

The horse wearing the blue saddle ran.

(The phrase wearing the blue saddle is a modifier

describing the horse.)

When a modifier is misplaced, the subject of the modifier is unclear,

and this can change the meaning of the sentence. Look at these two

examples:

The horse almost won every race.

The horse won almost every race.

Did the horse come close to winning every race, or did the horse win all but a few races? When advanced ESL

writers make this type of mistake, you can usually figure out what they intended, but it impacts the rhythm of

the writing, making the reader stop and think for a moment to figure it out.

While enjoying some hay, the owner brushed the horse.

The writer intended to say that the horse was enjoying the hay, but because the modifier is closer to the

owner, the sentence is confusing. This can be fixed in several ways:

The horse enjoyed some hay while being brushed by its owner.

The owner brushed the horse, which was enjoying some hay.

YourDictionary.comoffersmultiple examplesof misplaced modifiers to help you master this concept.
http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-misplaced-modifiers.htmlhttp://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-misplaced-modifiers.htmlhttp://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-misplaced-modifiers.htmlhttp://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-misplaced-modifiers.htmlhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/


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#8: Avoid over-nominalization

In an effort to sound more academic, many writers use a technique called nominalization. Put simply, it means

using a noun thats created from a verb or adjective.

Examples of Nominalizations

Influence

Clarity

Receptivity

Evaluation

Understanding

Arbitration

Transformation

Expectation

Destabilization

Investigation

Impression

Regulation

While nominalization is common in academic writing, and may be expected, overuse tends to make writing

clunky and difficult to understand. If you have several instances in a single sentence, find ways to eliminate

some.

Heres an example:

Sentence with nominalization: An evaluation of the water quality was undertaken.

Revised sentence: We evaluated the water quality.

You can read more about how to master nominalization in thisESL Inquirer article.
http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/12187365-deconstructing-academic-writing-a-look-at-nominalisationhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/12187365-deconstructing-academic-writing-a-look-at-nominalisationhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/12187365-deconstructing-academic-writing-a-look-at-nominalisationhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/12187365-deconstructing-academic-writing-a-look-at-nominalisationhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/


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#9: Know SVOPT

SVOPT stands for subject, verb, object, place, time.

This is the typical structure for sentences in English. If someone tells you that a sentence is confusing or doesnt

sound natural, go back and check to see whether it follows this order. Often, this simple fix can make a big

difference.

In fact, you can use SVOPT as agame to improve your grammar.In any completed piece of writing, go back and

write S, V, O, P, or T over each word. Then fix any sentences that arentin the right order.
http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/11541597-5-esl-grammar-exercises-you-can-use-to-improve-your-skills-todayhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/11541597-5-esl-grammar-exercises-you-can-use-to-improve-your-skills-todayhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/11541597-5-esl-grammar-exercises-you-can-use-to-improve-your-skills-todayhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/11541597-5-esl-grammar-exercises-you-can-use-to-improve-your-skills-todayhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/


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#10: Tell us whos doing what

Many ESL writers go out of their way to avoid the first-person point of view, particularly in academic writing. As

a result, its unclear who is doing what.

Lets look at one example:

This paper will discuss the results of the study.

The problem is that the paper cannot discuss anything. Its an inanimate object.

Instead, use the third person plural:

In this paper, we will examine the results of the study.

Go through your writing and look for instances where it may be unclear whos taking a particular action.

However, dont make the mistake of overusing the word one. For example,

Ones culture shapes ones identity.

In English writing, even professional and academic writing, its much more common to use thegeneral and

impersonal you.

Your culture shapes your identity.

When in doubt, choose the option that makes

the sentence clearer.


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#11: Learn the four main sentence types

Most writing is made up of declarative sentences, but not including any other sentence types can leave you with

dry, boring text. Add variety by including different sentence types when they fit. This will liven up your work!

Declarative Sentence

This is the most common sentence type. It makes a statement and is punctuated by a period.

Examples: Its a nice day out. I took the dog for a walk.

Interrogative Sentence

If a sentence poses a question, its an interrogative sentence. These sentences are easy to spot since they always

end in a question mark.

Examples: Do you want to go to the park? Is it raining?

Exclamatory Sentence

Not surprisingly, these types of sentences always end in an exclamation point. They express excitement or

heightened emotion.

Examples: The house is on fire! The party is going to be great!

Imperative Sentence

This is a command or request, and it can end in either a period or an exclamation point. Imperative sentences

often start with a verb and may contain the word please.

Note:It may seem like imperative sentences dont contain a subject, but they actually all have the same

one: you.This is called an understood subject. Even though the word you doesnt appear in the

sentence, the reader understands that he or she is being addressed, so the sentence is complete.

Examples: Close the door! Please be quiet.

Its a good exercise to go through a piece of writing and identify each sentence type. On just this page, all four

of the sentence types are used. Can you spot them all? Give it a try!


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#12: Learn more advanced sentence types

Once youve mastered the four basic sentence types, take your writing a step further by including more

advanced sentence types. Lets look at how you can combine these two simple sentences to form a more

advanced sentence.

The girl wanted to eat ice cream. She had to finish her dinner first.

Compound Sentences

The following sentences combine the previous two sentences using

Acoordinating conjunction,such as and, but, or, yet, or so A semicolon and aconjunctive adverb,such as however or therefore Or just a semicolon.

The girl wanted to eat ice cream, but she had to finish her dinner first.

The girl wanted to eat ice cream; however, she had to finish her dinner first.

The girl wanted to eat ice cream; she had to finish her dinner first.

Complex Sentences

These sentences use onedependent clauseand oneindependent clause.Here are a few punctuation patterns

that can be used:

Dependent clause, independent clause Independent clause, dependent clause First part of an independent clause, nonessential dependent clause, second part of the independent

clause

First part of an independent clause, essential dependent clause, second part of the independent clauseAlthough the girl wanted to eat ice cream, she had to finish her dinner first.

Compound-Complex Sentences

These sentences are a combination of compound and complex sentences. They have two independent clauses

as well as one or more dependent clauses, and they must follow the rules of both sentence types.

Although the girl, who loved sweets, wanted to eat ice cream, she had to finish her dinner first.

Again, its a good exercise to identify these sentence types in your own and others writing.Looking for more

advice on how to move to more advanced levels of English?Check out these tips.
http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/coordinatingconjunction.htmhttp://www.chompchomp.com/terms/coordinatingconjunction.htmhttp://www.chompchomp.com/terms/coordinatingconjunction.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conjunctive_adverbhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conjunctive_adverbhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conjunctive_adverbhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependent_clausehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependent_clausehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependent_clausehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_clausehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_clausehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_clausehttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/14463773-escape-the-intermediate-level-how-to-become-an-advanced-english-speakerhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/14463773-escape-the-intermediate-level-how-to-become-an-advanced-english-speakerhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/14463773-escape-the-intermediate-level-how-to-become-an-advanced-english-speakerhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/14463773-escape-the-intermediate-level-how-to-become-an-advanced-english-speakerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_clausehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependent_clausehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conjunctive_adverbhttp://www.chompchomp.com/terms/coordinatingconjunction.htmhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/


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#13: Dont start multiple sentences with the same word or phrase

You should strive to avoid repetition in your

writing. In particular, you want to stay away

from writing multiple sentences that begin

with the same word. Ideally, you want every

sentence in a paragraph to start differently.

Luckily, this tip is fairly simple to implement.

Write down the first word of each sentence

in a paragraph youve written. See any

duplicates? Focus on trying to begin those

sentences differently.

Can you change the sentence structure to move the word elsewhere? Can you find asynonymfor the word? At

the very least, you should try to move the contents of the paragraph around so that the two sentences starting

with the same word are farther apart.
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#14: Avoid faulty parallelism

When writing two or more matching ideas or items in a series, make sure each is parallel or grammatically equal.

This means the ideas or items must be constructed similarly. Lets look at an exampleof faulty parallelism:

The dog liked to play fetch and eating treats.

This series includes two items that are not grammatically similar, play fetch and eating treats. The sentence

can be corrected in a number of ways:

The dog liked playing fetch and eating treats.

The dog liked to play fetch and eat treats.

The dog liked to play fetch and to eat treats.

Sometimes a parallel isnt incorrect but can still

make your writing feel clunky. Lets look at

another example:

She drove slowly and with care.

While this sentence is not grammatically

incorrect, you can improve it by making the

elements more strictly parallel:

She drove slowly and carefully.

This general principle of consistency should be applied across your entire document. Make sure you follow the

same conventions throughout your work with headings, spelling choices, paragraph formatting, spacing, and

other style choices.


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#15: Avoid plagiarism by paraphrasing

Particularly in academic writing, its common (and often necessary) to incorporate information from published

sources into your own work, but you have to be careful not to plagiarize, which means to steal anothers work

and pass it off as your own.

So how do you walk this fine line? There are two main methods you can use to refer to someone elses work.

The first is to paraphrase or put their writing in your own words. Here are a few guidelines that can help:

Dont take notes as you read.Instead, focus on understanding what is written. Read it over severaltimes if necessary.

Be selective.You dont need to paraphrase everything youve read, only the points that are relevant towhat youre writing.

Explain it to someone.If youre having trouble putting information into your own words in written form,try doing it verbally first. Share the information with a friend or family member.

Dont refer to the source as you write. When youre ready to start paraphrasing, put the source workaway and just go from your own memory.


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#16: Avoid plagiarism by quoting

Sometimes its difficult to paraphrase, or perhaps you want to include a very specific argument or piece of

information in your work. In these cases, quoting your source is a good idea.

When you add a quotation, make sure you explain why its there. Readers should be able to understand how the

quoted text connects to the rest of the piece. Generally, you want to include a signal and an assertion.

A signal lets readers know that a quotation is coming, and it usually includes a reference to the author and/or

the work. The assertion lays out the relationship between the quote and your work.

The proper use of quotation marks is crucial when referring to sources [assertion]. Writing Tutorial

Services for Indiana University notes [signal], Using another persons phrases or sentences without

putting quotation marks around them is considered plagiarism even if the writer cites in her own text the

source of the phrases or sentences she has quoted

(http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml).

When writing for an American audience, make sure you put everything that comes directly from the source

work in double quotation marks (), not single ().
http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtmlhttp://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtmlhttp://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtmlhttp://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtmlhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/


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#17: Get to know idioms

Many ESL writers make the mistake of focusing solely onexpanding their vocabulary,but improving your

knowledge ofidiomsis just as important, particularly at more advanced levels.

Watch for outdated or foreign idioms.

What makes idioms so tough is that theyre constantly evolving. They grow stale and are often tied to a specific

location. An idiom that is very popular in England may be totally unfamiliar to an American English speaker.

Make sure the resources you use have recently been updated and are written for your intended audience.

Read the newspaper.

The newspaper is local and very

current. In it, youll find frequent

use of colloquial language, which

means more idioms. If you run

across a phrase or word you dont

know, take note and look it up.

Ask.

Native speakers are the absolute

best source for idioms, but you wont learn if you dont take the time to ask. When someone uses a phrase

thats unfamiliar to you, ask him or her to explain it and use it in another context. Write it down so you can refer

to it later.

Here are two great resources for studying idioms:

Idiom Site TheFreeDictionary.coms Idiom Dictionary
http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/11501829-the-5-best-free-esl-vocabulary-resources-you-can-find-onlinehttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/11501829-the-5-best-free-esl-vocabulary-resources-you-can-find-onlinehttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/11501829-the-5-best-free-esl-vocabulary-resources-you-can-find-onlinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiomhttp://www.idiomsite.com/http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/http://www.idiomsite.com/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiomhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/11501829-the-5-best-free-esl-vocabulary-resources-you-can-find-onlinehttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/


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#18: Learn commonly confused terms

Many words in the English language have similar spellings, sound alike, or have very close definitions. As a

result, these words are commonly misused, particularly by ESL writers. As with idioms, it pays to add them to

your efforts to expand your vocabulary. Learn commonly confused terms in pairs, and practice using both terms

correctly.

Here are a few examples to get you

started:

Effect vs. Affect

This isnt always true, but effect is

most often a noun (as in theeffect), while affect is a verb. By

keeping that simple rule in mind,

youll be correct in most instances.

Heres a more detailed explanation.

Lead vs. Led

Leadis a present-tense verb as well as a noun in many instances (such as the lead on a project), while led

is a past-tense verb and is never used as a noun.Click here for more info.

Accept vs. Except

These two words sound very similar, especially to ESL speakers, so its no surprise that theyre often confused in

writing. Acceptis a verb that means to consent or receive.Exceptis a preposition that means excluding

or apart from.Heres agreat list of example sentencesusing accept and except.

That vs. Which

Both words are pronouns and are used in similar situations, but heres the difference: When writing in American

English, that is used before restrictive clauses, and which is used before nonrestrictive clauses. A restrictive

clause cannot be removed from a sentence without changing its meaning, while a nonrestrictive clause can.

Learn more abouthow to correctly use that and which here.
http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/style-and-usage/affect-effect-grammar.htmlhttp://grammar.yourdictionary.com/style-and-usage/affect-effect-grammar.htmlhttp://www.write.com/writing-resources-articles/general-writing/word-choice/lead-versus-led/http://www.write.com/writing-resources-articles/general-writing/word-choice/lead-versus-led/http://www.write.com/writing-resources-articles/general-writing/word-choice/lead-versus-led/http://www.elearnenglishlanguage.com/blog/english-mistakes/accept-vs-except/http://www.elearnenglishlanguage.com/blog/english-mistakes/accept-vs-except/http://www.elearnenglishlanguage.com/blog/english-mistakes/accept-vs-except/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/14463793-that-vs-which-word-choice-in-english-can-make-a-big-differencehttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/14463793-that-vs-which-word-choice-in-english-can-make-a-big-differencehttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/14463793-that-vs-which-word-choice-in-english-can-make-a-big-differencehttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/14463793-that-vs-which-word-choice-in-english-can-make-a-big-differencehttp://www.elearnenglishlanguage.com/blog/english-mistakes/accept-vs-except/http://www.write.com/writing-resources-articles/general-writing/word-choice/lead-versus-led/http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/style-and-usage/affect-effect-grammar.htmlhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/


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#19: Read your written words aloud

Good writing has a natural rhythm. Often, its easier to tell if your writing flows well when you hear it out loud. If

you find yourself tripping over a sentence, its likely your readers will, too. Does a paragraph seem to drag on

forever? Find ways to cut it down. Youll get a sense of how your writing works overall.

Reading aloud can also help you pinpoint problems you might not notice on the page. You may read a paper a

dozen times and still fail to notice that youveleft out a key term or made a grammatical error. This is because

your brain is too efficient, reading what should be there instead of what is. Luckily, this kind of autocorrecting

doesnt happen as much when you read your words aloud.

You can also improve your writing by reading others professional work out loud. What does it sound like? How

does it feel as you read it? This will give you a better reference point for assessing your own writing.

Check out these additional tips onhow to read to improve your writing.
http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/14463981-improve-your-esl-writing-read-like-a-professional-writerhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/14463981-improve-your-esl-writing-read-like-a-professional-writerhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/14463981-improve-your-esl-writing-read-like-a-professional-writerhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/14463981-improve-your-esl-writing-read-like-a-professional-writerhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/


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#20: Shorter is better

Your goal is to be clear and concise. The longer the sentence, the more likely it will confuse your readers or have

subject/verb agreement problems. Sentences with many equally weighted phrases and clauses are difficult to

understand.

In most cases, you want to keep each sentence to three lines or less. If you write a sentence that is more than

four lines, look for a way to break it into two sentences.

The same is true for paragraphs. On average, you want four to six sentences per paragraph for academic writing,

and you can use very short paragraphs of one to two sentences to draw attention to something. Remember,

paragraphs are designed to organize your writing for readers, making it easier for them to tell where a point

begins and ends. If you start a new idea, start a new paragraph.


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Page 24


#21: Select the right dictionary for your audience

There are regional spelling differences between English-speaking countries. For example,the word thats spelled

labour in the UK and Canada is spelled labor in the US.

So how do you keep up with all these minor differences? Easy! Just change the dictionary your spellchecker

uses.

In Microsoft Word, you can set one language as your permanent preference. First, select theFiletab. Then

click Options.A pop-up box will appear, and in the left column, select Language.Here you'll find the option

to choose editing languages. You can select the language you need and then hit the Set as Defaultbutton.

Microsoft Word is updated often, so search set Microsoft Word language preferenceon Google if these

instructions do not appear to match your version of Microsoft Word.

Its even easier to

change the language for

a single document or

even just a paragraph.

First, open the

document, and then

select the text you'd like

to check. Then look at

the very bottom bar.

Next to the page and

word count, you'll see

the language. Click on it,

and you'll be given the

option to select a

language. Hit OKand

youre good to go!


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Page 25


#22: Search for examples on Google

With so many variations and exceptions to the rule in the English language, its hard to master them all.

Unfortunately, theres also not always a resource available for the specific question you have in mind. So how do

you figure out whats correct?

Use Google to your advantage.

With just a quick search, you can find hundreds, thousands, or even millions of examples about the specific use

of terms and phrases. Do a search for an exact match for the phrase (or phrases) youre considering, and then

read through the results to determine whether your wording is correct. To do this, put quotation marks around

the phrase to ensure Google only shows you exact matches.

For example, lets say youre wondering whether you should write at Purdue University or in Purdue

University. Do a search for both phrases.

The first thing youll notice is that Google returns over 23.7 million results for at and only 1.5 million for in,

so you already have a good indicator that at is the correct choice. If youre still not certain, you can click on the

results to read multiple examples that may guide you to the right choice.


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#23: Expand your writing horizons

Most ESL writers focus on mastering the rules and conventions of one particular type of writing, often academic

writing, but learning and practicing other forms of writing can arm you with new strengths and tools that you

wouldnthave developed otherwise.

So what types of writing should you try? Here are just a few ideas:

Letters Business proposals Reports Short stories

Articles Presentations Essays Music lyrics Poetry Screenplays Blog posts Jokes Childrens books Memoirs Journal entries Love letters

Research has foundthat language learning is affected by your attitude and feelings. If youre feeling anxious,

stressed, or discouraged about your abilities, you may actually be inhibiting your growth as an ESL writer.

Finding a way to make writing fun again can help you get back on track, so find a format that youre excited

about and get started!

Check outthese fun prompts for essay writingfor more ideas.
http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.tesl-ej.org/wordpress/issues/volume7/ej26/ej26a2/http://www.tesl-ej.org/wordpress/issues/volume7/ej26/ej26a2/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/11846089-22-engaging-esl-essay-topics-you-can-use-to-boost-your-writing-skillshttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/11846089-22-engaging-esl-essay-topics-you-can-use-to-boost-your-writing-skillshttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/11846089-22-engaging-esl-essay-topics-you-can-use-to-boost-your-writing-skillshttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl/11846089-22-engaging-esl-essay-topics-you-can-use-to-boost-your-writing-skillshttp://www.tesl-ej.org/wordpress/issues/volume7/ej26/ej26a2/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/


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BONUS TIP: Double-check your spelling and grammar checker

Dont rely solely on the guidance of your word processors spelling and grammar checker. It canand willlead

you to make mistakes.

When you misspell a word, the spellchecker will

offer suggestions, but sometimes it doesnt know

what word you intended to use. As a result, it can

offer close but incorrect recommendations. The

Internet is full of funny autocorrects from texts and

emails. Dont let your writing fall prey to this

phenomenon.

Also, your spellchecker may overlook a mistake if

the word is spelled right but used incorrectly. For

example, you may have written interesting when

you meant interested or accept when except

was correct.

Grammar is very complex and often subjective, which makes it difficult for computers to correctly assess your

writing. To make matters more complicated, there are regional variations and other differences depending on

what style you follow. At ProofreadingServices.com, we know this all too well. As the worlds leading

professional proofreading company for ESL writers, we help people correct their grammar in important

documents all the time.If youre interested in learning more about what wecan do for you,click here.
http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/http://www.proofreadingservices.com/


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You made it!

Congratulations! Youre on your way to better ESL writing.

This guide is based on hands-on research into which tips and techniques are helpful to ESL writers, and I hope

youvefound it to be a useful and valuable tool. Theres a lot more to learn, but if youread this guide and come

back to it every now and again, youre off to a great start.

Whats next?

Most of these tips arent easy to master in a single study session, so dive into them more deeply one at a time. I

also encourage you to regularly visit my ESL blog,The ESL Inquirer,for more helpful tips, exercises, and

information that can help you become a better ESL writer. Theres anemail signup boxon the blog if youd like

to receive regular updates when I publish something new.

Need more help?

Contact me at ProofreadingServices.comto find out more about the editing services we offer to ESL writers just

like you. (Or just contact me to say hi! Id love to hear from you.)

Before you go . . .

Do you know people who might benefit from reading this guide? If you have friends or family who are struggling

to improve their ESL writing skills, why not send this to them? Theyll appreciate that youve taken the time to

think about their needs and help them improve.

Id like to thank you ahead of time for spreading this free ESL resource. I hope it will benefit you and other ESL

writers!
http://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/eslhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/eslhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/eslhttp://eepurl.com/MFJVzhttp://eepurl.com/MFJVzhttp://eepurl.com/MFJVzhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/pages/contacthttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/pages/contacthttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/pages/contacthttp://eepurl.com/MFJVzhttp://www.proofreadingservices.com/blogs/esl

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23 Tips All ESL Writers Need to Know(1)