MUET: WAYS TO IMPROVE WRITING SKILSS
ALEX OWENLY
1. REVIEW GRAMMAR AND
SPELLING BASICS
Grammar and spelling form the foundation of good writing. Writing with proper
grammar and spelling communicates your professionalism and attention to
detail to your reader. It also makes your writing easier to understand.
Plus, knowing when and how to use less common punctuation, like colons,
semicolons, and em-dashes, can unlock new ways to structure sentences and
elevate your writing.
If you’re looking to strengthen your grammar and spelling, start by consulting a
writing manual. The Elements of Style by William Stunk and E.B. White has long
been considered a staple for writers. You can find similar resources at your local
library, bookstore, or online.
2. 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. Pay
attention to what makes them good and what you want to emulate (without
plagiarizing, of course). If you’re working on a school assignment, you can ask
your instructor for examples of successful pieces from past students.
Make reading a part of your everyday life to improve your writing. Try reading
the news in the morning or picking up a book before you head to bed. If you
haven’t been a big reader in the past, start with topics you’re interested in, or
ask friends and family for recommendations. You’ll gradually begin to
understand what subjects, genres, and authors you enjoy.
3. PROOFREAD.
• Set your work aside before you edit. Try to step away from your writing for
a day or more so you can come back to it with fresh, more objective eyes.
Crunched for time? Even allotting 20 minutes between writing and
proofreading can allow you to approach your work with renewed energy.
• Start with easy fixes, then progress to bigger changes. Starting with easier
changes can get you in the rhythm for proofreading, allow you to read
through your work once more, and clear distractions so you can focus on
bigger edits. Read through your work to catch misspellings,
inconsistencies, and grammar errors. Then address the larger problems
with structure or awkward transitions.
• Read out loud. Reading out loud can help you find awkward phrases and
areas where your writing doesn’t flow well.
4. 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.
Approach a trusted friend, family member, coworker, or
instructor. If you’re a student, your school might also have a
writing resource center you can reach out to.
You might also consider forming a writing group or joining a
writing class. Find writing courses online, at your local
community college, or at independent writing workshops in your
city.
5. THINK ABOUT STRUCTURE.
Grammar and spelling keep your writing consistent
and legible, but structure ensures the big ideas get
across to the reader.
In many cases, forming an outline will help solidify
structure. An outline can clarify what you’re hoping to
convey in each section, enable you to visualize the
flow of your piece, and surface parts that require
more research or thought.
Structure might look different depending on what
you’re writing. An essay typically has an introduction,
body paragraphs, and a conclusion. A fiction piece
might follow the six-stage plot structure: exposition,
rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, and
denouement. Choose what’s best for your purposes.
6. 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.
• Write letters to friends or family.
• Put together an opinion piece for your local newspaper or publication you
like.
7. 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. Here are some common ways you can
sharpen your writing:
• Choose strong verbs (for example, “sprinted,”
“dashed,” or “bolted” instead of “ran”).
• Avoid passive voice.
• Vary sentence length.
• Cut unnecessary words.
• Replace cliches with original phrasing
TQ
