How to improve your writing skills

They say practice makes perfect. Thus if you want to write better, you must practice.

You write in response to a reader’s need and as a student, you also seek to impress your teacher so you score high marks. It is therefore important to exercise your writing muscle to its full potential.

Here are tips to help you write better:

Read more: The more you read, the more comfortable you become with the written word. Read for pleasure and for knowledge. The hours you spend on Facebook and Instagram can be better utilised reading a book. If you want to improve your writing, swap your phone for a book. At night before you sleep, read at least a chapter.

Start with the main idea: Your first sentence should cover the main idea of the paragraph. Do not keep readers guessing by bringing up the main idea at the end or burying it in the middle of a sentence.

Key words: When you write, put the strongest word at the end of the sentence. This makes your sentence sound more powerful. For example, write: “The adopted boy was not at peace until he found his mother, the woman to whom he was related.” Instead of “The adopted boy was not at peace until he found his mother, the woman he was related to.” This seems like a subtle difference but will go a long way in making your writing more meaningful.

Avoid verbosity: Shun mouthful words that are often unnecessary. Instead of saying “there is a lot to be done in school today”, say “a lot remains to be done in school today”. Use active verbs and avoid the passive as much as possible. Simply say, “My Maths teacher punished me for coming to class late.” instead of “I was punished by my Maths teacher for coming to class late.”

Simplify your outline: An outline is a list of material you want to cover in your writing and may include a list of words, sentences, or questions. Outlining guides help you see any lapses in the logical flow of what you have written. Vary the length of your sentences. Short sentences should emphasis ideas while the longer ones should define, elaborate or illustrate an idea.

Write then edit: Write to the end without worrying whether it makes sense or not or whether you are writing well or not. When you finish writing, you can then edit your work. As you edit your written work, use a dictionary to confirm that you have used the right words.

Read aloud: When you are done with the writing, read the work aloud. This way, you are able to spot any awkward sentences and typos.

Seek feedback: Talk to your teacher to give you feedback on your writing. They will give you the most honest indication of how you are faring.