English Writing Skills

Whether you are a student, a professional, or simply someone eager to learn how to write better, our English writing section will show you how to improve you writing skills through valuable insights, practical tips, and interactive exercises. Discover how to harness the power of the written word to effectively express your ideas.

Learn About Writing Skills

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How to Improve Writing Skills

Becoming proficient in writing the English language is important because it empowers you to communicate effectively and confidently in a variety of contexts. The ability to articulate thoughts, ideas, and arguments clearly through the written word enables you to engage with complex concepts, share your knowledge, and convey your perspectives with precision and impact.

From understanding the fundamental elements of sentence structure and text organisation to exploring the nuances of linguistic concepts, this guide will navigate you through the intricacies of the English language.

Understanding the Basics of English Writing

The following section provides links to definitions of terms and concepts which will be useful to know while learning about writing skills.

Text Composition and Structure

Terms related to the structure and organisation of text:

  • Text: a larger body of written or spoken language that conveys information or ideas
  • Paragraphs: distinct sections of text that present a unified idea or topic
  • Sentences: a grammatically complete unit of thought and can stand alone
  • Phrases: groups of words that function as a meaningful unit within a sentence
  • Word: the smallest meaningful unit of language

Sentence Types

Understanding the different types of sentences

  • Simple Sentences: a single independent clause and express a complete thought
  • Topic Sentences: sentences that introduce or summarize the main idea of a paragraph
  • Cleft Sentences: a type of sentence structure where a single sentence is split to emphasise a particular element
  • Major Sentences: complete, independent sentences that express a complete thought
  • Minor Sentence: shorter sentences that may lack a verb or subject but can still convey meaning
  • Sentence Fragments: an incomplete sentence that lacks a subject, verb, or complete thought

Spelling and Punctuation

Language elements and writing conventions:

  • Letters: individual characters in an alphabet that represent specific sounds or symbols
  • Alphabet: the set of 26 letters used in English, from A to Z
  • Upper Case: large letters in the alphabet
  • Lower Case: small letters in the alphabet
  • Capital Letters: the larger form of letters in the alphabet
  • Acronyms: words formed by combining the initial letters of multiple words to create a new word
  • Abbreviations: shortened forms of words or phrases
  • Punctuation: marks or symbols used in writing to clarify meaning, indicate pauses, or separate different elements within a sentence

Writing Help

Proofreading 101 for ESL Writers
Improve your proofreading skills to avoid errors, lower grades, lost messages, and negative impressions. Reread your work for better results in exams and assignments like IELTS.

Letter Writing
Help with formal and business letter writing. A summary of writing rules including outlines for cover letters and letters of enquiry, and abbreviations used in letters.

Writing Bibliographies
A description of how to write a bibliography, including examples, a quiz and links to forum discussions on the subject.

Citations
Links to online resources that will help you give references to works that you cite when writing.

Online Text Analyser

Analyse texts and view a wealth of information including summary statistics alongside in-depth analysis of the structure of the content.

Use our Text Analyser

Latest Articles on Writing Skills

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Latest Articles on Spelling and Punctuation

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This comprehensive guide explores the functions and proper usage of colons and semi-colons in English writing, providing students with the knowledge to use them effectively in their studies.
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A look at the rules for verbs and nouns ending -y.
Unlocking the Secrets of Verbs Ending in '-e'

Explore the spelling rules and variations for conjugating verbs ending in '-e,' including silent '-e' endings and one-syllable words, with practical examples to improve your English language skills.
Get Apostrophes Right: Tips for English Learners

One of the most frequent errors made by native speakers is with the apostrophe. Apostrophes are either put in words where they are not needed, or omitted when they should be used. Is the use of the apostrophe so complicated?

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