Having good writing skills is the ability to convey one’s ideas, opinions, feelings, thoughts or any information through written words. It is the skill to translate your ideas into words without using complex sentence structure so that the reader can follow your chain of thought. These skills include research about the topic, outline and structure, grammar, spelling, punctuations, editing and revising.
In an increasingly online world, effective written skills have become an essential ability for students and working professionals as there are now less face-to-face interactions and more written interactions. Poor writing can cause a student to score lower even if he/she is knowledgeable about the subject. In a professional setting, you can be judged as negligent if you send emails full of errors. You can avoid this situation by acquiring some tips and tricks.
Tips to improve your writing skills
If you want to write well, immerse yourself in reading. The best way to gain writing skills is to read more and more. Read works of influential writers that will help in increasing your insight and inspiration. It also expands your vocabulary, builds knowledge, feeds your imagination and exposes you to different styles of writing.
1. Research
It is a necessary step before getting started on the content. Gather all the necessary information before you start writing. It will help you in forming ideas leading you towards creating an outline for your content.
2. Create outline and structure
Creating an outline and structure is to organise your thoughts before you start writing the first line of the content. It ensures that all the important information is covered. Try creating a mind map to write down all the prior knowledge that you have on the subject. An outline will help you in deciding the structure and the structure will ultimately ensure that your ideas get across the reader. To create an outline, start with an introduction, note down all your important words, points and sentences that will summarise your article/blog. Moving on to the structure, create sections, a point to describe each section and then finally fill the gaps with your ideas and opinions. Final step, look at your outline and rearrange your sections if needed.
3. Be mindful of grammar, spellings and punctuations
It is a sign of good writing skills when you have got the above three right. With correct grammar and spelling, it communicates that you are a professional and you pay attention to details for your reader. In fact, not knowing your punctuations like comma, semicolon, hyphen is considered poor English.
4. Use simple and practical vocabulary
It is better to select words that are appropriate for your audience and where he/she doesn’t have to look at the dictionary for each sentence of the write up. Using complex words can make the reader lose interest in your writing. You can experiment with words yet keep them simple and practical. Beautiful can become attractive or gorgeous but not pulchritudinous.
5. Avoid filler words Force Of Web
It’s great to experiment with your vocabulary but avoid using filler words that don’t add meaning to your sentences. There is no need to put extra words such as um/uh, very, really, that, like, you know, just, etc, which can make your sentences unnecessarily long. Always edit or delete the filler words and phrases before submitting your work.
Examples of some fillers –
- It’s a good idea to attend a writing skills workshop.
- You should read more to improve your writing skills.
- You don’t develop good writing skills in a day.
- Without fillers, your content will be fantastic.
6. Proofread
Always edit and proofread your content to catch all small and big errors. You can step away from your writing for a day and come back with a fresh mind to proofread your work with a new energy. Check for misspellings, grammar, punctuations then move on to the structure and review the transition from one paragraph to another. Read aloud to find repetition of words/phrases and where the writing doesn’t flow well.
7. Get feedback
Getting feedback is a great way to see how someone else interprets your work and if the reader is able to grasp your ideas and thoughts. You might not realise if your sentences are long or there is repetition of the same words and phrases, but someone else might. Ask for feedback from multiple people, pay attention to their comments and criticism and edit your work accordingly.
A good command of language and determination is required to develop writing skills. Keep in mind that this cannot be achieved overnight. The more you write, the better your written work will get.