If you have problems with the English class, you are not the only one. From famous writers like H. G. Wells and Mark Twain to politicians like Teddy Roosevelt, many fairly intelligent people have struggled with spelling, language use, and other basic grammar problems. Being full of oddities and contradictions, English is not the easiest language to learn and use correctly. However, by tackling the most common mistakes and problems, you can start to actively correct your mistakes, improve your vocabulary, spelling, and writing, to give yourself the best chance of being good at English.
If English is not your first language, you may want to start with How to learn English or How to improve your English.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Fix Common Mistakes
Step 1. Learn the difference between "your" and "you're"
Confusing these words is one of the most common and easy to correct mistakes when using English. Since there is nothing that stands out faster than writing "You're not coming to the dance, are you?" (in Spanish, "You don't come to the dance, right?"), it is important to clarify the difference in each word and not make the same mistake again.
- your is a possessive adjective and means "you". For example, in the sentences "Is that your cantaloupe?" ("Is that your melon?") And "Where is your pocketknife?" ("Where is your knife?), The word" your "is used correctly. Try replacing" your "with" you are "in a sentence. If the sentence makes sense using" you are ", you should use" you ' re "instead of" your ".
- You're is a contraction of the words "you" and "are", and is used in place of both words within any sentence. "You are an excellent tennis player" can be written as "You're an excellent tennis player".
Step 2. Learn the difference between “their”, “they're” and “there”
If "you" and "your" is the most frequent mistake, perhaps misusing these other words is the second most common mistake. Also, it is a common misspelling, since these programs will not necessarily provide the correct choice of the word, in case you make a typo. It can be confusing, but once you memorize the use of the ruler, the difference will be clear to you.
- Their it means "belongs to them." The proper use of the word would be "Their balloon popped quickly" or "Have you not seen their baby?" ("Haven't you seen her baby?"). The word is only used in this context and means that “there is more than one owner”.
- They're it is a contraction of the words "they" and "are", and must be used to replace those words in a sentence. "They are very much in love" ("They are very much in love") could be written "They're very much in love" ("They are very much in love"). Despite using a contraction, this word does not imply belonging.
- There refers to locations and all other uses. "Place the apple over there" or "There is nothing more boring than math" are suitable uses of "there."
Step 3. Learn the difference between “its” and “it’s”
It is a very confusing rule because it goes against the basic rule of apostrophes, but it is an example of a contradiction in contractions. Replace the word “it” and “is” with “its” or “it’s”. If the sentence makes sense, you will have to use an apostrophe. If not, don't use it.
- Use "its" when you want to assign ownership to something. Even if there is no apostrophe, it means that something belongs to someone. "Its hair was really dirty" or "I can't compete with its power!" ("I can't compete with his power!") Would be proper uses of "its".
- Use "it's" when you want to get "it" and "is." It would be appropriate to write "It's not that great" or "When it's raining, I like to read".
Step 4. Use "two", "too" and "to" correctly
This is a common typo, but also a common mistake that many talented writers still make frequently. However, the differences are very easy to recognize. “Too” has two “o's,” which can help you remember that there is more of something, so you should use that word to compare amounts. If, as in "To be, or not to be", no amount is mentioned, leave the additional "o".
- To is a preposition that must always precede a noun or a verb and begin a prepositional phrase. In the sentences "I want to visit France" and "I went to France" the use of "to" is appropriate.
- Too is used to indicate quantity or agreement. "There was too much alcohol the party" or "I ate too many ice cream cones" are sentences with an appropriate use of "too". It can also indicate levels of emotion or length of time: "You're way too angry" or "I cried for too long". It is also used to indicate agreement: "I want to go to the party too" ("I also want to go to the party").
- Two is a number and should only be used as such. "I ate two large pizzas" or "There were two pro wrestlers at the party" are suitable uses of "two."
Step 5. Learn the difference between "less" and "fewer"
One is used to refer to quantities, while the other is used to refer to numbers. This is an important element, which is often misused, but easy to learn. If you have learned the difference between countable and uncountable nouns, it will help you to follow this rule. When there is "less traffic" it means that there are "fewer cars" ("less cars").
- Less refers to quantities and uncountable nouns. "There was much less water in the pool than last week" or "Much less applause could be heard at the game" ") are suitable uses. If you can't count individual units of something, "less" is the right word to refer to them. There is "less doubt" ("less uncertainty"), "less oxygen" ("less oxygen") and "less morale" ("less moral").
- Fewer refers to countable numbers and nouns. "Many fewer people applauded" or "One more bike, one fewer car" would be appropriate uses of "fewer". If you can provide a specific number of an object, such as marbles, dollar bills, melons, or video games, the appropriate word is “fewer”.
Step 6. Use "lay" and "lie" correctly
If you are wrong with these words, you are not the only one. Learn the rule and you never have to worry about being wrong again. People get confused because the past tense of "lie" is also "lay", but you can learn the difference quickly.
- Use "lay" when you put something (on the floor, table, etc.). "I lay the book on the table" or "Please lay your head on your desk" are suitable uses of "lay".
- Use "lie" when you lie down or lie down. You could write "I'm going to lie down now", but the past tense of this word is "lay", which explains why the confusion is generated. In other words, you could also write "I lay down yesterday". Use the context of the sentence to find the meaning.
Step 7. Use "random" and "literally" correctly
No word is used worse than these two words. Learn to use them correctly and your English teachers and grammar experts will admire you.
- Random means a lack of order or coherence in a series or sequence. There shouldn't be a pattern to something that is really "random". People often use "random" when referring to "surprising" or "unexpected". For example, it wasn't "some random guy" who spoke to you after class. They are in the same class, they go to the same school and they live in the same city, which means that there is nothing “random” in having a conversation with another person with whom you share the same space. It's actually quite likely.
- Literally It should not be used to imply severity, because "literally" means that something actually happened and that it was a textual truth. The only time it would be appropriate to say "I literally couldn't get out of bed this morning" is when you couldn't actually move your legs, not because you didn't feel like it. to move them. Otherwise, you would be speaking figuratively.
Step 8. Don't use contractions used when texting
When writing, don't use contractions or emoticons to replace words. You should never use the smiling face created by a colon and a parenthesis at the end of a sentence. There are words that express that! Let your words communicate your feelings and use the whole words.
- We all like to type fast when texting, but it's best to avoid words like "ur" even if you're actually texting. When you use contractions when texting, you practice connecting with those words, making you more likely to unconsciously use misspelling in a formal context.
- When you speak, it is also a good habit to say something like "OMG" or "lol" out loud. If you laugh, just do it, don't edit it.
Method 2 of 3: Improve Your Spelling and Vocabulary
Step 1. Read everything possible
The best way to improve your English in every way is to read everything. Read complex, absurd, or long books, magazines, cereal boxes, posters, and pamphlets. Read everything and surround yourself with words. Reading many different books will not only help you expand your vocabulary, but it will also help you improve your spelling. Also, reading is a lot of fun, and a great alternative to television.
Try to read aloud from time to time, especially if you feel uncomfortable when you have to do it in class. The more comfortable you feel when pronouncing the words, the easier it is for you to express yourself orally and the more confident you will be when pronouncing the words and speaking. Plus, it can be fun to hear how good good writing sounds. Read Edgar Allan Poe aloud, or other poets to improve yourself
Step 2. Learn words that you frequently misspell
English is full of contradictions and quirks, making it a difficult language to pronounce and spell correctly. Why is there a "b" at the end of the word "comb" ("comb") when it has no sound? Why do people pronounce the word "conch" as if it were spelled "konk" but not say "church" as if it were spelled "churk"? Who knows. We all have words that are difficult for us to pronounce, so it is best to learn how they are written and memorize them. These are the words that are often misspelled or the complicated words for people in general:
- definitely (definitely);
- Beautiful beautiful);
- believe (to believe);
- library (library);
- nuclear (nuclear);
- neighbor;
- ceiling (ceiling);
- exercise (exercise);
- vacuum (vacuum cleaner);
- villain (villain);
- jewelry (jewelry);
- license.
Step 3. Use mnemonics to memorize difficult words
People make spelling mistakes as long as the spelling rules exist. It is nothing new. Luckily, this means that there are several simple tricks that have been passed down from generation to generation, so you can use a few to make your life easier and improve your English grades. These are some of the best tricks:
- "You cut a footce of foot ”(" You cut a piece of cake ").
- "You h ear with your ear ”(" You hear with your ear ").
- ” Bcause ANDlephants Can TOlways ORnderstand Small ANDlephants”(" Because elephants can always understand little elephants "). Just because.
- "Never be liego to lie ”(" Never believe a lie ").
- "An island is land" ("An island is a land").
- “ Eee! A c andm andt andry! " ("Oh, how scary, a cemetery!").
Step 4. Play word games
There are many digital and analog word games that will help you practice word regularly while having a good time, as opposed to doing homework. Play board games like Boggle, Scrabble, and Bananagrams to improve your writing skills, and solve crossword puzzles to expand your vocabulary. On your cell phone, you can play Crosstix, Hangman and Word Scramble for free or play the popular game "Words with Friends" with your friends. It is much better than Candy Crush.
Step 5. Turn off the spell checker
In a recent study conducted and published by the BBC, more than a third of those surveyed could not spell the word "definitely" correctly, while two-thirds were unable to spell the word "necessary" (" necessary ") correctly. The so-called "self-correcting effect" seems to be a sign that using this computer tool negatively influences our ability to spell words correctly. Although doing without this help may seem like torture, it can be a good way to force yourself to learn to write and spell words correctly. You will always have the option to check the text with the spell checker once you are done. You just have to practice.
Method 3 of 3: Improve Your Writing
Step 1. Use the active voice instead of the passive voice
Verbs have passive and active voices, and people who write well always use the active voice. The passive voice, suitable for scientific articles and some technical texts, creates a distance in the writing. On the other hand, the active voice stands out more. By using the exact same verb, you can make a sentence much more active and alive. To write in an active voice is to write well.
- Passive voice: "The city has been scorched by the dragon's breath". Here the verb of the sentence is actually "to be", because the subject of the sentence ("the city") is in the act of being changed by something ("the dragon's breath").
- Active voice: "The dragon's breath scorched the city". Here "the dragon" is the subject of the sentence and the verb "scorch" is used as the verb of the sentence and not as a verb phrase.
Step 2. Use fewer commas and use them correctly
The main problem for many inexperienced writers is the correct use of commas. However, it is actually not that complicated. Commas are not used to pause, but to separate different parts of a complex sentence. This is not to say that they are not complex punctuation marks, but that using commas unnecessarily is bad writing.
- Use commas when starting adverb sentences: "Although I drank the poison Kool-Aid, my Wednesday was mostly boring".
- Use commas with "because" sentences, only if the subsequent sentence is complex. For example, "I drank the Kool-Aid because I was thirsty" does not need a comma before "because". However, "I drank the Kool-Aid, because my sister left me home alone and there wasn't anything else to drink" requires a comma, because the subject of the sentence is not the same.
- Use commas to separate the introduction of a sentence: in "Fortunately, I carry a pocketknife" the use of the comma is correct. Similarly, the sentences "To begin a novel correctly, forget everything you know" are also spelled correctly.
- Use commas to separate opposite sentences: "The puppies were cute, but smelled disgusting". Avoid using commas when sentences do not conflict: "I'm happy but I can't help it".
Step 3. You must be concise
In general, using fewer words ensures better writing. Many inexperienced students and writers are convinced that writing long, complex sentences will impress their teachers and make them look like geniuses to the other students in their class. Just worry about writing clear sentences and not overly complex sentences. Do not write beyond your means, overloading the sentences with unnecessary words to increase the number of words. Use sentences as clear and direct as possible. Don't use too flowery words.
- Adverbs and adjectives can be easily removed. The sentence "The flowing, fiery dragon breath beset the besieged and ragged city dwellers, cowering in their filthy, stinking, scorched rags of clothes, all matted and terrible". city, who were scared to death and dressed in dirty and smelly rags burned and destroyed ") would be much better written as follows:" Flowing, the dragon breath scorched the city dwellers, who cowered in their stinking clothes "(" The fulminant The dragon's breath scorched the city dwellers, who cowered in fear behind their smelly rags. ")
- Avoid prepositional phrases excessively. To avoid poorly constructed sentences, get in the habit of not overusing prepositional phrases. Too much prepositions is a sign that you should restructure sentences to improve the relationship between subject and verb. Sentences with too many prepositions are confusing: "In the field, over the cascading weeks, inside a house, like a weeping girl stood Joseph." a girl"). Instead of that sentence, you'd better use the following sentence: "Like a weeping girl, Joseph stood inside a house in the field. Over the cascading weeks, he …" ("Joseph was inside a house in the field, crying like a girl ").
Step 4. Don't use the thesaurus from your computer's word processor
Many students are convinced that clicking the right mouse button and replacing common words with another suggested synonym will help them improve their writing. However, most of the time this is not the case. Also, if you change "The bond between the nations was strong" to "The bond between the nations was beefy", as suggested thesaurus, the sentence will be meaningless. Also, most teachers can perfectly recognize when you're using vocabulary that you don't really know, so it's best to focus on the most important aspects of your writing.
If you want to use a more suitable word or replace a word, searching for suggested synonyms is a completely acceptable way to find alternatives to that word, but if you don't know the word, you should look it up in the dictionary before adding it to the text
Step 5. Check the text several times. Writing well means editing well. There is no one person who writes well and drafts perfect drafts, and neither will you. If you want to be good at English and excel in English class, it is important that you spend enough time at the end of a writing assignment to reread, revise, and correct it. Although they look alike, it is different to read the text once it is finished than to revise or correct it. Reading, reviewing and correcting a text are quite different elements and some are just as important as others.
- Editing is done by improving an essay using other words to improve the text, reviewing the content of the text and addressing the major problems in the essay or work. When you review the text, do it again, looking at it from another perspective.
- When you want to correct a text, look for errors at the sentence level. Therefore, when you go to correct a text you should look for spelling errors, commas and other little problems. You should do it after reviewing it.
Advice
- Do your best not to draw pictures, pass notes to your classmates, or talk to them in class. You will avoid missing an important lesson and ending up in management.
- Practice writing with good spelling on a regular basis, at the same time every day. Practice every day until the day comes to prove your good spelling.
- Sit up front and ask the questions using good vocabulary.
- Asking questions and asking the teacher to repeat something will not only help you improve your listening skills in English, but will also help you answer other classmates' questions. In addition, you will remember better what you learned when you do your homework.
- Get a Nook or a Kindle. With these electronic gadgets, it will be more comfortable for you to read and you will save space on the shelf, as well as having the possibility of taking several books with you wherever you go.