And please do not say reading bcuz I read a lot. I’m just not to sure if I'm writing the correct way, I also need to improve my spelling...any suggestions? Serious answer guys!
2006-07-27 12:38:55 · 22 answers · asked by melinda 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
Take a grammar course. Seriously. I took a semester of grammar and I have never been the same person. I was one of the best English students in my school. You get so much more respect online and you get good grades.
2006-07-27 12:41:00 · answer #1 · answered by J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry... I know you said "please do not say reading". But that is the answer I would give. As for spelling, if you read a lot, you should be picking up spelling without too much trouble. It depends on what you are reading. For instance, comic books won't help much, but a good novel will. Just choose something you're interested in...
Also, I'd suggest going to your local library and finding a book on grammar. Believe it or not, you might find what you need in the Children's section, since that is generally the age it is taught, even though many adults have poor grammar. And, when you do find a book on grammar, practice it! Practice writitng it, reading it, and speaking it. Repetition will most likely help.
Good luck to you on your endeavor toward self-improvement! And you CAN teach an old dog new tricks! You can do it! ;o)
2006-07-27 19:49:53 · answer #2 · answered by truthseeker909 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A great way to improve grammar is to take a college course in grammar use. I did that in my first year, and it was very helpful. I still make a lot of mistakes, but I am better than I was.
As for spelling, I found that I learned a lot from turning off the 'autocorrect' feature on my computer. I then have to go through and manually correct all of the things that are underlined in red.
Oh, and I just remembered that there is a very good book called "Eats, shoots and leaves". It is a sort of comedy book about common gramatical errors that significantly change the meaning:
Meaning one: "Eats shoots and leaves" - what a panda eats - shoots and leaves
Meaning two: "Eats, shoots and leaves" - what a gangster does if he doesn't want to pay for dinner.
2006-07-27 19:42:13 · answer #3 · answered by Loulabelle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can get a book, it is a wonderful book actually. Writing for the College Student. OR go onto google and search. Or better yet go into a barnes and Noble, waldenbooks,chapters,or some kind of big book store place. And as a cashier or helper a good book on english grammer. They can help you out. Be sure though to leaf through to make sure it covers what you want. Or ask your high school/college professor or some teacher or mentor of some sort what books are good. It is handy to have even as an adult later in life while in the "real world" you will need to be able to , expect to have good grammer and writing skills.
I like a book.. not too sure of the exact little. But writing for College or something.. or theres one that even better but a bit more exspensive. I do not know what it is called but its a spiral book with tabs really good. Both are actually handy.
2006-07-27 19:45:00 · answer #4 · answered by SEXY 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buy a used grammar text (cheap), and study it.
The Elements of Style is an excellent (little) book about improving one's writing.
Practice writing, and then rewriting.
If you know someone who knows good grammar, have them edit your work.
For spelling, use spell-checkers. They're almost always available. If one isn't in the program you're using, paste things into another program to check, or use a dictionary.
After a while of making the same spelling errors, you might learn the correct spellings, just because you get sick of making the same mistakes.
2006-07-27 19:46:24 · answer #5 · answered by tehabwa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I really was going to say reading. I learned much from reading the books recommended when I was in school. I also spent time reading encyclopedias, of all things, in the evening when I was young. I learned a lot more than just grammar and spelling. I guess you could enroll in some kind of class.
2006-07-27 19:44:07 · answer #6 · answered by fishing66833 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are two wonderful, entertaining books on grammar that I recommend...
1: "Eats, Shoots, & Leaves" by Lynne Truss
2: "The Deluxe Transitive Vampire" by Karen Elizabeth Gordon
go to the Library and check out these two books and not only will you have a lot of laughs, your grammar will improve!! This is the fun way to learn grammar.
2006-07-27 19:44:29 · answer #7 · answered by schenzy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep a journal. It doesn't have to be all personal or anything, just do more writing. Or (don't think i'm nerdy cuz i do this) pick up a dictionary once a day and learn a new word. Focus on spelling and definitions. When you do this, your brain learns spelling patterns and you get a better vocabulary. Helped me improve a lot.
2006-07-27 19:44:48 · answer #8 · answered by Jugglingmidget06 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
- Take an English course.
- Continue to read, but keep a dictionary and a notebook by your side. As you come across words you don't know, write them down. Look them up and then write down a sentence using the word.
- Practice your writing. Practice makes Perfect.
- Speak and write in proper English. The more you use proper language the better you will become at using it.
2006-07-27 19:45:46 · answer #9 · answered by Quartro Ninos 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take a class if possible. They are out there! I've taken one once... I think I need to retake it though!
OK, I know you said no reading, but these 3 books will help. They are chock full of examples of correct and incorrect grammar:
The Elements of Style - Strunk and White
The Little, Brown Handbook - Fowler and Aaron
English Verbs - Hopper
I have them, and they are a great help! Good luck!
2006-07-27 19:45:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋