Improving writing

**Spongy** · 10-31-2009, 03:14 AM

Hi All,

Though I've been learning English since I was 3, I found my writing has no big improvement. Its level seems to stay at a junior stage. I've tried reading books and newspaper to build up my vocabularies, it only helps a little.

My supervisors preferred Canadian writing (actually I dun know what're the differences between the Canadian style, US style and UK style), so I want to aim at this.

Anyone can tell me what books I should start on? I really want to improve my poor English writing.

**Samoan Corleone** · 10-31-2009, 03:41 AM

There's nothing I can tell you to do that you're not already doing. What is it specifically about your writing that you want to improve on? Is it your vocabulary, syntax, writing in general, etc?

Also, I'm not a professional writer, but there are some on here who should have some things to contribute.

**SongofSeptember** · 10-31-2009, 06:08 AM

	Originally Posted by Spongy To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Hi All, Though I've been learning English since I was 3, I found my writing has no big improvement. Its level seems to stay at a junior stage. I've tried reading books and newspaper to build up my vocabularies, it only helps a little.

Like Samoan said, please elaborate. Also, what type of writing are you referring to? Expository, analytical, or narrative? Fiction? Prose? Poetry? Or are you thinking more along the lines of fluency and mechanics?


	My supervisors preferred Canadian writing (actually I dun know what're the differences between the Canadian style, US style and UK style), so I want to aim at this.

Interesting. As an international student having studied a variety of English literary works from all over the place (though not so much Canada) and various time periods, I've never even thought of attaching styles to geographic regions, only movements and writers themselves. Then again, you might not be referring to literature, but now I'm curious.

**Spongy** · 10-31-2009, 08:19 PM

It shall be syntax, fluency and vocabularies.

We usually communicate by e-mail in office, when reading others' e-mail, I found colleagues returning from Australia, UK and Canada expressed their thoughts with different syntax. I compared theirs with mine, I found my expression sometimes with grammatical mistakes and mostly my writing was not very native. Besides I found that looking up dictionary can't help me to learn vocabularies properly as those translated meanings sometimes are not the exact meanings being expressed by the authors due to the cultural differences; this limits my expression.

By the way, I looked up the dictionary, it contains only the Physic's explanation of "mechanics", what does it actually mean?

**rara avis** · 11-01-2009, 04:43 PM

"Mechanics" commonly refers to the workings of machines and machinery. Someone who works with and repairs machinery (especially cars) is also called a mechanic. In this context, though, "mechanics" means the inner workings of the language- how the pieces of it fit and work together.

Besides reading others' writing, maybe there is a correspondance or online course you can take, where someone can correct your writing and explain it to you? It seems like this might be the quickest way to improve.

Your writing is good- I don't have any trouble understanding what you mean, which is the important part. There are small mistakes... or just choices, which are somehow different from the ones a native speaker/writer might make.

It's interesting that your instructors specify Canadian writing. Maybe because it is, in a way, a blend between British and American English styles. Also, Canadian writing- at least in terms of fiction- often seems more subdued, to me. It has a different, less flashy feel to it than American fiction. I like it.

**Samoan Corleone** · 11-01-2009, 04:46 PM

*attempts to awake a sleeping dog*

I don't know what Canadian rules are, but whatever you do, make sure to spell certain words with "s" instead of "z", like in "expertise".

**Spongy** · 11-01-2009, 10:25 PM

Many thanks for all your replies. I do like having this kind of discussion / sharing.

So I learn some important concept here: meaning of "Mechanics", be aware of the use of "s" and "z" in words, and be focused on specific areas of writing...

The most important is that questioning and practicing can help reaching out of limit (step by step - no short cut)!

**Conservationist** · 11-02-2009, 05:52 AM

	Originally Posted by SongofSeptember To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I've never even thought of attaching styles to geographic regions

Because we all know that all peoples and all people are exactly the same.

That's safe.

**Yardy** · 11-04-2009, 10:14 AM

	Originally Posted by Spongy To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Many thanks for all your replies. I do like having this kind of discussion / sharing. So I learn some important concept here: meaning of "Mechanics", be aware of the use of "s" and "z" in words, and be focused on specific areas of writing... The most important is that questioning and practicing can help reaching out of limit (step by step - no short cut)!

Newspapers probably aren't the best source for studying common colloquial speech. Usually American newspapers hover around the 6th grade reading level and the writers and editors of those papers are not very qualified. The best thing to read would be popular fiction books and ones with lots of dialogue. Just skim through a book that looks interesting to you, that is also widely popular and see if there's lots of dialogue before you buy it.

EDIT: About the newspapers, I realized after I posted that in some areas people might be offended by a high vocabulary. I still recommend reading the popular fiction instead though, because the writers of that genre make a living by studying the way people speak in the real world.

Also just listen to how people speak. I realize you're already doing that, and it's not a very satisfactory answer for you, but if you keep listening to how people speak around you in every-day settings that's the best and most reliable way of gaining fluency in another language. Your english is already excellent. Just beware of grammatical mistakes many native english speakers make due to their own ignorance of the language.

I'm sorry I can't be more help :/

**Sirus** · 11-04-2009, 03:45 PM

my vocab is awesome. my grammar and spelling make me look like a 4 year old.

10-31-2009, 03:14 AM	#1
Spongy New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 30	Hi All, Though I've been learning English since I was 3, I found my writing has no big improvement. Its level seems to stay at a junior stage. I've tried reading books and newspaper to build up my vocabularies, it only helps a little. My supervisors preferred Canadian writing (actually I dun know what're the differences between the Canadian style, US style and UK style), so I want to aim at this. Anyone can tell me what books I should start on? I really want to improve my poor English writing.
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10-31-2009, 03:41 AM	#2
Samoan Corleone Core Member [151%] MBTI: INxJ Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 6,078	There's nothing I can tell you to do that you're not already doing. What is it specifically about your writing that you want to improve on? Is it your vocabulary, syntax, writing in general, etc? Also, I'm not a professional writer, but there are some on here who should have some things to contribute.
Samoan Corleone is offline post a comment

10-31-2009, 08:19 PM	#4
Spongy New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 30	It shall be syntax, fluency and vocabularies. We usually communicate by e-mail in office, when reading others' e-mail, I found colleagues returning from Australia, UK and Canada expressed their thoughts with different syntax. I compared theirs with mine, I found my expression sometimes with grammatical mistakes and mostly my writing was not very native. Besides I found that looking up dictionary can't help me to learn vocabularies properly as those translated meanings sometimes are not the exact meanings being expressed by the authors due to the cultural differences; this limits my expression. By the way, I looked up the dictionary, it contains only the Physic's explanation of "mechanics", what does it actually mean?
Spongy is offline post a comment

11-01-2009, 04:43 PM	#5
rara avis Core Member [163%] MBTI: INTP Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 6,521	"Mechanics" commonly refers to the workings of machines and machinery. Someone who works with and repairs machinery (especially cars) is also called a mechanic. In this context, though, "mechanics" means the inner workings of the language- how the pieces of it fit and work together. Besides reading others' writing, maybe there is a correspondance or online course you can take, where someone can correct your writing and explain it to you? It seems like this might be the quickest way to improve. Your writing is good- I don't have any trouble understanding what you mean, which is the important part. There are small mistakes... or just choices, which are somehow different from the ones a native speaker/writer might make. It's interesting that your instructors specify Canadian writing. Maybe because it is, in a way, a blend between British and American English styles. Also, Canadian writing- at least in terms of fiction- often seems more subdued, to me. It has a different, less flashy feel to it than American fiction. I like it.
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11-01-2009, 04:46 PM	#6
Samoan Corleone Core Member [151%] MBTI: INxJ Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 6,078	attempts to awake a sleeping dog I don't know what Canadian rules are, but whatever you do, make sure to spell certain words with "s" instead of "z", like in "expertise".
Samoan Corleone is offline post a comment

11-01-2009, 10:25 PM	#7
Spongy New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 30	Many thanks for all your replies. I do like having this kind of discussion / sharing. So I learn some important concept here: meaning of "Mechanics", be aware of the use of "s" and "z" in words, and be focused on specific areas of writing... The most important is that questioning and practicing can help reaching out of limit (step by step - no short cut)!
Spongy is offline post a comment

11-04-2009, 03:45 PM	#10
Sirus New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3	my vocab is awesome. my grammar and spelling make me look like a 4 year old.
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