English isn't my first language.
I make errors here and there but overtime I learn how to tackle these. There are many tools available that could help your blog become more readable. This is something I want to touch on today. I want to share these resources that can help your writing to sound a bit more polished. Note : If you want to put an effort read on ! if not then skip this post 😄
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Check the definition of a word
When English isn't our first language, sometimes our vocabulary is limited. We resort to any translator tool but they are not accurate and our writing sounded off. So one thing that I do is check the definition of the word just by using google search and add “ definition” behind it. If you want to become more sophisticated with your word choices use https://www.thesaurus.com/.
Use google docs or Grammarly (if you have the means a.k.a money)
For those of you who like free tools, you can use google docs. They will polish your writing. They fix your errors in spelling and minor grammar mistakes. They won't do as much as grammarly but at least your writing is readable.
Know basic comparison between your native language and English
In some languages, they don't even have tenses or even plural form. So perhaps you notice some oddities here and there. I think this is why It's very important that you know the basic comparison between your native language and English. I am taking an example of the Indonesian language (Bahasa). The difference lies in syntax, noun comes first before adjective. For more on this topic and very basic understanding, British Council got you covered The Main Differences Between English and Indonesian. Knowing these differences will help you a lot and your blog.
Read the topic of your niche in English
Note: It's not just exclusively in English.However, Since we are talking about English, reading your niche in English helps you understand the vocabulary and the "lingo" . Each niche has their own set of vocabulary and "lingo". Knowing these will make your blog stand out. What I notice is that the people who knows the "lingo" is often a professional at what they do. Not only that, your writing will sound more comprehensible, polished, and native-like.
Longer paragraphs doesn't always mean readers will get it
Some great articles I know are written in less than 1000 words. Space your paragraphs to make it more readable. If it’s longer than 10 separate it. An example of this is when someone writes a review. I think that readers care more about what you think rather than retelling the narrative that we can easily find on google. So, it's okay if 250 words is all you got, as long as you get the point across, that's awesome.
You don’t have to write longer paragraphs just to fill in the number count with something we can easily find on google.
Learn Pop Culture and Observe
These days, you can go to any social media, and learn how people interact with each other. This is important because sometimes you can not use the equivalent of your culture in an English context. Learning these will help you interact globally in an English speaking environment.
If you write in two languages, don't just translate it word by word
Use any translator app/website responsibly. You can't always trust them to get your point across. One thing that I notice all these years is that people use the word CURE for CURATING. They mean different thing.
See! that’s again why knowing definition of a word is important.
Learn idiom
You might know some idioms and phrases in your native language and want to use them. But you know what? They don’t actually translate the same. So whenever you want to use an idiom, check the English equivalent of it. One website that’s good for learning idioms is this one : https://www.theidioms.com/list/alphabetical/
I have been ruminating about writing this because I read countless posts in a day and sometimes I wish I could fix it and make it better. I notice that sometimes we hate getting corrected; It hurts our ego and I get that. So, this is why I am writing these as something that I did and still do even to this day.
Hopefully you can get something from what I wrote above. Maybe you can share some more tips that you do in the comment section.
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| Mac is a jack of all trades. A typical introvert in love with literature, books, technology and philosophy. She is also so into nootropics, productivity, minimalist lifestyle, cybersecurity, and languages. Other than that, she is passionate about cooking and traveling. In her free time, she enjoys learning various things. If you like her content, don't hesitate to upvote, leave a comment or a feedback. A re-blog is also appreciated. |