Last updated on March 11th, 2023 at 12:58 pm
Many among us have a strong desire to write good English. The first step to be able to do so is knowing how to write better and correct English sentences.
This article gives you 16 suggestions that will help you remove common grammar errors and improve your sentences with respect to compositional viewpoint.
You also get links to web resources containing deep-study material in regard to the individual tips.
So, here are the unmissable tips that are worth giving your time and attention for better sentence writing.
1. Maintain appropriate sentence structure
As far as possible, stick to the basic sentence structure, i.e., Subject-> Verb-> Object/ Complement/ Adjunct
Example:
Vineeta (subject) plays (verb) tennis (object).
Goyal (subject) arrived (verb) quickly (adjunct).
Learn sentence structure quickly on Byjus
2. Preferably use active voice until it becomes necessary to use passive voice
Examples of active and passive voice:
Active: Their team played good hockey.
Passive: Good hockey was played by their team.
It is better to use the first sentence.
However, only on some occasions, it is more appropriate to use passive voice.
Example:
An office order: This order is issued in general interest.
When you do not know the subject perfectly: Rome was not built in a day.
When the subject is not much important: Windmills have been installed in the region for constant supply of energy.
In case we are stating a universal truth: Truth is revealed only after it occurs.
3. Use simple sentences
Sentence type really matters. A long sentence is uncomfortable to read and understand. In general, do not use compound and compound-complex sentences. Rather turn long sentences to short sentences by either breaking them into simple sentences. Also, cut down redundant usage from wordy sentences.
Example:
Compound-complex sentence: Since it was raining, we discarded the idea of going to the market and stayed back home to watch a movie.
Converted into a number of Simple sentences: It was raining. So, we discarded the idea of going to the market. We stayed back home to watch a movie.
Read to know why wordiness exists despite its demerits: Enjoy examples of verbosity in writing
4. Use correct tense of verb in a sentence
Your sentences must contain correct tense of the verb to indicate the time of happening of an event.
Example:
Incorrect: I wrote this letter just now.
Correct: I have written this letter just now.
The phrase ‘just now’ indicates that the event has finished a few moments back. So, the verb assumes past participle form (3rd form), i.e., ‘has written’.
English grammar tests on tenses
5. Choose words/ phrases that precisely convey the meaning you desire
Take care not to compromise with the choice of words. Even a word or phrase differing narrowly from what you intend to convey, deviates your writing from being outstanding.
Example:
Observe how the following three sentences vary in meaning narrowly.
He walked back to the shore. (Normal walking)
He trudged back to the shore. (Walking with exhaustion)
He limped back to the shore. (Walking with an injury)
Hard words in English- Proven tips to be conversant with them
6. Avoid the mistakes of number (singular and plural)
Some nouns are same in singular and plural forms. So do not add ‘s’ or ‘es’ to them.
Examples:
Incorrect: He washed his hairs yesterday.
Correct: He washed his hair yesterday.
Incorrect: The fishes in the aquarium look beautiful.
Correct: The fish in the aquarium look beautiful.
Some other examples are apparatus, offspring, furniture, information, gymnastics etc.
Another mistake of number occurs due to wrong use of the possessive adjective concerned with nouns and pronouns:
Examples:
Incorrect: Tom and Jerry ran to its respective rooms.
Correct: Tom and Jerry ran to their respective rooms.
In this sentence, a wrong possessive adjective (its) was used with ‘Tom and Jerry’ (Plural). So, it has been corrected with ‘their’.
Auxiliary verb must be in agreement with the number of the noun.
Incorrect: All the rotten fruits was discarded.
Correct: All the rotten fruits were discarded.
7. Use appropriate prepositions
Prepositions can be quite confusing at times. Whenever you come across a cryptic use of preposition, note it down. Also, read and discuss about the prepositions before and after a particular word.
Example: accompanied by and accompanied with.
Nandini will be accompanied by Archer to the summit. (One person escorting other/ can also be used for inanimate things)
The circuit board was accompanied with screws. (‘accompanied with’ is used for two inanimate things and indicates a combination or a package)
Preposition exercises with answer keys on Grammarly
8. Always check for pronouns being in agreement with their antecedents
Example:
Incorrect: Rebecca had finished her homework. He had also completed daily chores in the morning.
Incorrect: Rebecca had finished his homework. She had also completed daily chores in the morning.
Correct: Rebecca had finished her homework. She had also completed daily chores in the morning.
9. Avoid common punctuation mistakes
Learn comma rules. Specially mark the punctuation while using direct speech.
Learn where to use dash, long dash, period, semi colon, question mark, exclamation mark etc.
Direct and indirect speech example:
Direct (Incorrect punctuation): He said if I have to go, I want to carry a sword.
Direct (Correct punctuation): He said, “If I have to go, I want to carry a sword.”
Indirect speech: He said that if he had to go, he wanted to carry a sword.
Solve this punctuation exercise
10. Avoid using ‘ing’ with stative verbs
There are some verbs known as stative verbs for which a ‘present continuous’ usage is not appropriate. This is so because these verbs define ‘how something is’ or appears. They do not depict action.
Examples- doubt, seem, prefer, suppose, hate, feel, love, include, astonish etc.
Incorrect: I am doubting her efficiency.
Correct: I doubt her efficiency.
Incorrect: She is feeling she should have accompanied him.
Correct: She feels she should have accompanied him.
11. Avoid wordiness
Ornamental use of more-than-necessary words to elaborate a simple situation makes your writing ambiguous and difficult to understand.
Example:
Sentence with wordiness: The dangerously ferocious and shockingly aggressive creation of the nature, all of a sudden, manifested itself from behind the flock of trees and stood in our way in the jungle.
Sentence without wordiness: The dangerous animal suddenly appeared from behind the trees in the jungle.
12. Use words/ phrases that fit the mood and parlance of context and the writing style
Parlance means the mode of speech being used in a context.
Example: If you are describing a computer environment,
Inappropriate: The system has died.
Appropriate: The system has crashed.
The mood in writing refers to the overall perception that a writer creates for the audience. So, if you pick a humorous word or write a casual sentence while telling a horror story, the usage will not suit the mood.
Example:
Inappropriate: A loud guffaw was heard in the darkness.
Appropriate: A piercing, shrill laughter was heard tearing through the darkness.
13. Mention dates and times in proper order and format
Keep reminding yourself throughout the process of writing an article or blog post about who you are writing for. You must cite the dates and times in accordance with the targeted audience.
If a nation or locality follows YYYY-MM-DD for dates, citing a date like 12-13-14 could confuse the reader.
Moreover, according to the Cambridge dictionary, the order in a sentence goes like this: adverb of manner -> place -> time.
Example:
Incorrect: I want to play this Friday (time) defensively (manner) at 6 PM (time) in the Centre Court (place).
Correct: I want to play defensively in the Centre Court at 6 PM this Friday.
14. Avoid the errors of gender antecedent
One must read carefully while editing, to check whether proper antecedents have been used for their respective nouns.
Example:
Incorrect: Tanuja, the girl next door, called his mother immediately.
Correct: Tanuja, the girl next door, called her mother immediately.
15. Proper articles
One must learn the rules for using ‘a’, ‘an’ and ‘the’ before words properly.
Example:
Incorrect: Cow that I saw was white in color.
Correct: The cow that I saw was white in color.
Solve some exercises on articles
16. Avoid spelling mistakes and mind the version of English being used
Whenever you write a piece, check and recheck your write-up for the spellings of cryptic words.
Example:
Incorrect: Diarrhia
Correct: Diarrhoea
Moreover, you must take into account the version of English language that you are using currently. If you are using American English, you should spell some words differently from their spellings in British English.
Example:
British English: colour
American English: color
Read a post on spelling differences between British and American English
Write Better and Correct English Sentences to Earn Kudos Everywhere
When you start eliminating common grammar errors from your sentences, you become a better writer.
If you are a student, it could mean improvement in your grades. If you are an online writer, your earnings may go up.
Writing correct English sentences may take some time in the beginning. However, with more practice, you will be making less mistakes and be able to take to professional article writing.
Though they do not work perfectly, yet you may choose to avail the services of English sentence checkers online.
Recommended for you:
Understanding Sentence Inversion in English