Easiest way to improve grammar / writing style.

Pyro.

I've just received my annual report from work and a big point that has been picked up on is my general every day to day grammar / wording. I send emails out daily and some are seen by those high up in the business, whilst my emails have never been a problem i do feel there are better ways to word things.

Also basic comments on forums such as this one. I just need to brush up on it.

Is there a forum or software that sets exercises or where you can post things and get criticism on?

I feel this is the only way to improve.

robatwork

My rule is that I always re-read every email I send out twice.

Of course, you have to know all the rules and have a good grasp of grammar to make that worthwhile. For example, your post has a lower case "i" when you are referring to yourself. OK not desperately important on a forum but something you could have seen on a read through.

Cheeky_Monkey

Pyro. wrote: »

I've just received my annual report from work and a big point that has been picked up on is my general every day to day grammar / wording. I send emails out daily and some are seen by those high up in the business, whilst my emails have never been a problem i do feel there are better ways to word things.

Also basic comments on forums such as this one. I just need to brush up on it.

Is there a forum or software that sets exercises or where you can post things and get criticism on?

I feel this is the only way to improve.

This forum will certainly help you with that :rotfl::rotfl:

ohreally

robatwork wrote: »

My rule is that I always re-read every email I send out twice

Why send the e-mail twice?

tomtontom

robatwork wrote: »

My rule is that I always re-read every email I send out twice.

Of course, you have to know all the rules and have a good grasp of grammar to make that worthwhile. For example, your post has a lower case "i" when you are referring to yourself. OK not desperately important on a forum but something you could have seen on a read through.

To add to this, where possible leave five minutes (or longer) between typing and re-reading. It gives you the opportunity to step back/ dissociate from what you have written and see it from the viewpoint of the recipient.

theoretica

Is your problem that you don't know what is correct when you think or that it comes out wrong? I make all sorts of stupid mistakes when typing. I blame my fingers. Apostrophes creep in where they shouldn't, sentences come out as complete gibberish if I change thought part way through and think and thing always get swapped.

Reading through slowly, at a slow speaking speed or slower, is my usual way of catching slips. On a fast read through it is too easy to read what I intended to write, not what I did.

xapprenticex

Give me an example of what you would type (including errors you would normally make).

SailorSam

If you come here to Liverpool we'll
lern yer to tork more proper.

xapprenticex

I remember on one occasion a guy from Liverpool had the misfortune of speaking on xbox live, the whole lobby laughed at the poor guys accent and he get ripped to shreds.

Used to love watching Brookside though.

Mojisola

Would a basic tutorial help -
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/

Pyro.

Thanks for the replies.

I do tend to take my time a re-read through before sending.

I will take a look at what links you have posted.

Below is a very basic and short, but realistic email i have made up which i would send out to others.

After looking at the online electrical safety register i have noticed that many of our systems are due retesting at around the same time. To capture these items before the end test date i propose we test the equipment in a scheduled order - to prevent all from expiring together.
I will create an excel spreadsheet where i would like you to insert the best possible time for my team to come and re-test all of this equipment.

If we do one department at a time this will help us to capture all of the equipment together and not miss any parts of equipment out.

That's pretty much a basic email i would send around to the departments. Whilst i feel this is ok, i know there's much better ways to word it. What do you think?