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September 22, 2009

Effective Writing Tips For Second Language English Speakers

It’s tough having to use English as your second language.  Even harder, when you need to compose documents using it.  Being able to write effectively isn’t beyond your level, however.  Provided you can manage a halfway decent conversation in real life, you just might pull the writing thing off too.

Use a writing software. So you don’t have the greatest skill set.  That doesn’t mean you can’t employ the proper tools to get you through.  A writing software should manage the job handily.  Used in conjunction with your language software and a couple other writing guides, English composition should prove easier than you expect.  At the least, your ears won’t bleed.

Keep sentences short. Since your sentence construction isn’t likely to be perfect, keep them as short as you can manage.  Try to stick with either simple sentences or those that combine two clauses, nothing more.

Watch your subject and verb. When putting sentences together, place the subject and verb as near to the start as possible.  Try to keep them as close to each other as well.  You can vary this at certain points during the text, but try sticking to them as much as possible, as this structure does read much better and is less susceptible to error.

Use bullet points and numbered lists. Bullet points and numbered lists help you keep statements short.  Heck, you might even get away doing it with bad punctuation, all without affecting the reader’s overall understanding of what you’ve written.

Want more?  Just read the rest of the site, as we regularly feature English writing tips for second language learners.

March 14, 2009

Writing English For An International Audience

While there are hundreds of languages in the world, there’s no doubt that English continues to be the most common medium for international communication. If you want to get a great piece of written work to as many people as possible, chances are you’ll have to translate it into English to reach the widest possible audience.

When translating into English for an international crowd, it pays to bear in mind that your piece will be read by non-native speakers, many of whom may not understand the nuances that someone well-versed in it may take for granted. Whether you use a language translation software to generate a first draft or write it out manually, keeping a few simple things in mind can help make your version the valuable piece of work it deserves to be.

Write Clearly

More than having spotless grammar and a vocabulary that will make your high school English teacher blush, your writing needs to be clear. Drill down words, phrases and ideas to the their simplest form to allow everyone to get a good grasp of the text. Use basic constructions to avoid confusing readers. Always ask yourself if there is a way to make each sentence clearer. If the answer is “yes,” don’t hesitate to change it.

Cultural Differences

If you’re hoping that your piece will be read by a large number of people, it pays to take into account that many of them will have widely different beliefs, behaviors and practices compared to you. As such, avoid generalizations – nothing can turn a readers faster than writers who make assumptions about a culture they clearly know little about.


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