How to improve our written skill ?

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How to improve our written skill ?

karthik M

One Orange Chip

Points: 29139
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November 22, 2007 at 6:31 am

#103436

I want to improve my written skill,what i need to do ?
karthik

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 17 total)

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Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004363 More actions · Answer 1

If what you mean by "written skill" is "writing skills in the English language", then take some English courses, practice talking with people in English, and then maybe take a technical writer's course. And, read, read, read... read books... not the garbage folks post on forums which is typical short-hand for real English 😛

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

Loner SSC-Insane Points: 21279 More actions · Answer 2

People teased me all the time about my grammar. The first comment of my first article was complaining about my grammar.

The fact is you just keep writing. Don't let those people bothering you. I am not a writer, I am a programmer and English is my second language.

In fact there are a lot of programmers cannot write proper English too.

I always have to write documentation, most people do not care about grammar except one senior programmer, each of his documentation usually had 10 pages while the rest of us (the other programmers too) had average 4 to 5 pages.

My manager was happy about my 4 pages documentation.

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004363 More actions · Answer 3

I agree... length of documentation has nothing to do with good documentation. But saying something like "Me want buy thet contest" will make quite a different impression than "I want to win that contest"... especially on a resume 😉

English is a second language to many people... but if it's what you use to earn a living, you'd better get good at it because it will give you "the edge" 😀

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

S Hodkinson SSCertifiable Points: 7529 More actions · Answer 4

I'd recommend 'Fowler's Modern English Usage'. Its been going since 1926 and has been updated recently.

Its got examples of all sorts including those English words where the sound is same but the words are spelt differently and mean different things. I understand that this is a particular problem where English is not your first language.

:Whistling:

Madame Artois

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004363 More actions · Answer 5

Heh... and there's another good example... words like "spelt" and "learnt" may be good and proper words in "European English"... it the U.S.A., they are more correctly written and pronounced as "spelled" and "learned". In fact, here's the listing one of the more well known dictionaries has for "spelt"...

1spelt
Pronunciation: \'spelt\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin spelta, of Germanic origin; perhaps akin to Middle High German spelte split piece of wood, Old High German spaltan to split — more at split
Date: before 12th century
Main Entry:2spelt
Pronunciation:\'speltchiefly British past and past participle of spell

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

S Hodkinson SSCertifiable Points: 7529 More actions · Answer 6

This is because American English is descended from the English spoken in 17th and 18th century and used by the early settlers.

In the same vein English in the Indian sub continent is largely mid 20th century as that was the time the English left.

In both cases the idiosyncratic changes and developments in English afterwards are not always present.

:Whistling:

Madame Artois

Loner SSC-Insane Points: 21279 More actions · Answer 7

I came from HK and it was ruled by England until 1997 so I learned British English. When I came to US to go to University, I took English composition 101. The whole essay was fine except my professor circle all the words I spelled in British English, eg color vs colour.

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 736270 More actions · Answer 8

People tell me my writing has improved greatly in the 12 years I've been doing this.

To get better at running, you need to run. To get better at public speaking, you need to give speeches. To get better at writing, you need to write. Practice writing and then have someone look at it and give you feedback. Tell you what makes sense, and what doesn't.

I'd also read what people write in the "type of writing" you want to do. If it's memos, get some from your (or another ) company and look at how sentences are structured. If it's technical writing, look at articles here, books, white papers, and notice how they present the information differently.

It takes practice, time, and criticism to get better.

Loner SSC-Insane Points: 21279 More actions · Answer 9

Steve,

How come my English does not seem to get better after I posted all the articles? People still teased me my grammar.

S Hodkinson SSCertifiable Points: 7529 More actions · Answer 10

I would suppose it is because I certainly do not correct the grammar in a post; I am not an English teacher! And I suppose that is why you can find teaching posts where the post holder teaches English as a second language.

Not knowing where you live I would ask at the local college if they run such courses. Other than that I would aim for a self primer like Fowlers where you can study at your own rate.

My other alternative would be to read novels by such as Jane Austen (not as heavy as Charles Dickens). The grammar is correct if a little old fashioned.

There must be other 'classical' American authors; perhaps your work colleagues could recommend one? It would also give you an opportunity to enter into a conversation 'round the watercooler' on non technical matters. Pick on someone you've noticed with a book at breaktime. For example "Have you read any good books recently? I'm looking to expand my reading list"

:Whistling:

Madame Artois

WILLIAM MITCHELL SSChampion Points: 13766 More actions · Answer 11

Microsoft Word has built-in spelling and grammar checking, so if you have access to an English-language copy of Word, why not compose your next post using Word and you can see what suggestions it makes.

greich SSC Enthusiast Points: 104 More actions · Answer 12

Find a friend who is willing to provide you with honest feedback and write each other frequently. (It goes without saying that this friend should probably have pretty good writing skills.:))

Allow that person to make corrections and point out areas for improvement, then take that information and use it to study specific areas. For example, if noun-verb agreement keeps popping up as an error, you now have a specific item to focus on.

karthik M One Orange Chip Points: 29139 More actions · Answer 13

Beef up your resume.

(or)

solidify your resume.

Which one will suite ?

karthik

karthik M One Orange Chip Points: 29139 More actions · Answer 14

And can anybody tell me the difference between 'said' and 'told',Please don't say do a search in google,Because i already did it.But i am unable to take conclusion. Those articles are confusing me.

I do read grammer in sites. But for some cases i am unable to understand the exact usage. above one is an example for it.

English experts inputs are really appreciable.

karthik