Improving your English language skills......
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English like any other language is about usage rather than technique .
If you have the interest , you will observe , words , phrases , try to find their meaning , usage and assimilate them in your own usage ... In other words practice actively new words , phrases in your communication.
Writing skills differ from speaking skills .... if you practice one , there's no guarantee you will be good on the other ..
Long back on CD , Chandresh had shared his mantra of learning 5 new words / phrases every day and so on.
On the board amongst others , I admire the immense & impressive 'acceleration in usage' exhibited by FP .
In the end , its about correct communication ... so as long as you are usage wise correct , don't stress yourself on fancy words / idioms ... at least I don't .... just be fluent & correct even it is simple English ... it will take time , there's no quick way ..
( I get lost in grammar rules myself and don't know them correctly but the above active 'usage' based assimilation has helped me )
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Fido.
Location: Western Hemisphere
Posted on: 29-06-15 11:48:53
Quote:
Originally posted by elmer fudd
My English grammar sucks, and it doesn't reflect well in my professional life. As a kid, I found English grammar classes to be very boring. So, I never paid attention to formal rules of grammar. However, I can instinctively construct sentences (learnt through repetitive usage) without consciously invoking formal rules of grammar and can put my point across.
When I post on CD or other boards, I can rarely post messages in one go without using the edit button for making the inevitable corrections. Even then, I keep coming across errors upon subsequent reading. And this is only for the errors that I could/can catch, as I do not know how many more mistakes just seep through.
How can I improve my grammar? Is there any software that can track errors in English grammar? MS-Word doesn't catch all grammatical errors.
If the above writing is what you are referring to as "sucks," you are underestimating yourself. In my opinion, the style you have presented above is farther above par than most are capable of.
That being said, it is almost impossible to learn all the rules of grammar, especially, when rules vary from region to region. For example, the use of comma within a quote (see above for "sucks," ) is limited to US English. The British use the comma outside of the quote. I learned this quirky rule from a grammar expert out of the Boston area.
A good way to fine tune the writing skills is to write more and more. Over time, it gets better, especially, for individuals such as you who is consciously aware of your writing.
I use a software called Ginger. This particular software highlights grammar error as you write. You can then hover over the highlighted text and make the suggested correction. But do beware that this software may provide corrections that are wrong within the context you are presenting.
While we are on the subject, there is something called the oxford comma, which is the use of comma before an "and" when the "and" follows two or more comma.
Example - I ate bread, eggs, fruits, and waffles.
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Dimple2001
This is one reason I read every post written by our members BL, Fullhouse, Fido, dimple, TK, JRF,and FP.
I
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Clinton
Quote:
@ TK...: Thank you TK for including me in the proficient category and sincerely appreciate it.
@ Clinton.. : Thank you Clinton for posting my name in your response and making me feel proud of my postings here in this CD web pages and responses.
The main reason that I am thanking you both here in this thread is because the OP has not read or observed my postings here and has not mentioned about his reading them or understanding them, to ones that I post for (a few posters) and I help here with their queries researched well, with good answers, materials and links to further their knowledge
So, I will let others that he believes in to be the one to provide guidance to enhance his abilities in writing and with the grammar associated with his requirements in furthering of the subject matter. The faith in a poster is the most important factor that is needed to coach or tutor an individual who is desirous of learning through them.
FH.
1000 pages of : https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0hXa55Rq9jMVndaYWN0cDdIbDQ/edit?pli=1
Free Download : http://ssc.xaam.in/2014/02/wren-and-martin-english-grammar-pdf.html
FH
Your contribution is immense to this website and its a luck & privilege that we have a person like you on the board ..
Your English is superb to the level that I always imagined you as a Native English speaker 
I am sure E_F did not purposely miss you out ... it might have been an oversight .
E_F - I echo D2K+1 words also that your English is also correct and exhibits correct usage and all .. its nice to read your posts also ... Scope if improvement .. well that's common for all us ain't it ?
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Fido.
Yes Fido and I thank you too for reading my posts.
Some times my posts might go over their heads and might call for a second reading to understand the entirety of the materials posted there in. That is because, I am unable to find suitable words and progressions to explain to others at a level they can grasp at the very first reading. To give you one such example is the fine prints that you see in some disclaimers as a foot note on the web. There they use TEN dollar words and will need a dictionary to get the meaning from it.
You also know that you have to be in their comfort zone and also at a level that want to start and move about, plus the faith that they have in that individual to just to get started. Once they express their desire to enhance their vocabulary and grammar and get in, then, they will look up to you for help. So, I am not questioning his personal desires but his request for help through the ones that seeks to improve his grammar and formation of sentences to go with it.
Some times I not only read, I get into their brains to see what frame of mind they were in when they expressed their thoughts. That is a skill by itself that I have acquired after posting to innumerable questions. At that juncture, the words there in parse themselves and bring out such beautiful answers and also references out of me and I myself wonder what else is there that is held in those areas that I bring it out of.
That is a subject matter by itself for another day.
Thanks again.
FH.
I fully agree with every word you say and pray , 'they' includes me as well ...
It took me some time , (and sometimes repeated attempts as you have pointed out) to reach a level to understand your posts ... and re read them for a better understanding.
A lot of thanks from all of us for being with us & sharing your knowledge with the board and for ever being so willing to ever research and provide elaborate posts which are always so very helpful ..We do acknowledge a thousand times , your time and effort which goes behind your posts ....a very big THANKS !!
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Fido.
