Ten Tips to Help ESL Internet Writers
The internet is truly a world-wide web, and English is the most commonly-used language. Therefore, many internet users speak and write English as a second language. To them, the speed of the internet can be an additional challenge; readers emailing for service expect fast responses.
There can be problems of defining and spelling words and idioms, or using proper grammar. To a non-native speaker, it can be a challenge to achieve deserved and necessary respect and trust when mistakes are made.
Having some tools at hand can help a webmaster tremendously. Here are 10 Tips to help webmasters speaking and writing English as a second language.
1. Bookmark an online Dictionary/Thesaurus such as http://dictionary.reference.com/
2. Read English as often as you can. Practice, practice, practice.
3. Word Order: Here is the usual word order in any English sentence - subject-verb-object-place-time
Example:
I placed a lamp on the table today.
4. Do not repeat the subject of a sentence.
Example:
"My cat has fleas." Not, "My cat she has fleas."
5. When to use "a", "an", and "the": This is an easy-to-remember rule. Use "a" and "an" if what you are talking about can be counted. Use "the", or nothing at all, if your subject can not be counted.
Examples: I need flour to cook this recipe. I need a cup of flour to cook this recipe. Please give me the flour. Flour is an ingredient in the recipe.
6. Sentence structure: Run-on, choppy and fragmented sentences should be avoided.
Examples:
Run-on: I carry a lot of credit cards in my wallet I probably should not but I do anyways.
Choppy: I carry a lot of credit cards. I carry them in my wallet. I probably should not. I do anyways. Fragmented: I carry a lot. Of credit cards. In my wallet. I should not. But I do anyways.
7. Correct use of helping verbs: Helping or auxiliary verbs are words such as will, do, can, have, might, and may. These words are always followed by simple (not conjugated) verbs.
Examples:
I will go to the mall later. Not: I will goes to the mall later, or, I will gone to the mall later. (when/time)
I do know that I love you. (emphasis/affirmation)
The date of the party may change if the weather is bad. (possibility)
8. Gerunds (verbs ending in -ing): A gerund is actually a noun. Use it in situations where you can substitute the word "it".
Example:
Reading helps us to write better. Substituting "It" for reading makes sense too. It helps us write better.
9. Infinitives (words with "to" used before them"): In the example above, "write" is a simple verb used as an infinitive. To understand whether you need to use a verb as a gerund or an infinitive in a sentence, ask yourself, do I want to write about "it" or about "to do it". The answer tells you which to use.
10. Practice: much of the English language is idiom and can only be learned with practice.
Examples: a verb can have a totally different meaning when you use it with another word.
get/get up, get over, get real ;
hand/hand in, hand over, hand out ;
look/look up, look good, look under
Do not give up! Give yourself credit for trying hard, and look for someone willing to give a helping hand. Getting help writing can be the best thing you do to insure your success online.
About the Author: Kathryn Beach helps ESL writers and others improve their writing and impress with their words. Find out more about experienced help writing online.
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