Search results for 'tag:Writing styles tag:Vocabulary' matching tags 'Writing styles' and 'Vocabulary'

Re: Can You say?

Goodman — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 04:25:44 GMT

I am not trying to crucify anyone, or negate the effectiveness of certain learning method. What I have observed is that many ESL learners opted to learn the patterns of speech rather trying to work on the understanding of fundaqmentals, but often misinterpreted the answers from the forum. This is evident from the sentence structure of the posted sentences which are often awkward and unnatural. Personally, I used the media to itâs full extents. For many years, I watched Discovery, BBC and channels like History and recently The Science Channel. With the aide of closed caption and narration, itâs much like sitting in an English class. Watching a program in certain topic and reading the captions, we can build comprehension and foundation of sentence structure. I had revealed my non-English speaking origin in the past and many of you may not know it from my posts. I am still trying to polish my writing style and enlarge my vocabulary. That said, I think my tone comes very close to being that of nativeâs. I know learning English isnât the easiest task for those whose mother tongue wasn't English. I had to learn it because I need to survive in my second mother land, the US. If I could learn it, Iâd venture to say, many coming to this forum can as well. Choosing the correct method to learn any skill can cut the time and effort in half and double the results. Thatâs my experience.

Re: It is addressed to the general public, not to some linguists.

Grammar Geek — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:39:05 GMT

Jackson6612 wrote:
Please make corrections/edits to the following text:

Why do the newspapers use difficult vocabulary and structure?

Almost all the English newspapers I have read, or saying it more correctly, have tried to read, use very difficult vocabulary and structure. I know a newspaper has to be formal. By starting with "But" you are making this less formal. Is that okay? But it can be formal without using ~~any~~ such difficult vocabulary and structure. It is addressed to the general public, not to some linguists This isn't quite the right word. Linguists study the nature of language. Perhaps "literary scholar.". I believe even some English natives ~~also~~ have to use a dictionary while reading a newspaper. This problem seems to exist with all the newspapers, not specifically with English-language ones. Whenever I came across with any local newspaper, it was full of weird words which I prefer "that" to "which" I had never encountered before. Perhaps, those authors are trying to ~~boast of~~ show off their knowledge by using hideous "hideous" is probably not the right word vocabulary and ~~kinky~~ most certainly the wrong word - what do you want this to say? writing style.

By the way, I have had to use a dictionary while reading a film review (let alone the more in-depth pieces) in the Wall Street Journal, but USA Today has never caused me a moment of trouble.

It is addressed to the general public, not to some linguists.

Jackson6612 — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:14:52 GMT

Please make corrections/edits to the following text:

Why do the newspapers use difficult vocabulary and structure?

Almost all the English newspapers I have read, or saying it more correctly tried to read, use very difficult vocabulary and structure. I know a newspaper has to be formal. But it can be formal without using any difficult vocabulary and structure. It is addressed to the general public, not to some linguists. I believe even some English natives also have to use a dictionary while reading a newspaper. This problem seems to exist with all the newspapers not specifically with English ones. Whenever I came across with any local newspaper, it was full of weird words which I had never encountered before. Perhaps, those authors try to boast of their knowledge by using hideous vocabulary and kinky writing style.

Why do the newspapers use difficult vocabulary and structure?

Jackson6612 — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:08:39 GMT

Almost all the English newspapers I have read, or saying it more correctly tried to read, use very difficult vocabulary and structure. I know a newspaper has to be formal. But it can be formal without using any difficult vocabulary and structure. It is addressed to the general public, not to some linguists. I believe even some English natives also have to use a dictionary while reading a newspaper. This problem seems to exist with all the newspapers not specifically with English ones. Whenever I came across with any local newspaper, it was full of weird words which I had never encountered before. Perhaps, those authors try to boast of their knowledge by using hideous vocabulary and kinky writing style.

Re: The Seven Deadly Sins of Grammar

Drewauerbach — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 21:14:45 GMT

Grammar Geek wrote:
Drewauerbach wrote:

Just remember, the audience comes first in communication. In writing especially, all seven sins are easily avoidable; furthermore, avoidance of these sins invariably leads to better writing.

I completely agree with the first sentence. We shall have to agree to disagree about the second.

Let me provide a follow up to that sentence. After all, why does avoiding the sins invariably lead to better writing? I feel, personally, that the effort to pay attention to these sins prompts the search for new and creative ways to express ideas. Over time, these searches lead to an expanded vocabulary base, a wider range of writing styles, and a solid foundation for composition in writing.

Re: Please assess this essay!

julielai — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 15:17:12 GMT

Every English learner has their (agreement) own difficulties in learning this language. The difficulties differ from individual to individual. Someone may be in deep trouble of (awkward) using proper words in writing essays while ~~someone~~ others see listening as their major obstacle ~~needed to overcome~~ (redundant). In my opinion, writing seems to be the hardest skill to grasp alongside (if it is alongside, then shouldn't they be equally hard? hmmm) the second hardest one: listening.

First, let consider writing. When I write something in English, usually an essay, my poor vocabulary has limited my ability to express what I actually mean. Sometimes, I donât know the word to depict what I see, hear and feel, or how to write things naturally like an Englishman do (agreement). Using a dictionary is not likely to help much, because if I use any word that I found (tense) in the dictionary, it just leads to a fact that: (wording) my writing or essay is completely weird and become (agreement) nothing other than a mess of strange expressions and irrelevant words. Even when I use an English dictionary, and I have checked the word definition well, ~~but~~ I still find it hard to opt (wording) which words to use accurately. As you know, in English, there are some terms that are ~~fixed to be~~ used only in some contexts, if you express by another way, it just likes baby-writing (what do you mean?). Therefore, writing a paper or an essay are harder than ~~just sitting back,~~ (you're talking as if "sitting back" is an option alongside reading and listening) reading an (agreement) enjoyable books or listening to your favourite English songs. In those case, you adsorb passively what are imparted to you. In contrast, when you write, you need to do brainstorming and create (you coin new words?) your own words and write down your own thoughts. Certainly, this task is required not only ideas ~~to write~~ but also something else: Write ornately (wording) or formally? Which perspectives to stand on? How to arrange ideas well? What point
~~needed~~ to be emphasized or neglected? Even when you use words, terms or expressions approximately (wording), ~~but~~ a poor ideas performance (what do you mean?) or an unfamiliarity of relevant English writing style still leads to failure.

Second, consider (awkward) listening. Because you donât use English as your mother tongue (connect these two sentences). So an unfamiliarity of listening English people talking is no surprise. Moreover, I canât concentrate much when listening, especially listening to a bad English tape or a long and technical conversation. Sometimes, this obstacle stems from other matters (wording). Usually, I hear the words clearly but need a little time to remember what it (agreement) means. Additionally, I pronounce some words inaccurately so when hearing the right pronunciations, I almost canât recognize them. But in my opinion, this problem can be easily dealt with. The key to be successful is very simple: just listen as much as I can and the progress can be by leaps and bounds. This task is a continuing (awkward)one and it does take time to get improved. I need over 2 month to make progress in listening. Now I focus on listening to technical or professional issues. They are far more difficult than just daily conversations.

On the whole, I see writing and listening as the two most difficult skill (agreement) to be made fluent (awkward). Other skills like reading and speaking donât bother me much because Iâm rather confident with those skills.

Please assess this essay!

Hookeba — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 15:01:44 GMT

It's me again!
I found this forum extrememly helpful in order to improve my writing skill. So I decided to post another essay to have you assessed.
Would you mind checking it out ?

Topic : What are your difficulties in English learning?>>

Every English learner has their own difficulties in learning this language. The difficulties differ from individual to individual. Someone may be in deep trouble of using proper words in writing essays while someone see listening as their major obstacle needed to overcome. In my opinion, writing seems to be the hardest skill to grasp alongside the second hardest one: listening.

First, let consider writing. When I write something in English, usually an essay, my poor vocabulary has limited my ability to express what I actually mean. Sometimes, I donât know the word to depict what I see, hear and feel, or how to write things naturally like an Englishman do. Using a dictionary is not likely to help much, because if I use any word that I found in the dictionary, it just leads to a fact that: my writing or essay is completely weird and become nothing other than a mess of strange expressions and irrelevant words. Even I use an English dictionary, and I have checked the word definition well, but I still find it hard to opt which words to use accurately. As you know, in English, there are some terms that are fixed to be used only in some contexts, if you express by another way, it just likes baby-writing. Therefore, writing a paper or an essay are harder than just sitting back, reading an enjoyable books or listening to your favourite English songs. In those case, you adsorb passively what are imparted to you. In contrast, when you write, you need to do brainstorming and create your own words and write down your own thoughts. Certainly, this task is required not only ideas to write but also something else: Write ornately or formally? Which perspectives to stand on? How to arrange ideas well? What point needed to be emphasized or neglected? Even you use words, terms or expressions approximately, but a poor ideas performance or an unfamiliarity of relevant English writing style still leads to failure.

Second, consider listening. Because you donât use English as your mother tongue. So an unfamiliarity of listening English people talking is no surprise. Moreover, I canât concentrate much when listening, especially listening to a bad English tape or long and technical conversation. Sometimes, this obstacle stems from other matters. Usually, I hear the words clearly but need a little time to remember what it means. Additionally, I pronounce some words inaccurately so when hearing the right pronunciations, I almost canât recognize them. But in my opinion, this problem can be easily dealt with. The key to be successful is very simple: just listen as much as I can and the progress can be by leaps and bounds. This task is a continuing one and it does take time to get improved. I need over 2 month to make progress in listening. Now I focus on listening to technical or professional issues. They are far more difficult than just daily conversations.

On the whole, I see writing and listening as the two most difficult skill to be made fluent. Other skills like reading and speaking donât bother me much because Iâm rather confident with those skills.

Re: Any book that teaches you how to rephrase your sentence?

Mister Micawber — Sat, 25 Dec 2004 00:14:16 GMT

Hi Mountain,

I have been thinking about your request for awhile, but have no definitive answers for you. As a start, you might check through some of the pages googled up by 'writing style' and 'building vocabulary'-- for example, THIS ONE