How to write in perfect English?

Question

ATTENTION: If you are a native English speaker, this question could easily be answered by YOU!

As an Anglophone it has been my greatest aspiration to better my English so it can be dubbed flawless to the average listener or audience. This means it shouldn't have any grammatical errors and above all- my biggest weakness- any moments of lingual awkwardness. This can often happen when I try to complicate the structure of my sentences. As a result my sentences lose their vigour; as a native English speaker this SHOULDN'T have to be an issue for me.

If my grammar was virtually flawless I would do far better in an English first language exam- like the one I'll be sitting in 4 months- and would be able to focus on what I am writing than how I am writing, i.e. put more focus on the content of an essay.

But what would be brilliant is any advice on how to make sure I don't make mistakes when writing. How often should I check for errors? How can I check or awkwardness? What can I read regularly to get the gist of virtually flawless English?

My writing in future months will be focused on literature, history and geography essays include language papers that require writing opinionated accounts or reports, analysis of literary stimulus and summarising of essays between 600-700 words long.

Many Thanks,

Whatever you may wish to call me.

Answer 1

I agree with what Geo said. I don't think you need to worry in the least about grammar and technical correctness.



However - absolutely no offence intended - the overall flavour is distinctly Edwardian. Phrases such as "As an Anglophone it has been my greatest aspiration" and "dubbed flawless" come across as mannered and dated, the kind of phraseology you'd see in a Times letter by some elitist old codger from the Queen's English Society pontificating about English going to the dogs.



Try to loosen up the style a bit. I recommend reading academic authors who write in your field of interest with a slightly lighter touch. John Sutherland ( http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1451.John_Sutherland ) is good; if you haven't run into him, he has a number of books on analytical literary topics, mainly from Victorian fiction: "Is Heathcliff a Murderer?" and others. His writing is a very good example of how to tackle literary essays readably, but without oversimplifying or losing academic rigour.

Answer 2

You mention "moments of lingual awkwardness".

There's one, right there.



Seriously: even if your prose is "grammatically perfect" it's as hard as nails and almost robotic. English is a flexible language, even when writing academic papers it allows for fluidity and style.



Try using a thesaurus for alternative words, and also try to use slightly longer sentences. Longer sentences doesn't necesssarily mean a more complicated structure; for instance try putting two sentences together (eg with 'and', 'but' etc). This might help make your writing more readable.

Answer 3

Wow, that's very good English - I've forgotten my grammar lessons from school I know what sounds right and what doesn't, I don't think I'm the only one if your grammar was virtually flawless it would sound false.



How about making what you write easier to understand, I don't mean juvenile English but plain English to get your point across.