Grammar can be quite a stressful subject for many people as it has many confusing and complicated rules. However, the usage of correct grammar is essential in school and can also work as a first impression for how people will judge your skillfulness and effectiveness in writing. Thus, it is useful to know some basic tips to improve your grammar, so let’s get started.

1. Read: 

Reading is one of the secret weapons to improve your grammar skills. When you read, you will come across different grammar rules, and then you will naturally reinforce correct grammar usage in your mind. You will then start to use these proper grammar rules in your writing. Interestingly, extensive reading will help you know what grammar rules are effective and which common grammar mistakes to avoid.

2. Use a grammar manual: 

It is a very useful idea to have a grammar manual nearby that you can consult when writing. This will help you to quickly refer to it when any grammatical question arises. Most importantly, the grammar manual will help you avoid any grammar mistakes and make you feel confident in your piece. Speak to a librarian or writing instructor for useful grammar manual recommendations.

3. Write more and quiz yourself:

Just as we discussed how the extensive reading can be an important step to improve your grammar skills, it will also be essential to simply write more. The more time you spend  practicing writing using proper techniques and grammar rules, the more you sharpen your grammar skills. Besides, there are many excellent online grammar quizzes, so take a few quizzes to gauge your level, and based on that, work on improving your grammar skills.

4. Re-reading aloud:  

After the extensive reading and writing, re-reading your pieces aloud could be a smart way to catch any major and minor mistakes. However, sometimes we do not always catch our own grammar mistakes; therefore, reading your piece out loud to someone else can be really helpful in evaluating whether or not you have used correct grammar rules.

5 Consult others and learn from feedback: 

It is always a good idea to ask for help! Many instructors and writing tutors are available on campus and are glad to help. One of those places is OSU’s Writing Center. If you ask for help, it is essential to take their feedback into consideration. Learning from their feedback could strengthen your grammar skills and help you produce more effective pieces. It may even be wise to create your own grammar manual based on feedback you receive.

After all, remember devoting some time and effort to improve your grammar skills will benefit you for the rest of your academic life in a way that presents you with a more intellectual and professional side. And always remember working smarter, not harder, is always the key.