Seven Habits of Strong English Writers

Good writing is not a gift — it is a habit. These seven habits are what clear writers do every day.

1. Read every day

Reading shows you how sentences work. Read a little each day, and notice how good writers open and close a paragraph.

2. Plan before you write

Spend two minutes listing your main points. A short plan stops you wandering off the topic.

3. Write short, clear sentences

One idea per sentence. If a sentence needs three commas, try splitting it in two.

4. Choose the exact word

Prefer strolled or hurried to a vague went. Precise words do more work.

5. Read your work aloud

Your ear catches what your eye misses: missing words, clumsy rhythm and repeated phrases.

6. Edit in a separate step

Write first, then edit. Trying to do both at once slows you down.

7. Write a little every day

Ten minutes daily beats two hours once a week.

Try it: write a 100-word paragraph about your morning, then edit it using habits 3, 4 and 5.