How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker
Use standard English., Keep proper pronunciation in mind., Keep proper spelling in mind., Watch major network TV news, and other programming that uses Standard English., Expose yourself to writing to pick up structures, tones, and ideas., Listen to...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Use standard English.
Avoid nonstandard (i.e., ungrammatical) forms such as “ain’t”, “can’t hardly”, “can’t seem to”, “irregardless”, and “anyways”.
See the list below (“Nonstandard and Questionable Usage”) and How to Use Commonly Misused Words.
Consult a dictionary for proper usage and a style manual, such as Strunk and White’s Elements of Style. -
Step 2: Keep proper pronunciation in mind.
For most words that can be pronounced more than one way (such as "either"), all the different pronunciations are correct.
For a few, such as "mischievous"
one pronunciation is preferred. , For words like "Color"
all the different spellings are fine, but for "jail"
one spelling is preferred., Newscasters in particular are very careful to present language that is grammatically clear and well articulated.
Therefore, it is usually recommended to people trying to learn Standard English to watch such news programs.
Certain other television shows will present very good Standard English, however television ranges wildly in terms of proper English usage., Not everything in print is perfect, but the vast majority of printed works, such as books and magazines, have been thoroughly edited.
Look at what makes good writing good.
As you read more, mistakes and problems will start to "look" or "sound" wrong to you.
Correctness will start to feel natural.
If you want to write with a particular style or in a particular genre, read things that are related to that.
You will tend to adopt styles and ideas from what you read. ,, You can read to your children or even your pets.
Reading passages aloud is one way to interpret their structures, and it will make you more conscious of their details.
It will improve your speech, especially if you are hesitant when you speak or say "uh" and "um".
If you practice reading aloud, you will be less likely to stammer or pause when you speak.
You will find yourself saying words carefully instead of slurring them together. , Reading will expose you to a far wider range of words than conversation or spoken media, such as radio or television.
Collect words that you do not know.
Also browse the dictionary, play word games (such as Hangman, Fictionary, and Freerice), and subscribe to a word of the day. , Start a pun war.
Dust off your Scrabble game.
Invent your own word.
Try your hand at a garden path sentence, write your own aprosdoketon, or enter the Bulwer-Lytton contest for bad prose or one of its imitators. , Write for a journal, blog, or wiki.
Wikis, especially, need writers and frequently come with a whole community of editors who will help you.
Whatever and wherever you write, practice daily, if possible.
In email and text messages, use complete sentences.
That counts as writing, too. , Just as you wear different clothing for different weather, you should write or speak differently depending upon your audience.
Is this communication factual or fanciful? Are you telling a story, arguing a point, or explaining a procedure? , As you proofread, you can see what kinds of mistakes you make often.
Read your composition aloud.
You may find a grammatical error when something that you read does not sound right. , That fear may keep you from writing well.
Language takes extraordinary amounts of practice to master, and mistakes are part of the learning process. , It will make you more conscious of the structures and grammar in your own.
Many of the Latin-based and Germanic languages have words and structures similar to those in English, and exploring these similarities and differences will strengthen both languages. -
Step 3: Keep proper spelling in mind.
-
Step 4: Watch major network TV news
-
Step 5: and other programming that uses Standard English.
-
Step 6: Expose yourself to writing to pick up structures
-
Step 7: and ideas.
-
Step 8: Listen to talk radio
-
Step 9: podcasts
-
Step 10: and audio books.
-
Step 11: Read aloud
-
Step 12: with intonation.
-
Step 13: Build your vocabulary.
-
Step 14: Play with the language to explore it.
-
Step 15: Practice writing.
-
Step 16: Consider your audience and purpose.
-
Step 17: Proofread your writing and have it proofread by someone else.
-
Step 18: Do not be afraid to make mistakes.
-
Step 19: Try learning another language.
Detailed Guide
Avoid nonstandard (i.e., ungrammatical) forms such as “ain’t”, “can’t hardly”, “can’t seem to”, “irregardless”, and “anyways”.
See the list below (“Nonstandard and Questionable Usage”) and How to Use Commonly Misused Words.
Consult a dictionary for proper usage and a style manual, such as Strunk and White’s Elements of Style.
For most words that can be pronounced more than one way (such as "either"), all the different pronunciations are correct.
For a few, such as "mischievous"
one pronunciation is preferred. , For words like "Color"
all the different spellings are fine, but for "jail"
one spelling is preferred., Newscasters in particular are very careful to present language that is grammatically clear and well articulated.
Therefore, it is usually recommended to people trying to learn Standard English to watch such news programs.
Certain other television shows will present very good Standard English, however television ranges wildly in terms of proper English usage., Not everything in print is perfect, but the vast majority of printed works, such as books and magazines, have been thoroughly edited.
Look at what makes good writing good.
As you read more, mistakes and problems will start to "look" or "sound" wrong to you.
Correctness will start to feel natural.
If you want to write with a particular style or in a particular genre, read things that are related to that.
You will tend to adopt styles and ideas from what you read. ,, You can read to your children or even your pets.
Reading passages aloud is one way to interpret their structures, and it will make you more conscious of their details.
It will improve your speech, especially if you are hesitant when you speak or say "uh" and "um".
If you practice reading aloud, you will be less likely to stammer or pause when you speak.
You will find yourself saying words carefully instead of slurring them together. , Reading will expose you to a far wider range of words than conversation or spoken media, such as radio or television.
Collect words that you do not know.
Also browse the dictionary, play word games (such as Hangman, Fictionary, and Freerice), and subscribe to a word of the day. , Start a pun war.
Dust off your Scrabble game.
Invent your own word.
Try your hand at a garden path sentence, write your own aprosdoketon, or enter the Bulwer-Lytton contest for bad prose or one of its imitators. , Write for a journal, blog, or wiki.
Wikis, especially, need writers and frequently come with a whole community of editors who will help you.
Whatever and wherever you write, practice daily, if possible.
In email and text messages, use complete sentences.
That counts as writing, too. , Just as you wear different clothing for different weather, you should write or speak differently depending upon your audience.
Is this communication factual or fanciful? Are you telling a story, arguing a point, or explaining a procedure? , As you proofread, you can see what kinds of mistakes you make often.
Read your composition aloud.
You may find a grammatical error when something that you read does not sound right. , That fear may keep you from writing well.
Language takes extraordinary amounts of practice to master, and mistakes are part of the learning process. , It will make you more conscious of the structures and grammar in your own.
Many of the Latin-based and Germanic languages have words and structures similar to those in English, and exploring these similarities and differences will strengthen both languages.
About the Author
Betty Reynolds
Experienced content creator specializing in crafts guides and tutorials.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: