Writing Style questions from the GrammarBrain community.
Hi everyone, I had a situation recently where I went to the movies without anyone else. When I wanted to tell my friends about it, I wasn't sure which phrase w…
I'm writing an essay for my English class, and I keep noticing that I use the same words again and again, especially words like 'important' and 'show.' For exa…
I'm trying to improve my English by using a wider range of vocabulary, but sometimes when I use new words, it sounds a bit forced. For example, I wanted to say…
I'm proofreading an essay and came across phrases like "make a decision" and "do a decision." Someone told me that one is a strong collocation and the other is…
I'm working on a short story and I'm not sure which sounds more natural in this sentence: "She stared at me like she had seen a ghost" or "She stared at me as …
I'm writing a short description about myself for my English class, and I'm not sure how to use phrases like 'interested in', 'good at', or 'afraid of'. For exa…
I'm an intermediate English learner, and I've started studying idioms to sound more fluent. But when I try to use them in my writing, sometimes it feels unnatu…
Hi everyone! I'm writing an email to a native English speaking friend, and I want to make my message sound natural. I often come across idioms like “raining ca…
I’ve been studying English for a while, but I still get confused when people make jokes or use sarcasm. For example, if someone says, “Oh, great, another meeti…
I'm practicing listening to English conversations and keep noticing that native speakers often blend words together or leave out some sounds. For example, inst…
Hi everyone! I’m preparing for a work presentation and also writing an email to my boss in English. I noticed I say things differently out loud than when I wri…
I'm writing both a formal college application essay and some emails to friends, and I keep wondering about which contractions are appropriate for each. For exa…
I'm working on an email to my professor to request an extension on a paper. I'm not sure whether I should write, "I cannot submit the assignment on time" or "I…
I'm having trouble figuring out how stress patterns in spoken English affect both my writing and listening skills. For example, I heard that where we put the s…
I'm always worried that my English writing doesn't sound natural, and sometimes my sentences feel like I'm just translating from my first language (Spanish). F…
I'm currently learning English and sometimes I notice that I make grammar mistakes while speaking or writing, but I'm not always sure how to correct myself. Fo…
Hi everyone, I’ve been studying English for years and recently passed my C1 exam, but I keep noticing similar mistakes popping up again in my writing. For exam…
I've been studying English for years and I feel like I understand most things I read or hear. But when I write or speak, I often say things that my native spea…