Writing & Essays
From blank page to finished essay: structure, style and spelling.
22 articles
Essential guides
Speech Tips: 10 Steps to Giving an Inspiring Speech
Ten speech tips for giving an inspiring talk, from building confidence and using cue cards to body language, simple slides, a strong ending and practice.
ReadHow to Conquer the Expository Essay
Learn how to write a strong expository essay: build it around a clear thesis, structure body paragraphs around evidence and stand out with smooth transitions.
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How to Write and Give a Speech: 10 Ways to Dazzle Your Audience
Ten practical tips for writing and delivering a speech, from building confidence and adding quotes to using cue cards, simple slides and a strong ending.
ReadWriter's Block: How to Overcome It
Learn how to overcome writer's block with Kipling's six questions, by keeping the pen moving, writing with passion and turning off your inner editor.
ReadHow to Learn a New Foreign Language
Seven guidelines for learning a new foreign language: know your purpose, study in a structured way, master pronunciation and grammar, and track progress.
ReadThe IMRAD Format Explained: How to Structure a Research Paper
IMRAD stands for Introduction, Method, Results and Discussion. Learn what goes into each section and how to use the format to organize your research paper.
ReadHow to Pass English, Part 2: Reading, Listening and Speaking
Practical tips for passing English: set a weekly reading schedule, ask about unfamiliar words when listening, and practice speaking without fear of mistakes.
ReadHow to Learn Any Language Quickly
How to learn any language quickly: why patterns matter more than grammar drills, why you should read aloud, and how to build a strong vocabulary.
ReadHow to Write an Entrance Essay for Grad School
Learn what graduate school applications require and how to write an entrance essay that answers the question, fits the program and shows your strengths.
ReadA Guide to Correct Spelling
Three practical tips for correct spelling: use a spell checker when you can, write out every version of a tricky word, and read carefully to learn new words.
ReadBecoming a Great Writer, Day 4: How to Find Inspiration
How to find inspiration when you have nothing to write about: why an "inspiration block" differs from writer's block, and how to reuse what worked before.
ReadHow to Pass English
Passing English isn't that difficult. Learn three keys to success: read widely, communicate often, and bring perseverance and participation to your studies.
ReadBecoming a Great Writer, Day 2: How to Revise Your Writing
Learn why revising matters and how to do it well: catch grammar and spelling errors, fix misplaced words, and get feedback from another reader.
ReadBecoming a Great Writer, Day 3: Build Your Writing Resources
Great writers have plenty of resources to draw on. Learn three ways to build yours: join a writing niche, keep supplies on hand and make writing part of life.
ReadHow to Start Writing: 3 Great Ways to Open Any Piece
Struggling with your first paragraph? Learn three effective ways to start any piece of writing: use controversy, ask a question or tell a useful story.
ReadEliminate Writer's Block With Kipling's Six Questions
Stuck on a piece of writing? Rudyard Kipling's six "serving-men" (what, where, when, how, why and who) give you a simple way to eliminate writer's block.
ReadWhat Hollywood Can Teach You About Writing
Hollywood movies grab you at the start and the finish. Learn why a strong beginning and ending matter so much in writing, and how to make them count.
ReadBecoming a Great Writer, Day 1: How to Overcome Writer's Block
Three simple ways to beat writer's block and get started on any writing assignment: brainstorm first, just write, and take a walk to find new ideas.
ReadHow to Use Abbreviations When Taking Notes
Learn what abbreviations are and why developing your own consistent style of abbreviating long words can make your note-taking faster and easier.
ReadHow to Overcome Writer's Block: Keep the Pen Moving
A simple trick to overcome writer's block: keep writing, put a placeholder like "yada yada" where you get stuck, and fix the draft when you revise.
ReadDon't Think, Just Write: Edit for Grammar Later
Why you should forget about grammar while drafting and just write. Turn off your inner editor, let your ideas flow, then come back and edit later.
Read100 Spelling Errors That Make You Look Dumb
A look at a well-known list of the 100 most commonly misspelled English words, with a sample memory trick for spelling "acceptable" correctly every time.
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