I was eating some amazing Japanese food earlier this week when I struck up a conversation with the waitress. She was impressed that I had drowned my noodles in obscene amounts of both chili oil and chili garlic. Apparently, she didn’t believe me when I ordered ‘extra spicy.’ But something else was the main dish for our table side conversation: writing. When she asked me what I did for a living, she was amazed that anyone could write full time.

She went and brought me my bill, and when she returned she saw me pick up my pen to sign the bill. That’s when she asked me if I was a college graduate. I explained that I was, and she pressed me. “I wish I could write in English,” she told me. I responded that I would love to learn to write in Mandarin (she was Chinese even though she works at a Japanese restaurant.)

To my amazement, she explained that she couldn’t write in either language!

She explained how her daughter had been taking classes, but that she didn’t have the courage to begin learning yet. She was extremely sensitive about the subject, but wanted to bring it up to someone to begin seeking help. I was glad that she did, because I can’t imagine how hard it must be to want to express yourself and not be able to.

That’s when I recognized what a significant challenge this must present to non-native English learners. Learning to write, read, spell, and punctuate takes years of dedicated practice. Even as I type up this post, I’m thinking about the conventions of how to say what I intend to say.

The following are some great ways to learn how to write in English, as it can be extremely difficult for beginners. Always remember that spelling, grammar, and punctuation are important, but everyone makes mistakes. Even seasoned English vets need to use a dictionary, or refresh their memory on how to punctuate something. If PhD doctorates need to look something up every once in awhile, it’s more than acceptable for you to do so as well.

1. Start at your own pace

Do what inspires you and make it fun. That’s some of the best advice I’ve been given in my life. When something feels forced, feels difficult, or you get bored with it that’s a subtle indication that you need to move past it. Right now, if you are reading this, skimming through the words it’s amazing that you are brave enough to continue learning English. It’s by far one of the hardest languages in the world, due to it’s strange grammar and unorthodox.

Do yourself a favor and be at ease with your progress. If you are confused about where to start try reading this article on our site first.
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2. Trust the process by starting slow and working your way up
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When you first begin you want to gradually increase the level of difficulty. If right now you are just recognizing the general concepts in written English, start slowly with learning to write in English.
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3. Begin with children’s books.
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Children who learn to speak English don’t pick up the Encyclopedia and begin copying it down on paper. Instead, they start with the simplest books that they can find. Look in the children’s section at bookstores for beginner books.
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4. Learn to form the letters
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Memorize the alphabet and practice writing each of the letters. Once you are familiar with how to write in English, you can begin learning the actual mechanics behind grammatical structure. Everyone spends a while learning to memorize each of the letters and how to write them so that they make sense. If you need an extra challenge, learn the almost forgotten art of cursive writing. Pro tip: If you need help with that don’t ask a millennial. ;)

5. Begin by writing phrases and simple sentences.
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Learning to write complete, coherent thoughts and paragraphs can be a challenge, especially if you haven’t been studying English for very long. While everyone wants to be able to write lengthy paragraphs, even Shakespeare started out with simple sentences and phrases. It’s important to take your time, because if you don’t, you may end up misusing a phrase or writing sentences that don’t make sense. Once again, learning at your own pace will and being patient will work wonders when learning to write in English.

For more help, check out this blog on our website.
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6. Learn as many words and verb conjugations as possible before you start writing complex sentences, or studying grammar.
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In order to be a good writer, you will need to completely understand how English works--and that takes time. You will also need to practice by reading and absorbing as much written material as possible. Read multiple sources such as: online blogs (recipes and sports blogs are usually fairly easy to comprehend.) Also, branch out by reading the New York Times or the New Yorker for more difficult writing.
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7. Learn Grammatical Rules
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In order to understand anything you have to know the rules. Learning grammar can be a difficult challenge, but the best way is by reading the works of great authors. There are numerous sources available online that can help you with your specific questions or any issues that arise.

‍No matter where you’re at in your writing journey, learning the ropes can be a difficult and tedious process. By taking it slowly and committing to daily action, you can become a greater writer and a better communicator, and learn to write in English!