Improve my English

[Nikla]

Wasn't sure where to put this but I want to improve my written English and don't know where to begin.

I was really good with my spelling, punctuation etc in school. I then worked in retail for about 8 years so didn't use it. Got a job in Civil service which requires me to use it again. I went on to have 2 kids in the space of 2 years and developed epilepsy and my brain has just gone to pot.

I can't remember how to use punctuation properly and sometimes my emails are a bit casual rather than well written.

I just want to improve all areas of my written English but not sure where to begin to relearn the basics??

Read. Read. Read.

Canonical English literature is best for this purpose. George Eliot, Thomas Hardy, Henry James, P. G. Wodehouse, V. S. Naipaul. (For example.) Also poetry - as it expands your perception of the meaning of words and the contexts in which they might be used, especially as metaphor.

There are countless books on grammar and ‘style’ - browse them all to find one that really speaks to you.

Learning Latin as a child - while one’s brain is still developing - is a considerable advantage in this respect. I’m not sure it’s quite so transformative as an adult, though it may clarify a few things and solidify them in your mind. But it’s probably a luxury, time-wise.

A couple of free courses which might be worth looking at:

www.open.edu/openlearn/education-development/english-skills-learning/content-section-overview?active-tab=description-tab

www.open.edu/openlearn/languages/everyday-english-1/content-section-overview?active-tab=description-tab

Read a magazine article and then write a summary. Read a short story and write a summary. Each time give yourself one target. This could be use complex sentences, use adverbials, use advanced punctuation. write pretend letters - look online for samples of letters and emulate them.
buy a year 6 grammar book and work through it!