Best Tips to Speak Proper English

The English language has extensive grammatical rules for speaking and writing, which can be challenging for those who do not have it as their first language. Even native speakers might get confused by these rules and not fully grasp all of them. These challenges have led to many people worldwide not mastering English grammar well and being unable to speak proper English. Many incorrect phrases and sentences are popular, and people use them in everyday conversations without realizing they are wrong. For example, using "on accident" instead of "by accident" or using something like "irregardless," which is not an actual term. In this article, we will learn how to use the proper English language correctly and professionally.

Common grammatical mistakes

As I mentioned earlier, many grammatical errors occur in everyday English conversations. For native English speakers, these errors may happen because they are not entirely familiar with the correct language usage or due to cultural differences. On the other hand, for those whose primary language is not English, grammatical mistakes often arise from the interaction between two different languages. Let's go deeper by checking some common grammatical errors.

Apostrophes

The apostrophe is a punctuation mark representing absences and possessives of nouns and pronouns. When writing in plural, apostrophes can occasionally be added incorrectly—for example, peach's instead of peaches. This could be due to a misunderstanding regarding possessive forms.

Homonyms

Some words, like to, too, and two, are homophones because they have the same sound but different spellings and definitions. Alternatively, the terms could be the same in spelling and sound but have distinct meanings, like quail (the bird) and quail (to cringe).

The continuous form of a state verb

Sometimes state verbs (thoughts, feelings, etc.) are used in the continuous form in English, including I'm loving. This occasionally occurs due to popular culture or when someone begins to misuse it, and others begin to notice the same usage.

Past participles rather than past simple

Past participles are used instead of the past simple tense in some dialects, such as " I run all over town today." rather than " I ran all over town today." The primary causes of this are local accents and informal language.

Frequently misunderstood words

The highest percentage of mistakes in speaking proper English language occurs when the speaker doesn't know which word to use in a particular situation. This uncertainty leads to hesitation and often results in using the wrong word.

One of the most common mistakes in English conversations is using "who" instead of "whom." Many people avoid using "whom" because they aren't familiar with its correct usage. The rule can be easily remembered as follows: who is a pronoun pointing to the subject of a sentence, and whom is a pronoun referring to the object of the statement. Use who whenever you can substitute the term with he, she, or a different pronoun. And use whom instead of him or her (or another object pronoun).

The misuse of "affect" and "effect" is another error. These two terms are distinguished by a single letter, and people often only use one form of the word at a time. However, effect should be used as a noun and affect as a verb. Anything that impacts you or the circumstances has an influence on you or what happened. An effect is the outcome of something that affects you. Saying that "the storm caused several negative affects" is inaccurate. Saying that "the storm effected the town negatively" is likewise untrue. The sentence "The storm caused several negative effects" is accurate. The town suffered from the storm.

The common mistake English speakers and writers make is conflating the terms lie and lay. "lay" refers to placing something down and needing a direct object. Saying, "I laid the book on the table" or "Yesterday, I laid the book on the table" are two examples of what you could say. In contrast, lying does not require a direct object; instead, it refers to reclining or resting. "I lie down on the bed" or "Yesterday, I lay down on the bed" are possible statements. Thus, "lay" is used to place objects down, and "lie" is used to rest or recline.

How do you speak proper English language?

For everyone learning the language, it is crucial to have proper English skills. Nothing is more enjoyable than utilizing your language abilities to speak with others in real life and real-time. Here are some essential and simple steps to enhance your proper English language, regardless of your level:

Always listen, regardless of the situation.

Comprehending and reacting appropriately to what is being said are essential components of good communication. Speaking cannot be done without listening; otherwise, you will not understand what is being said and will be unable to react correctly. Exposing yourself to as many music, TV shows, documentaries, discussions, and accents as possible is the solution. This will enable you to comprehend how various speakers of the proper English language speak and how it sounds in other nations.

Strengthen the foundation of your knowledge.

Why is it essential to have a solid English foundation? It's similar to constructing a house: if the foundation is weak from the start, the construction will fail, and the structure will collapse. Similarly, you should improve and broaden your knowledge of English. This can be accomplished through various methods, including taking classes, reading books, listening to educational podcasts, engaging in English discussions, etc.

Include the English language in your daily routine.

Use English throughout your daily life in various ways, including listening to English songs, watching movies and TV shows, and keeping journals if you like to write down memories. Engage in conversation with your friends in the proper English language to spark their interest in learning a foreign language. You can even think in English. This way, your interaction with the language increases, and the opportunity to use it in everyday conversations grows.

Be brave and speak first.

The initial stage is developing confidence in speaking in general and in various contexts, like personal or public interactions. To improve your confidence and comfort when speaking English, start by speaking up initially. Online instructors can help you build trust through everyday interactions and lessons.

Conclusion

Mistakes are common in everyday conversations, and you might make them yourself. While correcting these mistakes and building a solid foundation in English might seem challenging, the important thing is to keep trying and learn to speak proper English. Whether you are a student, just starting out in the workforce, or have a long-standing career, having an advanced and solid grasp of primary English language usage will benefit you.

This can be acquired through both studying grammar principles and reading. Written material, particularly fiction books, is edited to be grammatically correct, and persons who read extensively tend to employ better language when speaking and writing. It's usually beneficial to sound intelligent, especially when speaking with someone who understands English language standards.