Without a doubt, writing is an important skill. And before you ignore this blog because you don’t think writing is really that important, consider these questions: Do you have a Facebook account? Do you Tweet on Twitter? Have you sent any emails lately? How many text messages have you typed today?
We write everyday. Whether it’s online, on your phone, or on a piece of paper in your English class, chances are you are going to have some important writing to do today. And let’s be honest, there is nothing worse than hitting send, post, or tweet and then realizing you just constructed the worst sentence known to man.
Think writing is important now? Want to become a better writer? One of the most effective ways you can improve your writing doesn’t even involve writing at all.
Read More, Write Better
That’s right. One of the best ways to improve your writing skills is to read. Here are three ways reading will improve your writing:
1) Reading broadens your vocabulary
Have you ever self-edited a paper (or a social media post) and realized you used the word, “amazing” seven times in only 5 sentences? Reading more will expand your vocabulary and will keep your writing fresh and exciting.
2) Reading expands your knowledge base
The more you know about a subject, the easier it is to write about. There is nothing worse than sitting down to write, and not knowing what to write. Reading helps expand what we know, which gives us more to write about
3) Reading aloud opens your eyes
That might not make sense at first, but reading things aloud can help you see things you don’t see when reading silently. Reading aloud engages more of your senses, which allows you to process information in multiple ways at once. The more you process, the more you learn. For this reason, we recommend reading aloud when editing your writing for class. For more information on the benefits of reading aloud, check out this article.
In the coming weeks, we will offer more helpful tips on how to improve your writing. In the meantime, you can improve your writing by commenting below to let us know if our writing has been helpful to you.