How Do You Learn Perfect English As A Native English Speaker?
• Use standard English. Avoid nonstandard (i.e., ungrammatical) forms such as “ain’t,” “can’t hardly,” “can’t seem to,” “irregardless,” and “anyways.”[1] See the list below (“Nonstandard and Questionable Usage”) and How to Use Commonly Misused Words. Consult a dictionary for proper usage and a style manual, such as Strunk and White’s Elements of Style. • Keep proper pronunciation in mind. For most words that can be pronounced more than one way (such as “either”), all the different pronunciations are correct. For a few, such as “mischievous,” one pronunciation is preferred. • Expose yourself to writing to pick up structures, tones, and ideas. Not everything in print is perfect, but the vast majority of printed works, such as books and magazines, have been thoroughly edited. Look at what makes good writing good. As you read more, mistakes and problems will start to “look” or “sound” wrong to you. Correctness will start to feel natural. • If you want to write with a particular style or in
