10 Most Effective English Writing Techniques That Every Writer Should Know
The English language is undoubtedly a challenging language, especially for non-native English writers. However, good writing comes from the creativity that is inside the writer. We agree that bringing creativity can be hard, but you can start producing compelling content with regular practice. Writers use different language elements and methods to imagine and think of a story, play, sonnet or any other type of content. Composing content in English can be exciting; you can learn how words can be used through numerous writing techniques.
Literary devices or methods can be the foundation of your work and can help you outshine and deliver the best for your reader. Whether you want to highlight an important point, tell a story uniquely or describe anything, you can incorporate these techniques in your write-ups. If you want to know those tips and tricks that can take your writing beyond basic, then read on!
A Guide With English Writing Techniques For Writers Who Want Magic In Their Hands
Let’s First Understand The Definition Of English Writing Techniques
English writing technique is a specific style that helps the writer convey their message to the reader meaningfully and effectively. By having a good understanding of various types of techniques, you can switch your writing style accordingly to build a strong connection with the audience.
Professionals who provide writing and English proofreading services also use different techniques to make every piece of content unique and engaging for the clients. They can give a new life to the story, change thoughts into words, make content easy to understand and add an interesting poetic element to the writing.
An Elaborated List Of English Literary Devices That Will Make You A Polished Writer
Do Comparison In A Creative Way By Using Metaphors
Metaphors are a popular writing technique that is used to compare two things. They are figures of speech that writers use to explain something by comparing it in a poetic and creative way to another thing. But the interesting part is that metaphors have hidden resemblances. You cannot use clear comparisons to build the reader’s interest. When writers place metaphors in their write-ups, they hook the reader’s attention so that he can read further. A few examples of metaphors are:
- “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” Marcel Proust.
In this metaphor, the author is comparing people to gardeners who keep the flowers blossoming. It is a great example of metaphor as it grabs the attention and keeps the content in flow as well.
- “If you want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it.” Mother Teresa.
- “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances.” William Shakespeare.
Add Color To Your Writing With Similes
Do you think your writing sounds basic and boring? Try using similes to make your words look and sound more extravagant. Similes are another creative writing technique. They are phrases that are also similar to metaphors, but you can’t use them without connecting words like as or like. When writers want to write anything in an innovative and descriptive way, they use similes. They can make a simple yet effective comparison of two things with similar quality. Some examples of similes are: as cold as ice, as black as coal, as busy as a bee and many others. Apart from essays or blogs, Poets use similes in poetry to compare things in a pleasant way. For example:
- ‘I wandered lonely as a cloud that floats on high o’er vales and hills.’ – William Wordsworth, ‘Daffodils.’
- ‘O my Luve is like a red, red rose, that’s newly sprung in June.’ – Robert Burns, ‘A Red, Red Rose.’
Use Imagery Technique to Take Your Writing To The Next Level.
Writers are not physically present in front of their readers. However, they use a writing technique called imagery to bring the reader into their thoughts and imagination. When you read the word imagery, you might only think of images or visuals, but it includes all senses to give a reader one of a kind experience. Writers include little details like sound, taste, smell and sight to take the audience’s attention to the next level. It gives the readers a sense of presence as if they are present in the story. Apart from describing the story, you can use imagery techniques to build the emotions of your reader. Some examples of imagery with its types are:
- Imagery using sight:
The sun was sinking, giving a pleasant view. With blue and white clouds and the beautiful waves coming on the shore, the sunset on the beach was worth watching.
- Imagery using sound:
The yelling of his mother and the clanging of pots was the first sound that John heard in the morning.
- Imagery using taste:
When the candy went into her mouth, she tasted swirls of sweet chocolate and a slightly bitter but nicely salted caramel blended together on her taste buds.
Build Curiosity In Your Audience By Foreshadowing
If you ever read a book or watch a movie and get curious about the ending, then you have experienced foreshadowing. Many writers include small details or hints in the first chapter or lines about the end of the story. The hints can be of any type depending on the writer and the story. Foreshadowing is the perfect way to create a dramatic hook for the readers. By using this English writing style and technique, writers can enhance the reader’s joy and interest and connect them on a deeper level as well.
Some famous examples of foreshadowing can be found in Romeo and Juliet. The dialogue of Romeo in which he says, ‘my life were better ended by their hate than death prorogued, wanting of thy love’. This line refers to the end of the play, in which both Juliet and Romeo end their lives due to their family’s hatred.
Add Fun Element To Your Writing With Personification
Personification is a type of writing technique in which human attributes or characteristics are given to non-living things to give a fun and engaging element to the content. Personification is commonly done in metaphors where writers create life in objects, animals, or abstract things. It is a creative way to enhance the writing by adding human emotions and behavior to the content. However, when using the personification technique, the writer should take care of sentence structure and meaning. You should not use personification if you are doing formal writing like business proposals, emails or technical writing. Apart from meaning, it is also important to place the right verbs in your text for a better understanding of your content. Some interesting examples are:
“When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze” William Wordsworth. In this poem, the poet gives human-like attributes to daffodils so that they can move their heads and dance happily.
Use Alliteration Technique To Make Your Content Memorable
The writing technique called alliteration comes from a Latin word. It means placing the words that sound the same close to each other in a sentence. Authors or poets use alliteration to make their writing memorable for the readers. It is a great writing technique to grab the attention of the audience in an innovative way. Most businesses use it in their names or products as it gives a rhythm to words and makes them fun to say out loud or memorize. You can find alliteration techniques in poems, literature and rhymes; here are some examples:
- Betty bought a bit of butter, but the butter was very bitter, so Betty bought some better butter to make the bitter butter better.
- “Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air. A heavy summons lies like lead upon me” William Shakespeare.
Give Creative Explanations With Analogies
Just like simile and metaphor, there are analogies. They are also used to compare two things that are similar by any characteristic or quality. However, when writers use an analogy, they have to give a description or explanation with them; that is why the analogy is considered more complex than a simile or metaphor. Whenever authors are unable to describe any situation or thing, they take the help of analogies to give a proper explanation. People who think they are similar to similes are totally wrong; yes, we agree that they have similes in between, but you have to give additional information to them.
- “Don’t worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum” (Mary Schmich)
- Just as a sword is a weapon for a soldier, a pen is a weapon for an author.
Write Using Hyperbole Technique To Emphasize On Your Point
When the writers have to exaggerate any text, they use hyperbole techniques. It is a writing technique in which you give excess information to emphasize or exaggerate any point. It is commonly used in literature and fiction writing. Writers avoid it in research or reports, as they are long forms of content, and editors are more focused on making Essay grammar and syntax correction. But hyperbole is a brilliant technique to add creativity and humor to any story. For example:
“A day was twenty-four hours long but seemed longer. There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County.” Harper Lee, the author uses different words to emphasize the day and how boring it was.
Build Rhyming Effect To Your Content With Assonance
Assonance is using words with repetition of vowels in words. Writers place such words closely together to create a good effect on the readers. Assonance is similar to rhyming, which is why poets or musicians mostly use it. It is considered a great technique to create emphasis and mood on important words in any form of writing.
One of the most common examples of assonance can be “winner, winner, chicken dinner.” If you love games and know what victory looks like, then you have definitely read this sentence before.
Add Emotions In Your Writing With Emotive Language
It won’t be wrong to say that emotive language is a powerful writing technique. The author plays with the power of words to bring out the reader’s emotions. You can add color, life and depth to your content using this technique. Emotive language is a great way to create a connection with the audience on a much deeper level. If you want to leave your reader moved and filled with emotions, then this is the right method for you. Here is an example to give you a clear idea.
Non-emotive: She was hurt in the bike accident.
Emotive: She was in a lot of pain as she got horrific injuries and wounds on her hand in a bike accident.
Why Using Writing Techniques Can Be A Game Changer For Writers?
It Increases Clarity And Coherence In Your Writing:
Using Effective writing techniques can help convey your ideas clearly to the audience. They allow you to organize your thoughts, structure your paragraphs and content, and present information in an impactful manner. By employing techniques such as alliteration, hyperbole, and proper paragraph writing, you ensure that your writing flows smoothly and is easy to understand.
It Gives A Chance To Build A Strong Connection With Readers
Writing techniques can captivate and engage your readers. By employing literary devices such as metaphors, similes, and analogy, you can make your content more engaging and enjoyable to read. This helps to maintain your readers’ interest and encourages them to read again and again.
It Helps In Adding Professionalism To The Writing Style
By incorporating good writing techniques, you can add professionalism and can enhance your credibility as a writer. You can produce polished and well-written content using techniques like imagery and personification. This attention to detail and usage of English writing practices create a positive impression and build loyal readers.
It’s Time To Conclude This English Guide For Writers
A writer can’t similarly write every piece of content. Each text has a different purpose which is why writers use numerous techniques to make their content fresh and engaging. Learning new practices can be overwhelming and challenging, but you can write like an expert if you master them. English techniques like personification, hyperbole, metaphors, similes and others are the perfect way to take your content to the next level.
We hope by reading the blog, you have gained knowledge on how to use these techniques to make sure that your content is not boring and basic for the readers. If you are at an initial stage of your writing career and don’t know how to implement such techniques in your write-ups, then we can help you out. Our proofreading services will enhance the overall quality of your content and boost its readability. You can hire our expert proofreaders and editors to add that extra charm to your content and deliver the best possible form of writing.